Web Startup Newbie

[EdfromCocoa]

I have a lot of PC experience but am interested in assisting Kentucky farmers who need to get a web presence. I am retiring next year (Spring 2008) and am interested in learning the skill sets I need to develop a state wide web for them. I am interested in giving back to local farmers who need help there.

Here are the specifics:

1. Looking to develop dynamaic web sites so I c n help them upload their products, pictures, prices and how to get to them. I have heard of Dreamweaver, Java, etc. but would look to a KY ISP to assist with firewall issues, etc.

2. Would like to sell at bulk rates laptops so farmers can go to local WIFI spot to see what they need to do. I would like to program their requirements but need to start now learning the skill sets.

3. I saw the need for this when I was in KY last month (where my son lives) at a farmer's market. The farmers know about the web but they just don't know how to get a good presence on the web.

Thanks,

Ed

 

[ppdes]

Just go with a shared web host while you are starting out. The hosting company will take care of all the hardware, system administration, backup power, business quality internet connection, etc.. Most offer ridiculous deals for the first year, so you are risking nothing that way.

Even once you do move up to your own server, doing collocation (your server in someone else's data center) may turn out to be a better choice than leasing a business line from the ISP and trying to handle everything.

 

[Markbnj]

Shared platform is definitely the way to go. You can get good enough deals that you basically don't need to think about infrastructure cost for your first year. You can pay it out of spare cash.

Which is good, because you'll need money for software development. If you don't do website development yourself then I suggest your first task is to seek out a developer to partner with (I use the term partner loosely), and meet with that person to sketch out your idea. If you get them interested they will be able to inform you on things like what operating system, web application platform, and content resources you'll need. That will drive the ISP/hosting choices and tell you what you need to get going.

If you have money to invest just hire a consulting company that can take you through the whole thing from idea to execution. It not, then partnering/equity sharing is the way to attract the help you need.

Good luck with it.

 

[EdfromCocoa]

Guys, thanks for the good info. I plan to go forward with this once I get back from a hiking trip to Glacier National Park in Montana in September.

Ed

 

[George P Burdell]

* Hosting and support are generally cheaper for the PHP/MySQL platform as compared to Windows hosting.

* I'm not sure if this applies to you, but there are a number of hosting companies that give free hosting to non-profit organizations. For example:
http://wiki.dreamhost.com/index.php/Non-profit_Discount