Looking for an HTML guru/business partner

[fustercluck]

Hey, you can be my business partner, doesn't that sound exciting?!? Of course it does. Keep reading if you're interested.

This is a revived thread

Basically I want to launch a website that is popular enough to generate some cash through advertising. The problem is I suck at web design, tried to learn it in the past but it just gave me headaches and bored me out of my mind. So, I need someone to help with all the html stuff (or css...or whatever language you want the website to be programmed in). I can't pay upfront, so I can understand why it's hard for me to find people who want to help out. Hopefully the site becomes successful and you'll be paid a fair cut of the ad revenue. Though if the site is a big failure, you probably won't be paid at all. Not that it would be your fault, just that I wouldn't have any money to pay you. That, and because it would be entirely your fault. But don't fear failure, be optimistic. At least you don't have to spend any money, I'll take care of domain and hosting.

What kind of site it will be I'm not sure, but I've been planning on a flash games site, even though there's a ton out there already. I've been collecting and reviewing flash games the past couple weeks.

PM me or reply with questions or if you're interested

 

[plzunlockahurtt]

I don't want to be rude and call you any names or anything. But let me just say this post makes you sound like the biggest idiot on the face of this planet or any other planet in the known universe for that matter. Especially the part where, after stating you basically have no real business plan and no money to pay anybody and you don't even state what your own role in the "enterprise" would be, you have the nerve to say that if it turns out a failure it would be entirely the fault of whomever was agreeing to help you in the first place. You are going to take care of the domain registration and hosting. That will take all of what. . .like 2 hours of your time and probably < $200? If this is how you sell an idea, I suggest you stay well clear of "advertising" because to put it in the kindest possible terms, you are not very persuasive at all.

 

[bsobel]

I can only conclude this is a (bad) joke or parody thread, right?

 

[skrilla]

If you're not sure what the site will be about...

and I have to code and design the whole thing.. what the hell do I need you for?

 

[txrandom]

So basically your idea is to compile a list of copyrighted flash games and put them on your site?

And the only thing you will be doing is coming up with this "great" idea?

And your "partner" will do all the work while probably making 30% of the "profit"?

 

[fustercluck]

Heh, jesus... take it easy guys. I was joking around a bit in the OP but it shouldn't of made anyone angry. No it wouldn't be the web designer's fault if the site failed, that was a joke. Who said I'm going to steal copyrighted flash games? =/ - Most flash games are made to be put on blogs/myspace because it sends people backt to the author's site. And also, who said I had a "great" idea?

Like I said, I got the domain name, and hosting. Also I mentioned I've been reviewing and collecting flash games. I plan to have at least 100 pages of unique content by the time the site launches. If you don't want on board, fine, I can definitely understand, but don't get your panties in a twist for nothing.

 

[jjones]

Sounds interesting. Will there be a newsletter?

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: jjones
Sounds interesting. Will there be a newsletter?

Could be...does anyone subscribe to those?

 

[aceO07]

What is the timeline for this project?
Are you willing to pay based on set goals?
What technologies are you planning on using?
How much money do you expect to get on a monthly basis? How will this be divided?
What skills or knowledge do you provide? You said you're not good at web design or management...
How much do you believe in your idea? Enough to make others follow you? Why isn't this a 'great' idea?

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: aceO07
What is the timeline for this project?
Are you willing to pay based on set goals?
What technologies are you planning on using?
How much money do you expect to get on a monthly basis? How will this be divided?
What skills or knowledge do you provide? You said you're not good at web design or management...
How much do you believe in your idea? Enough to make others follow you? Why isn't this a 'great' idea?

I'm not trying to launch the next Youtube, just launching a site as a fun hobby and hopefully something I can make money with. But, to answer your questions:

What is the timeline for this project?

No timeline but I would like to get it done soon, already been thinking it out for a month, just need someone to help me put it together.

Are you willing to pay based on set goals?

Probably not, would rather just give a % of the monthly revenue or something like that (again, hoping there is a monthly revenue).

What technologies are you planning on using?

Not sure what you mean...

How much money do you expect to get on a monthly basis? How will this be divided?

Being my first website I have no idea how much to expect on a monthly basis. Maybe the first few months the site will bring in $5 a month and a year down the road it will bring in $200 a month. There's no way to tell what to expect. I would imagine the site getting more popular as time goes on.

What skills or knowledge do you provide? You said you're not good at web design or management...

I think I'd be very good at management of the site. I know what I want the site to be like, and have a basic idea for how it will all look. I know a few things about SEO (Search Engine Optimization...knowing what SEO stands for is one of the things I know about it ) and I have a lot of good SEO resources. I'm also familiar with Google Adsense. I know how to get people to a site, and also know what steers people away.

How much do you believe in your idea? Enough to make others follow you? Why isn't this a 'great' idea?

