[lrs_17]

My boyfriend and I have come up with a brilliant idea for a website, but we lack the knowledge to make it a reality. He did IT at college and has some experience with HTML, but only enough to make basic websites. I have vague CSS and HTML knowledge but am more the design side for it.
But basically, what are our options?
How easy would it be to learn how to make a relatively complex website (think Neopets with social networking elements, sounds kinda rubbish, but trust me, it's good )?
Or to find someone with the knowledge to help us?
Or any other suggestions?

[ct2k7]

You could contact a web designer and developer to help you with it.

If someone comes to me to help them with something, assuming that they're willing to do most of it, I'd help them do it.

[ATCAdam]

(Original post by lrs_17)
My boyfriend and I have come up with a brilliant idea for a website, but we lack the knowledge to make it a reality. He did IT at college and has some experience with HTML, but only enough to make basic websites. I am more the design side for it.
But basically, what are our options?
How easy would it be to learn how to make a relatively complex website (think Neopets with social networking elements, sounds kinda rubbish, but trust me, it's good )?
Or to find someone with the knowledge to help us?
Or any other suggestions?

Look up a freelance web designer, other than that do it yourself.

Check YouTube and Google for tutorials. Start basic then work up the functionality on each iteration.

The more you have the easier it will be to access funding rather then saying me and my boyfriend have an idea you can show people what you actually have and what they can invest in. The more the idea is a reality the easier it will be for other people to believe in. (If I said to you pre-facebook that I have an idea for a website where people can share photos and poke each other you'd be like ok that sounds rubbish)

Good news is if it's any good: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/81373638-a...#axzz1wJ9cGZvw

See if anyone you know likes the idea and would do web design work for a share of the idea and any money it makes.

[frankieboy]

Be prepared to outlay a fair amount of cash to have that done. It will be more complicated than you think. I estimate the price will easily be four figures for that. Possibly five.

To learn how to do it yourself - it's perfectly possible but would probably take you a few years to get up to that kind of standard.

The other possibility is if there is already a framework that kind of takes care of it that you could customise, for example wordpress is used for blogs and a lot of sites nowadays, vbulletin etc. etc. is used for forums (or whatever it is nowadyas) etc. - but even then you would have to get up to a fairly high skill level to install and customise that properly.

My advice is do the last option if it exsists, and hire a web dev to install and customise it. It will cut out a lot of the workload but will still be shockingly expensive. If it isn't shockingly expensive, then question the quality of work you are paying for. If it's too cheap, it should raise a few questions.

As a literal answer to your question - start learning php and mysql. But you have a long long road ahead of you.

[theredd]

For the standard web site and social networking aspects you'll to want to look into CMSs or Content Management Systems. A content management system is basically a relatively easy to use, flexible website template. You don't need to do so much building from the ground up, you simply choose or make your own themes, addons and content for the site. It basically turns web design into building blocks to be put together.

People will have (in nost cases) already made social networking addons for the CMS systems so you just need to put them together and learn how to alter them for your own needs. Look up Wordpress, Joomla and Drupal. These are 3 such systems. You'll have to decide for yourself which is best.

If you're involving actual game design (moving graphics, sounds, keyboard input etc, typical web game style) then your best bet is probably to either learn the language "Flash" (many, many web games are made in this language, although it is becoming slightly less widespread), as it is pretty simple and perfect for small web games. You should them just be able to embed these easily on your site.

Then you should be done! The above steps however, are not the easiest. You're going to have a lot of learning to do, but its definitely possible!

[lrs_17]

(Original post by ATCAdam)
Look up a freelance web designer, other than that do it yourself.

Check YouTube and Google for tutorials. Start basic then work up the functionality on each iteration.

The more you have the easier it will be to access funding rather then saying me and my boyfriend have an idea you can show people what you actually have and what they can invest in. The more the idea is a reality the easier it will be for other people to believe in. (If I said to you pre-facebook that I have an idea for a website where people can share photos and poke each other you'd be like ok that sounds rubbish)

Good news is if it's any good: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/81373638-a...#axzz1wJ9cGZvw

See if anyone you know likes the idea and would do web design work for a share of the idea and any money it makes.

Thank you, we were planning on setting up a very basic website to give an idea of what it would be initially, and then maybe finding help or learning it ourselves from there.

