Website in Progress

[t7riggah]

Hello all,

We would really appreciate ANY KIND OF FEEDBACK

My partner and I have been thinking of a very innovative idea and we have both agreed that my idea could work. Therefore, we would like to have some help on starting a website. We both know html and photoshop, and we are planning to run the server off a computer with a static ip. But later on, IF the website starts to get popular at all, we would like to have a hosting or a webserver ( if im correct on saying that). We are going to be using AdSense in the beginning, is that a good choice to make a couple bucks? Are there any other advertising services? We definitely DO NOT want to make our website to have AD's Everywhere, but it would be helpeful to have Ads that arent ugly, and spamming different colors ( those are somewhat annoying)

Also, we would like to know how to get our website big, as in build a huge community. I would like to know:

How to create user and password database.
Hits Counter
Nice Forums
Some good web-hosting sites
Ways to get people to your site.
Different advertising services


And most importantly, how should we start off.

We wanted to get a website started like Kevin Rose. Founder of digg.com
haha, i know we wont make 60 million in 18 months, but we just want to have an experience making one.

Thanks Guys! Hopefully I'll get some feedback.

[mairving]

I would start with a CMS (Content Management System) like Joomla. This will allow you to manage users and passwords. It also will allow you to incorporate components directly into the system like a forum. Forget about a hit counter. It gives a site a very unprofessional look.

As far as getting traffic to your site, advertising is one way although I don't think that it is the best way. Getting good search engine placement is another. As far as I am concerned the overall best way of getting traffic is giving people something that they can't get anywhere else or doing what everyone else is doing better. There really is no magic to it. Many people will tell that there is a magic formula and for x number of $$$ they can get you the traffic. Don't believe them.

[t7riggah]

Thank you so much mairving, I will try Joomla and follow your advice on traffic.


EDIT: Anybody else? I would like some recommendations of how to get a .com going and a good hosting service.

thanks

[t7riggah]

anybody?

[heymrdj]

I use MkPortal. I am a webhost (not advertising here) and i see myself as pretty good. If you wanna gimme a try you can pm me. If not, then like I said, MKportal is a good management system.

Oh and for domains, I recommend Namepros.