It's not really an idea in the first place, besides the original idea I had to start a website. A website filled with flash games is not an original idea. There are tons out there already. Hopefully what sets the planned site apart from the others is the hand picked flash games (no crappy ones) and the blog-like structure of the site. I have little passion for flash games, which is why it's been hard for me to decide if that's what I want the site to be based on. Though, since I'm not passionate for anything else, a flash games site will do...everyone likes a good flash game. I think It would be a good 'first' website experience, one I can learn a lot from hopefully. Then maybe down the road, I start an original website, maybe even something I'm passionate about, something I haven't found yet.

I hope that clears some things up. I didn't mean for this to sound like a real serious job offer or anything, more of a hobby/fun do-it-in-your-spare-time kind of thing. It would make it much easier if I had a web design ace to help me build/manage the site, so I was hoping someone might want on board.

But, I might end up doing it all by myself, if I couldn't find anyone.

Can PM me also if you want, don't need to use this thread.

 

[fustercluck]

Bump

 

[fustercluck]

Last call

 

[bsobel]

Please stop bumping this thread, there is no need to do so.

 

[alpha88]

I actually sent a real PM.

 

[icklejez]

Originally posted by: skrilla
If you're not sure what the site will be about...

and I have to code and design the whole thing.. what the hell do I need you for?

haha, Its all very well going for gold with these things but you're destined to blend into the background of average, boring flash game sites unless you come up with an original idea that steps your site above the rest. Not only that but people will avoid your site as its unknown and could be full of random annoying smiley averts going

"SAY SOMETHING!"

all the frickin time.

 

[George P Burdell]

psst... its already been done

 

[fustercluck]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: George P Burdell
psst... its already been done</end quote></div>

They just add anything they can find. Their play of the week is "Avatar Prom: Pimp my Prom", guess you can't diss it till you try it, but I think I'll pass. They have hundreds of games on their front page alone, but how many are worth playing? If I had a flash games site it would only have quality games on it, that's the plan.

There are other good flash game sites out there though. I never claimed I had a great new idea for a website. Flash games appeal to everyone and are linked back to often.

 

[O2Deprived]

Though, since I'm not passionate for anything else, a flash games site will do...everyone likes a good flash game. I think It would be a good 'first' website experience, one I can learn a lot from hopefully. Then maybe down the road, I start an original website, maybe even something I'm passionate about, something I haven't found yet.

Not that I want to dismiss your idea, but you should probably do your first site on something you are passionate about. You'd probably come up with a better site if you do that. Starting a business (or website) isn't easy, but you just make it tougher if you don't care all that much about it.

 

[fustercluck]

Well, like I said I'll probably use this site as a learning experience and then launch a site down the road about something I am passionate about (which I can't think of right now ).

Still no one wants to help? Drats. It will be a real simple site to create, so easy I could almost make it myself. There's only 2 basic pages that need to be made, the main site, and the page featuring the flash game.

Here's an example of what I have in mind:
Main page
Page with flash game

Just crappy examples, but it shows how simple I want the site to be. I bet someone here could design the whole site in under an hour.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Adaman
Well, like I said I'll probably use this site as a learning experience and then launch a site down the road about something I am passionate about (which I can't think of right now ).

Still no one wants to help? Drats. It will be a real simple site to create, so easy I could almost make it myself. There's only 2 basic pages that need to be made, the main site, and the page featuring the flash game.

Here's an example of what I have in mind:
Main page
Page with flash game

Just crappy examples, but it shows how simple I want the site to be. I bet someone here could design the whole site in under an hour.

What you're looking for is a dynamic web site. That takes more work and skills than plain html. You need some web dev language and a database and a good eye for design.

Ruby on Rail should be able to do what you want quickly. It may take under an hour, but only for someone who has good amount of experience with it.

It's great that you are eager to get this working. I suggest that you also try to learn some of the development technologies yourself while you are looking for help. This will help you to understand the process and also any issues that may come up and also to evaluate the help that you will be getting.

 

[Markbnj]

Originally posted by: aceO07
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Adaman
Well, like I said I'll probably use this site as a learning experience and then launch a site down the road about something I am passionate about (which I can't think of right now ).

Still no one wants to help? Drats. It will be a real simple site to create, so easy I could almost make it myself. There's only 2 basic pages that need to be made, the main site, and the page featuring the flash game.

Here's an example of what I have in mind:
Main page
Page with flash game

Just crappy examples, but it shows how simple I want the site to be. I bet someone here could design the whole site in under an hour.
</end quote></div>

What you're looking for is a dynamic web site. That takes more work and skills than plain html. You need some web dev language and a database and a good eye for design.

Ruby on Rail should be able to do what you want quickly. It may take under an hour, but only for someone who has good amount of experience with it.