[lrs_17]

(Original post by frankieboy)
Be prepared to outlay a fair amount of cash to have that done. It will be more complicated than you think. I estimate the price will easily be four figures for that. Possibly five.

To learn how to do it yourself - it's perfectly possible but would probably take you a few years to get up to that kind of standard.

The other possibility is if there is already a framework that kind of takes care of it that you could customise, for example wordpress is used for blogs and a lot of sites nowadays, vbulletin etc. etc. is used for forums (or whatever it is nowadyas) etc. - but even then you would have to get up to a fairly high skill level to install and customise that properly.

My advice is do the last option if it exsists, and hire a web dev to install and customise it. It will cut out a lot of the workload but will still be shockingly expensive. If it isn't shockingly expensive, then question the quality of work you are paying for. If it's too cheap, it should raise a few questions.

As a literal answer to your question - start learning php and mysql. But you have a long long road ahead of you.

Thank you, I'll look in to getting a web developer, perhaps for the more complex stuff once we've covered all the basics.

[Mad Vlad]

(Original post by lrs_17)
Thank you, we were planning on setting up a very basic website to give an idea of what it would be initially, and then maybe finding help or learning it ourselves from there.

What's the idea. We'll tell you if it's a goer.

[lrs_17]

(Original post by Mad Vlad)
What's the idea. We'll tell you if it's a goer.

It's all a bit up in the air at the moment, something aimed at the teen market, similar to neopets but with more of a "gameplay" and social networking element.
Kinda hard to explain aha.
I know it's going to take us years to do (if at all) but I can dream...

[Sir Fox]

(Original post by lrs_17)
Thank you, we were planning on setting up a very basic website to give an idea of what it would be initially, and then maybe finding help or learning it ourselves from there.

Are you at university? There surely will be an IT department and some of your friends might know IT students. If you meet some at parties, in societies or wherever, present your idea and convince them, carry them away. Taken it is as good as you claim, he/she/they will either find it interesting enough to join the project for free, or may want a (financial) share of the success later.

[ct2k7]

(Original post by Sir Fox)
Are you at university? There surely will be an IT department and some of your friends might know IT students. If you meet some at parties, in societies or wherever, present your idea and convince them, carry them away. Taken it is as good as you claim, he/she/they will either find it interesting enough to join the project for free, or may want a (financial) share of the success later.

I had to teach guys in the IT department here how to use PHP properly :/

[lrs_17]

(Original post by Sir Fox)
Are you at university? There surely will be an IT department and some of your friends might know IT students. If you meet some at parties, in societies or wherever, present your idea and convince them, carry them away. Taken it is as good as you claim, he/she/they will either find it interesting enough to join the project for free, or may want a (financial) share of the success later.

Yeah, I have been trying to find IT students, I have a couple of possible people to ask but I would feel a bit cheeky as I don't know them very well.
But that's one on my many possible plans aha

[Eddwo]

I have some experience with internet software development. Im currently a computer science student. In terms of designing the look and feel i cant help too much but the software and implimenting the user interface I'm your guy.

I'd love to help you guys out.

[Mad Vlad]

(Original post by lrs_17)
It's all a bit up in the air at the moment, something aimed at the teen market, similar to neopets but with more of a "gameplay" and social networking element.
Kinda hard to explain aha.
I know it's going to take us years to do (if at all) but I can dream...

Interesting. My recommendation would be to find someone who has the technical expertise (of a similar age) and go into partnership, if you're looking to move this forward.

[SunderX]

You mean something like www.kongregate.com, but targeted at younger teens?

[Sir Fox]

(Original post by ct2k7)
I had to teach guys in the IT department here how to use PHP properly :/

One of my friends from secondary school set up his own (quite successful) web design company when he was 14 So even if not every single student has the required knowledge, chances are she'll find people who do

[frankieboy]

(Original post by lrs_17)
It's all a bit up in the air at the moment, something aimed at the teen market, similar to neopets but with more of a "gameplay" and social networking element.

It will be heavily database driven and heaviy dynamic. Also, I'm estimating you will wanting to be looking at security, whether it be ssl or hash encryption of passwords, probably both + a million other little jobs. What if someone cracks your database open and it contains sensitive info about your customers or members? You could find yourself in a fair amount of trouble. You will need to safeguard against those things. A good web developer will be able to take care of such troublesome jobs for you.

