So...You have $7000 to go into developing a site based on a forum, what do YOU do

[smacklan]

Originally Posted by Princeton

anyone can create a "design" ... only a few can create a "winning design"

This is true...but I will stick with my previous post. Too many people are duped into believing that it takes ridiculous amounts of money to get award winning, unique designs and that simply isn't the case. With a little research, networking and patience affordable outstanding and unique designs are readily available. The best vB skin coder in the business doesn't charge more than $250 to code designs either.

[kartik786]

Aah.. I am a management student and run a forum for management students.

Here is what I feel should be done.

Use google adwords, and the like for marketing the site. Get into some good banner exchange programs .. that takes care of marketing part .

Put some interesting features like cash prizes or tshirts custom made having your site name on it ... for the winners who score ***** points . ( which should be very hard yet achievable ) .. this takes care of marketing as well as makes it interesting.

Well.. busy rite now.. wil try to post more tips later.

PS : Tip intellegent people like me a $ or 10 to give you suggestions. My paypal id

[SaN-DeeP]

Originally Posted by Princeton

For starters:

• A design should be the last step in this process -- right now, you are throwing your money away. I gaurantee that you will need modifications/additions done to it later on.
• Products that you should have:
  • Dedicated Server
  • Custom Portal
  • Custom Articles System
  • A Sponsors System (a system that is simple and which a member has control over ... eg. options, etc)
  • Try to stay with vBulletin products (products run by vb core files/functions), adding 3rd-party apps will only increase your workload.
• Get yourself a good copywriter - this is where all sites fail ... without a message you will never increase conversion rate. Your message should pass the AIDAS Test:
  • A - Grab their ATTENTION.
  • I - Strengthen INTEREST.
  • D - Stimulate DESIRE.
  • A - Get them to take ACTION.
  • S - SATISFY them.

Only after you have done all of the above should you advertise. Advertising in a poker magazine will drive traffic to your site. You will be surprised on how much traffic advertising in the right place can do for a site.


Good Luck

nice recommendations princeton.

[DirectPixel]

Originally Posted by smacklan

This is true...but I will stick with my previous post. Too many people are duped into believing that it takes ridiculous amounts of money to get award winning, unique designs and that simply isn't the case. With a little research, networking and patience affordable outstanding and unique designs are readily available. The best vB skin coder in the business doesn't charge more than $250 to code designs either.

There's a big difference between simply making a skin for vBulletin and actually doing custom integration work and doing more than just giving the vBulletin a pretty look.

I can personally tell you that of all the vBulletin-related projects I've worked on over the years (at least 50 or 60 by now), I'd say only a small 10% of them were below $800. Those are generally small and quick projects that I do in my spare time on my own for my own enjoyment.

Site evaluations, usability studies, user scenario testing, and the various other elements of the design workflow in and of themselves is often worth more than $800.

Originally Posted by smacklan

The best vB skin coder in the business doesn't charge more than $250 to code designs either.

So you mean to say that somebody has to code the designer's work? A good designer needs to know more than just how to create Photoshop mockups. They need to be extremely familiar with the software and be able to implement whatever they come up with. How can you design an effective user experience if you don't even know how to code your final product?

But then again, I believe we cater to two different sets of customers with different budgets.

[Tony G]

$7000 on a site? I think there's much better ways to use that money to be honest. If you want to make more money - invest in something a bit more worthwhile.

[smacklan]

Originally Posted by DirectPixel

But then again, I believe we cater to two different sets of customers with different budgets.

We do Many of the people who come to my site looking for custom work (which I don't do) are just looking for a unique look on a limited budget. The world is full of top notch freelance forum skin designers who do not code. Additionally, there are many who code but don't design.

[Logikos]

I fall into the "I can code anything, but can't design much" category. Also, I would take Princeton suggestions

[vol_freak]

Originally Posted by Princeton

For starters:

• A design should be the last step in this process -- right now, you are throwing your money away. I gaurantee that you will need modifications/additions done to it later on.
• Products that you should have:
  • Dedicated Server
  • Custom Portal
  • Custom Articles System
  • A Sponsors System (a system that is simple and which a member has control over ... eg. options, etc)
  • Try to stay with vBulletin products (products run by vb core files/functions), adding 3rd-party apps will only increase your workload.
• Get yourself a good copywriter - this is where all sites fail ... without a message you will never increase conversion rate. Your message should pass the AIDAS Test:
  • A - Grab their ATTENTION.
  • I - Strengthen INTEREST.
  • D - Stimulate DESIRE.
  • A - Get them to take ACTION.
  • S - SATISFY them.

Only after you have done all of the above should you advertise. Advertising in a poker magazine will drive traffic to your site. You will be surprised on how much traffic advertising in the right place can do for a site.


Good Luck

I think that is a great post, thanks. How would a peson go about getting a custom article system and a sponsor system?

[yinyang]

1. since it is a poker site, i'd spend some money on a one-of-a-kind POKER game that is fully integratable with vbulletin.

2. put your server off shore so you don't get your server seized since now you're running a gambling site.

3. since you're house, you take 10% of all pots played.

4. advertise advertise advertise.

[Ziki]

Originally Posted by John Diver

Hey,
This is actually a situation I am in right now.

I am putting $7000 towards the development of one of my sites, www.DeuceAce.com

The site is a poker forum mainly with a few extra things, articles, reviews, directory etc. but nothing else major.

The forum isn't exactly new, there are 200+ members and just under 3000 posts, but I would still consider it as very new and will be working on it as if I just launched it.

I am starting to budget what I will use the $7000 on.
I just sent off a payment of $800 to vbulletinskinz.com for a new custom design - I think they are one of the best in the forum design industry.

So..you have just over $6000 to build up a poker forum, it?s a highly competitive industry but I feel there is still space for another, quality forum.

The money can be spent on development, content advertising/marketing or anything you think would help improve and develop the community.

So...what are your first steps and what do you use the money for?

whoa.I got only 31 members and about 2000 posts O_O
You got 200 and only 3000?