It's great that you are eager to get this working. I suggest that you also try to learn some of the development technologies yourself while you are looking for help. This will help you to understand the process and also any issues that may come up and also to evaluate the help that you will be getting.

QFT. Ruby can do it. PhP can do it. ASP.Net can do it. You can use SQL Server, or MySQL, or Postgre, or Oracle, or Access if you have to. Technology isn't your issue: vision is. There aren't that many experienced web developers hanging around looking for something to do. If you want to attract someone talented enough to get the work done and maybe give it that extra polish that will make it professional, then you have to give them some reason to be interested beyond "Hey, let's throw together some sorta website!"

Basically, if you have a casual idea for a website and want to mess around with it, you have two choices: do it yourself or turn to some circle of friends with similar interests. You don't necessarily need to turn into a programmer. Perhaps Wordpress or some other canned package like DotNetNuke or Terragen's CommunityServer will do a good chunk of what you need, and present no more challenge than learning, say, a new accounting package. However, if you utterly lack any visual skill you may still have a hard time getting to a professional look and feel.

If none of that is possible then you need to examine your goals. Outside talent isn't typically easy to attract to casually explored ideas unless they address some exciting area or need. You haven't met that standard here. If you have in mind a business and a more than casual approach, you haven't met that standard either. If you're the idea guy, then sell your idea, but do it in PMs and keep your public appeals general. Before you start, get to the point where you have something in mind that gets _you_ excited as hell. The rest will fall into place through persistent effort.

My $.02, fwiw.

 

[fustercluck]

Thanks for the info.

Still seems like each programming language is more confusing than the next. I don't need a web design/coding professional, just someone who knows what they're doing. My brain does not compute this kind of stuff. I don't know what the hell Wordpress, DotNetNuke, or Terragen's CommunityServer are - It doesn't seem like what I want to do has to be this complicated. Though, I obviously can't do it, and I'm computer savvy. So it must be pretty complicated. I'm still think someone else could design the entire site in under an hour, but just guesstimating.

 

[crimson117]

Originally posted by: Adaman
Well, like I said I'll probably use this site as a learning experience and then launch a site down the road about something I am passionate about (which I can't think of right now ).

Still no one wants to help? Drats. It will be a real simple site to create, so easy I could almost make it myself. There's only 2 basic pages that need to be made, the main site, and the page featuring the flash game.

Here's an example of what I have in mind:
Main page
Page with flash game

Just crappy examples, but it shows how simple I want the site to be. I bet someone here could design the whole site in under an hour.

The only thing you have to add to this venture is your game-reviewing skill, and your SEO skill. In all seriousness, why would any web developer have any reason to believe that your game-reviewing skill or SEO skill is so spectacular that it will distinguish your site from all the other flash gaming sites on the internet?

I suggest you start with a blog (http://blogger.com) and post your game reviews there. If you're that good at reviewing, you'll get plenty of traffic, and you'll have some money from ads to pay a developer to make a custom site. If you're not that good at reviewing, then at least you've learned and have only wasted your own time.

 

[fustercluck]

Again, I'm not trying to launch an awesome and unique flash game site. Just a simple site I can make a hobby out of and hopefully generate some cash with. I'm going to make it the best I can (If I can get someone to help out with the designing), but I'm not trying to convince anyone that I have great SEO and game-reviewing skill/knowledge. I don't know how I'm giving you guys this idea - This is one of those topics where I keep saying one thing but everyone else reads another thing. I am still appreciative of all the help though.

 

[crimson117]

Originally posted by: Adaman
I'm not trying to convince anyone that I have great SEO and game-reviewing skill/knowledge. I don't know how I'm giving you guys this idea - This is one of those topics where I keep saying one thing but everyone else reads another thing. I am still appreciative of all the help though.

Dude... you specifically said that what you'll contribute to the site is SEO and hand-picking games. How have I misread your words?

Here's where you say you know SEO:

Originally posted by: Adaman
What skills or knowledge do you provide? You said you're not good at web design or management...

...I have a lot of good SEO resources. ... I know how to get people to a site, and also know what steers people away.

Here's where you say your game-picking skills will set your site apart from all the others:

Originally posted by: Adaman
How much do you believe in your idea? Enough to make others follow you? Why isn't this a 'great' idea?

...Hopefully what sets the planned site apart from the others is the hand picked flash games (no crappy ones)

If you're not particularly good at either of those things, then how do you expect to convince a web developer to put their time on the line for free?

In other words, why are you worth the risk to them?

Normally, non-techies like yourself contribute some great non-computer skill, like photography, or writing, or drawing, and then a developer joins with them to get their skill presented on the web. In this case, you're basically asking someone to make a site and give it to you, with you providing at most a list of games you like. I find it unlikely that anyone would be interested in that.

Any for anyone who would be interested in developing it, you still haven't answered why they would bother to join with you instead of just doing it themselves and keeping all the revenue.