(Original post by Sir Fox)
There surely will be an IT departmen

Use the IT dept. if you want a fourth rate, badly designed, table layout with no security, visual heirarchy, out of date technology, which never quite gets finished, crashes all the time, and basically acts like a massive albatross around your neck.

(Original post by ct2k7)
I had to teach guys in the IT department here how to use PHP properly :/

Oooooooooohh lucky you!!! You must have nearly wet your pants when that scintillating opportunity came your way. Sounds like a blast and a half!
Seriously though, for the IT dept to want to learn PHP, they must also be doubling up as web devs, I guess?

(Original post by lrs_17)
Yeah, I have been trying to find IT students, I have a couple of possible people to ask but I would feel a bit cheeky as I don't know them very well.
But that's one on my many possible plans aha

Thinking about it, it might be possible as mentioned above, with Drupal or Joomla (I'd go with Drupal). But I forsee heavy custom programming coming into it at some stage. Plus you have the graphic design as well.
If you really think this site is a go-er, and you think you will make money from it, my advice would be to treat it like a proper business, get a business loan and find yourself a good web developer who's current, understands everything from visual design principles through to drupal installation/customisation, security, etc. and if it was me I'd be preparing myself for something in the region of about 3 or 4 grand (at least) for a quality product of this nature. No, seriously. Perhaps 2, but that still seems a bit cheap. Maybe 10, maybe 20. Depends on who you go to. Some agencies may charge you this. Best bet is a good solid freelancer. Not a freelancer from one of those freelance sites because the proper freelancers don't bother with those.

If you can get it done properly cheaper than that then more power to you, but once you find out what's actually involved from start to finish, you'll understand why it costs that kind of money to get a good job.

If you get it done on the cheap and get a bad job done by amateurs, mark my words, you'll be regretting that big time for a long time. It'll either kick up a lot of issues, or it'll just sit there gathering dust.

[Sir Fox]

(Original post by frankieboy)
x

Unemployed web designer or why the rant? I know "amateurs" who would make you an amazing website, refer to my last post for an example.

[lrs_17]

(Original post by frankieboy)
It will be heavily database driven and heaviy dynamic. Also, I'm estimating you will wanting to be looking at security, whether it be ssl or hash encryption of passwords, probably both + a million other little jobs. What if someone cracks your database open and it contains sensitive info about your customers or members? You could find yourself in a fair amount of trouble. You will need to safeguard against those things. A good web developer will be able to take care of such troublesome jobs for you

Thinking about it, it might be possible as mentioned above, with Drupal or Joomla (I'd go with Drupal). But I forsee heavy custom programming coming into it at some stage. Plus you have the graphic design as well.
If you really think this site is a go-er, and you think you will make money from it, my advice would be to treat it like a proper business, get a business loan and find yourself a good web developer who's current, understands everything from visual design principles through to drupal installation/customisation, security, etc. and if it was me I'd be preparing myself for something in the region of about 3 or 4 grand (at least) for a quality product of this nature. No, seriously. Perhaps 2, but that still seems a bit cheap. Maybe 10, maybe 20. Depends on who you go to. Some agencies may charge you this. Best bet is a good solid freelancer. Not a freelancer from one of those freelance sites because the proper freelancers don't bother with those.

If you can get it done properly cheaper than that then more power to you, but once you find out what's actually involved from start to finish, you'll understand why it costs that kind of money to get a good job.

If you get it done on the cheap and get a bad job done by amateurs, mark my words, you'll be regretting that big time for a long time. It'll either kick up a lot of issues, or it'll just sit there gathering dust.

Great advice thanks
I will definitely get an excellent web developer involved at some point, even if just to fine tune everything. (Though will probably need them for more than that). I am going to take charge of the graphic design side of things, so there should be no problem there.
Just need to raise funds and get that basic set up initially.

[ct2k7]

(Original post by frankieboy)
Oooooooooohh lucky you!!! You must have nearly wet your pants when that scintillating opportunity came your way. Sounds like a blast and a half!
Seriously though, for the IT dept to want to learn PHP, they must also be doubling up as web devs, I guess?

I believe that half of them were student helpers. I've already gained a Zend PHP 5.3 certification, so I was more than happy to teach them.