[fastpace]

Originally Posted by Bleys

I'd stay away from GoDaddy's hosting.

Go with a host that can scale up with you as you grow (i.e., one that offers dedicated servers and co-location--or even rack or cage rental if you think you'll ever be 1/20th as big as MySpace).

But some of the above posters are right... MySpace, Facebook, Friendster (making a slow comeback), and now AOL AIMPages pretty much have this area sewn up (and maybe some of the smaller players like TagWorld and bebo). Making any sort of dent without a lot of money or an already phenomenally popular site to use as a laumching pad is unlikely.

The best chance you can have at success is if you focus on a niche with your site. I.e., the way LinkedIn and Ryze focus on business owners. Don't be afraid to get really specific.

Which hosting services do you suggest then? Godaddy is one that we are looking at to use.

[nado]

I use dreamhost: http://www.dreamhost.com/rewards.cgi?truce

[Bleys]

Originally Posted by cama-bie

Can you recommend me a pre made script for this kind of networks? Or maybe a few, so i can choose.

Thanks.
Paul.

The most popular are Alstrasoft E-Friends and phpfox. I have never used either, but other Alstrasoft scripts I have purchased have been poor quality, so I would stay away from them.

[akhan]

I agree that myspace, facebook and myyearbook are very popular but there is room for many new players.

According to an estimate there are currently 600 million internet users, which is only 10% of the world population. Many thousands are taking-up internet access everyday. So the opportunity in Online Dating & Social Networking is not going to end in our lifetime.

I am also starting-up a 100% FREE Online Dating & Social Netwokring website which is due to be launched in the next couple of months. For now I have put-up a basic page but from next week people will be able to register their interest and also invite their friends. The site URL is ClubIntimate.com.

[52pokercardman]

I agree that you should start small with your social network site, don't worry about myspace and facebook.

People talked down tagworld and the guy was defending his idea in a forum similar to this.

My advice though is to be different by targetting a niche market, this will certainly appeal to your type of site.

Don't worry about a big server and a prety site for right now, plentyoffish and even myspace were two of the ugliest sites out there but they are profit machine now. Want to know why... they provided where there was a need ,but most of all it was a USEFULL site

hurry up and launch, Personally I am thinking about starting a similar site too targeting a particular group...

Good luck!!!!!

[zaddy]

I run a social networking website, i use phpfox, its GREAT with some exceptions ofcourse as nothing is perfect. My niche is the Desi community. This is what Indians/Pakistanis are called in the west, Desis. There are similar sites like mine but they ask for money as they r purely dating and matrimonials so i thought why not make something like myspace and not ask people to pay or donate money. There are collectively more than 1.1 Billion Indians and Pakistanis in the world...

I already had few sites before i started my social networking website so i started on a dedicated server. I think hostgator is a good host. I have used it in past. If you have money to throw and have a feeling ur concept and niche is unique and will spread like wild fire, go for dedicated hosting. Phpfox has requirements like zend etc that it would be a good idea to go dedicated.

Good luck dude

[Bleys]

Originally Posted by fastpace

Which hosting services do you suggest then? Godaddy is one that we are looking at to use.

Sorry, I totally missed thist post!

I always recommend www.ASmallOrange.com ... Excellent service, excellent prices, top notch hosting.