Looking To Create Online Community WEbsite - ADVICE NEEDED

**baracuda23** · 06-19-2008 11:12 AM

Hi all, I have a business plan for an online community website sort of myspace, facebook, etc. I need some advice on how to go about finding someone to build the site for me?
To give a little more background, i have all the ideas on how the website would make money without charging users at all, how it would look, what it gives the users, etc. The problem is that I do not know where to start:
1. Use my own money ($5,000) to start building the site, if so
how to get a good company or person to build it.
2. How do i know the company/contractor won't steal my idea?
3. Look for investors/advertisers/partner?

Can anyone out there that has experienced the trial and tribulations of starting a website can give me some kind of feedback, advice it would be greatly appreciated.

**mike95910** · 06-19-2008 11:24 AM

i am in the same process, let me start to tell you if you hire out, it will cost in the $10,000 range from what i have seen. You can look a freelance but with a online community, you want everything to fit together correctly and run smoothly, this is difficult to do with many different freelancers. Just start contacting companies and get a feel for which design firm has the resources that will fit your needs.

Before sharing your ideas with any company you can get them to sign a Non disclosure Agreement NDA form which you can find free ones easily online. That can give you some protection. However like i have been told before, dont worry as much for someone stealing you company cause there are already 10+ other people out there with the same idea starting it.

As for your website many things can be done cheap and easy for example using joomla, depending on if that suits your needs. There are many community building platforms out there for $300 or so, but if i were you i would hire out.

Ohh so your from orlando? me too, maitland here.

**baracuda23** · 06-19-2008 02:37 PM

Thnx for the respond... My problem is that i don't know which would be a better fit, people say to use Joomla, Dreamweaver, etc. but i don't know anything about them. I have no clue to which platform would suet my website. Personally, i am not a programmer.
Question for you, in your search for a right design firm, what kinda of advice can you give me as far as, the do's & don't?

I actually live in Oviedo

**mike95910** · 06-19-2008 02:56 PM

well i dont have alot of web experience either. My first site is what you see in my tag. If your trying to create a basic community, it would be fairly easy to use joomla and get on their forums to answer your questions on how to install it and get it to do what you want it to. It is simply upload copy an past. That is just basics though. to get better sight design involves better understanding of webdesign. Dreamweaver and joomla are 2 separate applications.
In my search for a design firm i basically used google, looked at about 50 design firms portfolios and contacted the ones that i thought would be best form me. I gave each a basic description of what i wanted and asked for ballpark figures. From there i was able to eliminate half of my prospective firms and go on. Like i said i am still new as well. I think i have a firm chosen but i am still in discussion with them.

**zharlene** · 06-20-2008 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by baracuda23

2. How do i know the company/contractor won't steal my idea?

I once asked this question and the response I got was: "they just might".

Can you believe that? The worst thing, is coming up with a unique idea, getting someone to code it for a few thousand dollars and they can just resell the script over and over again until everyone's got the same thing.

If I had $5000, I'd probably pay for lessons - then code my own thing.

**fwn122** · 06-20-2008 08:33 AM

Unless you know a lot about scripting you will have to hire out. For a site like that, it will be extreamly expensive. You may want to learn a little about site building and then use the site builder from coffeecup.com. It has an html and a visual editor so you can click and drag to create your site. You can probably buy a lot of the complex script that you need and just add it to your site using the html aspect of the sitbuilder especially if you have 5000 to spend.
Good Luck!

**baracuda23** · 06-20-2008 09:58 AM

Is nearlyninethirty.com your site ?

**mike95910** · 06-20-2008 11:25 AM

yes that was my first project sit, just a hobby. Its not the best in the world however i did do it myself. I am working with a development/design firm now as for my next adventure. To much coding for me to do myself and correctly. I am not very worried about them stealing my unique idea. I have my business plan documented and notarized as well as a NDA signed by the design firm. That gives a good amount of safety from someone stealing your idea. (word for word).

**veikoh** · 06-20-2008 12:02 PM

Proper software licensees will cost around $500 (Social Engine for example) and it does not take much more than installation, hosting and dor com name to launch a site. I have Social Engine free trial still installed to my server so if you are interested, I could setup it online for you.
Other cost is how to you do marketing. If you will write articles and participate in forums, it does not cost you anything to build your member base.
I have launched two sites at the moment:
Free community dating online service with local photo personals as online dating community site and Online artist community, digital distribution for indie music, independent artists and independent film makers. as independent artists community site.

**buglerroller** · 06-23-2008 04:22 AM

joomla, joomla, joomla!

dont worry about dreamweaver or even the complete site layout/template! you need to get a joomla site setup with all of your content and what you want to say to site visitors!

i have had a boom in new clients that want a site in your same position, someone here said $500... once i have everything setup ill have better pricing, 500 is a decent price if you plan on entering all of your content and setting up the basics of your site.

i would be happy to spend 30 minutes over the phone with you while in a goto meeting to give you more pointers.

**mike95910** · 06-23-2008 09:10 AM

Joomla is great for a basic site with not mega traffic, however trust me it will slow down with the more features you add to it. but for 500 cant beat that. i am shelling out alot more than that.

**baracuda23** · 06-24-2008 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by veikoh

Proper software licensees will cost around $500 (Social Engine for example) and it does not take much more than installation, hosting and dor com name to launch a site. I have Social Engine free trial still installed to my server so if you are interested, I could setup it online for you.
Other cost is how to you do marketing. If you will write articles and participate in forums, it does not cost you anything to build your member base.
I have launched two sites at the moment:
Free community dating online service with local photo personals as online dating community site and Online artist community, digital distribution for indie music, independent artists and independent film makers. as independent artists community site.

Veikoh, I really like your online artist community website! How much does it cost to build something like that?