Integration w/Online Community

[JLP]

Hi,

Don't let the big word integration fool ya. I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I do have a wish list, and I'm hoping you kind people can help.

We'd like to create an online community similar to www.minicooperonline.com . We'd like to move a lot of our site content over to our community. Originally we were just researching BB software, and that's what led me to vBulletin.

We want to create a main page (not sure if the correct term is portal), with complete integration of the main page with vB. We want the ability to update the entire online community from vB control panel. With one Admin panel to login; make changes, update content, approve delete posts, etc. All pages should be dynamic and derive power from vB. We want to be able to easily add and update content w/WYSIWYG - dynamic creation (no FTP).

This is a rough outline of what we want on the main page of community:
5 top active forums
5 recent topics

What's New Section
(Dynamic content updated through Admin panel)

Pic of the Day
(Randomly generated from database of Vestibule of Fame - see below; as well as administrator's ability to choose pic)

Center Section for Content
(Our comments, new product versions, specials, announcement of contest winner, synopsis of latest news articles, etc. Again dynamic creation - easily updated through Admin panel).

Vestibule of Fame
(Users can upload pictures from their browser/desktop. Pictures are automatically re-sized as thumbnails with link to larger image (total file size to be set by administrator). In addition users can add captions for photos. Administrator has ability to approve addition of photos to database as well as edit captions prior to posting. Vestibule of Fame pages are then automatically updated with new additions.

Vestimonials
Allow users to submit vestimonials via online form. Approval and editing by administrator prior to posting. Vestimonial pages are then dynamically created with new additions.

In the News
Administrator has ability to add links to HTML (and PDF) files, and News pages are then automatically updated. Ability to automatically archive articles after certain period of time.

There would be links to the Vestibule of Fame, Vestimonials and In the News from the main page. As well as links to: forum, downloads, videos, order page, recommend us.

Misc: Welcome Back (users name), Login (username & password), Join, Search.

Is it possible to do what we want to do using vBulletin plus add-ons/hacks? What modifications to vBulletin would this require? Can you list what we would need in addition to purchasing vBulletin?

Thank you in advance.

[Erwin]

You can achieve all of that with vBulletin. For pictures, you can also use Photopost (which can be integrated into vB). For the other things like news etc. you need a portal - vBHome, vBIndex are both free portals, vBPortal is also free, but you pay for support. Basically, all that you describe is easily achievable.

[JLP]

Thank you Erwin,

Where should I post for installation help for what we need? What is fair rate of pay for this type of work as well as customization?

[Erwin]

Originally posted by JLP
Thank you Erwin,

Where should I post for installation help for what we need? What is fair rate of pay for this type of work as well as customization?

You can get installation support for vBHome at www.teckwizards.com , for vBPortal at www.phpportals.com , for other hacks right here at vbulletin.org

As for fair rate of pay... depends on what you are looking for, and who is doing the work.

[JLP]

As far as what we are looking for, needs are pretty much outlined in post. Will probably want to add-on, but for now this will get us started. We'd want advice on what would work best for us: vBHome, vBPortal or vBindex.

I'm looking for proposals from anyone interested in doing the work. This should include recommendations of what we need besides vB to set up online community, total cost of installation & customization, time-frame for completion, and examples of work (online communities). Please send above to jpoole @ scottevest.com (remove spaces).

If this request is more appropriate at another forum here at vbulletin.org, please feel free to move.

Thank you,
Julie Poole

[Erwin]

Also, try to make a post at www.vbulletin.com/forum as well.

[JLP]

I posted request at vbulletin.com/forum and was told that the post was not appropriate at vB.

Any suggestions on where I should request help? We'd like to move forward with this project and have had no replies

Thank you for your help.

[JLP]

We are still looking for proposals from any one interested in doing the work.

Thank you,
jpoole @ scottevest.com