Website building, hosting etc....

Orville

Hi.

I am looking to start a website along the lines of ebay. Now i don't intend to buy sell but provide a website where people can do this.

Trouble is i am a complete noob with knowing what i need to do to achieve this and am looking for some recommendations and pointers please.

ivavoucher

easyhosting.co.uk charge £9.97 for 2 years domain name registration including 12 months free web hosting + you can host up to 5 domain names on one account.

Reviews of easyhosting here: http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(e...ng)_204757.htm

Have a look here http://easyhosting.co.uk/index.php?page=free_hosting

Included in the control panel is Installatron which gives you over 50 pre-installed scripts, I am not sure but there maybe an auction script. I know fantastico includes an auction script and they give you that as well

maryke

This is my take on the workflow that you should go through when creating a new website:

1.Research & Concept
2.Design & Build
3.Choose Host Server
4.Get Traffic
5.Maintenance


Which of these points are you asking about?

steve1980

Orville wrote: »

Hi.

I am looking to start a website along the lines of ebay. Now i don't intend to buy sell but provide a website where people can do this.

Trouble is i am a complete noob with knowing what i need to do to achieve this and am looking for some recommendations and pointers please.

Can you code a website? Do you use a CMS system? Have you any experience in this sort of thing?

Check out www.thewebsitehoster.co.uk for hosting options.

Orville

maryke wrote: »

This is my take on the workflow that you should go through when creating a new website:

1.Research & Concept
2.Design & Build
3.Choose Host Server
4.Get Traffic
5.Maintenance


Which of these points are you asking about?

Number 2 onwards..

Orville

steve1980 wrote: »

Can you code a website? Do you use a CMS system? Have you any experience in this sort of thing?

Check out www.thewebsitehoster.co.uk for hosting options.

I have no experience at all hence my ask for help on here.

ak2ae

In order you will need

- A domain name for the website (godaddy, namecheap)
- Hosting ( I am with hostmonster but hostgator is the most popular)
- Design the site if it is an ebay type site you may be able to get a classified script which works similar to ebay. If you do not have the skills to build the website outsource it on odesk.com or elance. There are some highly skilled web designers from countries such as phillipines and India that will design the site for you to your exact requirements for a reasonable price.
-Also if you are taking payments you would need a payment processor
- Once site is complete promote it and make your riches

maryke

Orville wrote: »

Number 2 onwards..

2. Design & Build -
Unless your intent is to start learning html, css, sql and server-side programming - you should use an outside web design company or freelancers to build & design your site.
Just google it and don't forget to check out these companies' portfolios to make sure they're up to standard.

If you want to do-it-yourself keep in mind that it can take you anywhere from several months to years in order to learn what's needed to create a quality website - depending on your background and how fast you catch on.

3. Choose Host Server -
You have a while until you get to this part. But one important thing to keep in mind here is whether you will be using PHP or ASP.NET as your server-side language (you'll need to decide this during step #2). This will determine if you will be needing a Linux server or Windows server.
Other than that, there are tons of places to host your website. Read reviews, check for guaranteed up-time and backup services.
Hosting services with live chats will make your life easier when you run into problems.

4. Get Traffic -
This part is the trickiest. There are tons of stuff to read online about how to promote websites.. a lot of BS out there too so just use common sense and learn from experience (You can also hire someone for this part if you don't think marketing is up your alley).

5. Maintenance -
Each site that's worth a mention requires maintenance. That's because things are never static and changes need to be made constantly. Add new pages, functionality, images, new designs etc..
Some web design companies will offer services like these. You can also get a freelancer for that or do it yourself - but that would require of you to learn all the stuff from #2.

Antispam

Ebay have had lots of clones many have failed and by your own admission your a "complete noob" if they can fail what makes you think you can succeed? Honestly I think you really need to take time and think whether this is right thing to do.

chunter

It seems Orville has been reading a book on positive thinking.
Fair play to him.

Some hosts may have this as a script.
http://www.phpauction.net/
although I haven't seen it personally.

Can't think how you could improve on the ebay model.
No other multinational company has in the last 10 years'
So I'd be slightly surprised if a single individual could take on the might of thousands of very well paid programmers, consultants and the like - that ebay is..

But having said that, Autotrader has taken an almighty kicking
in its market this last few years so anything's possible.

Orville

Lol it's nothing like taking on ebay at all. It's more to do with wanting to start up a local site for local people to advertise and sell their unwanted second hand goods. Say for instance i had an old settee i was going to get rid of. The site i intend to start would enable you to freely upload a pic with a small add asking people in the local area if they might be interested in it for a very small amount of money. So rather then chuck it out they would think 'i know i'll stick it on orville's site and see if someone will give me £20 for it" whatever old tat you have someone will always want it. I plan to run it as a hobbie at first and see how it goes. Maybe if/when it becomes popular local buisnesses and maybe some national companies might advertise and i would make money that way. https://www.wightbay.com that is an example of one local to me now that does very well.