How do I create an on line Shop

HughG

I want to open an on line shop selling MP4 video files. I also want the shop to have various one minute MP4 clips of each file which will be in way of introducing the potential customer to that particular file and the clips shall be available to freely download.
Initially I intend the shop to have around 100GB of file space, but I want to have the facility to add more files (and therefore size) at a later date.
After the start up of the on line shop I want the visitors that have purchased a download of one or more of the MP4 files to be able to register with a forum that’ll be part of the web site. I would need to administer all postings to the site prior to the posting being able to be viewed by the outside world. Similarly I want the customer to be able to upload any relevant clips that they have for possible addition to later MP4 files, once again I’d want to administer the uploaded clips prior to outside viewing.
Advice is needed –
a) An ISP that will offer the technical ability to create such an on line shop
b) An ISP that will offer hosting of a large video content that will grow and develop over time
c) Facility/software for a customer to be offered the opportunity to register for membership of the forum
d) The software involved in registering an individual and identifying them at a later date
e) The ISP would need to offer the tools necessary for me to be an administrator of the forum

Marty_J

Who is creating the files you're selling?

You really need to pay someone to do all of this for you. An ISP isn't going to do it.

There are legal issues regarding allowing people to upload their own content, so I'd advise you also speak to a solicitor.

Having someone build you a website is the easy bit.

double_d77

You need a host to to give you bandwidth for the MP4 files, the size of the space you want may cost you a small fortune.

As for a free easy to build online site then try oscommerce.com

Dave

thebyp

Hi,

Ok, there are several options here, but the first thing you will need is space. Static web space from any old provider is fine so long as you own the rights to the files and its not illegal in some fashion, or restricted (such as adult).

Ok, so you've got your content stored somewhere, now you need to distribute your files in some way. If its just files then you can either use a shopping cart system such as recomended above with the content distribution module, oscommerce for that matter has numerous modules available.

The other option would be to use a content delivery system / script. There are many of them about, and they can deliver your content efficiently either one at a time or in bulk lots.

The second is much more flexible, but only allows you to distribute files. The first will allow for selling other things.

Hope that helps.

- Benjamin

thebyp

oh, and bandwidth is reasonably cheap these days so no real need to worry about that either. (Its as cheap as £0.005/GB depending on where you go).

HughG

Thanks, you've gave me a lot to think about.

isofa

I'd employ a professional web designer, this is complex and needs knowledge.

If you are technically proficient however, you could write this site using ASP or all manner of web database languages. You could also look at ready to go checkout systems, such as Google Checkout. However you'll still need a good content managed site wrapped around this for catalogues etc.

HughG

Oh dear. Why am I starting to feel that this is going to take one hell of a lot longer a timescale than I had planned. Oh well, not to worry. I'll get there. Thanks for all the comments man.

thebyp

It doesn't need to take that long. Do you have any technical skills at all?

M4RKM

ISP's won't do this... i think that has already been said..

tbh, you're probably looking at a dedicated server, as bandwidth / file space etc, and just the load on the server would be immense if it actually took off and was a success...

thebyp

Given the OP's technical knowledge I would have thought a shared cluster would be better.

markymoo wrote: »

ISP's won't do this... i think that has already been said..

tbh, you're probably looking at a dedicated server, as bandwidth / file space etc, and just the load on the server would be immense if it actually took off and was a success...