creating a simple e-com website w/ forum

[snickdog]

To create a simple website like videohelp.com, what does one need? To have a forum included and accept ads what is needed? This would be a site for a beginner. Where can I find this type of information for a beginner to make a site like this? Note: I did first put this question out in 'Off Topics', but the replies were offensive.

[gadgetguy]

Your request is offensive. There's nothing "simple" about VideoHelp.com. It is an elegant site full of rich and useful features.

[lordsmurf]

Start with phpbb. Then learn OScommerce. Then learn php so you can tie them together and add customizations.

There's nothing simple about it.

[redwudz]

snickdog, please don't double post. One post per topic is enough. If you wish a topic moved, PM a Mod. The other post has been locked.

And what lordsmurf said. If you look to our page here, there are links to some of the software and hardware used: https://www.videohelp.com/about

Moderator redwudz

[snickdog]

people like gadgetguy making sarcastic remarks to me really don't help this site. Can you say 'how to help a newbie?' I'm not offensive but wanting to learn newbie. Remarks like that make newbies like me want to leave this site and go elsewhere, thus this site looses new mebers and ad rev. If you don't agree then tell that to the owner of this site - I'm sure he likes your useless/mean statements and want people like me to leave his site and ad rev. Can some forward this to the owner of this site? Learn from lordsmurf. Thank you lordsmurf for you kind help - that is what this site is for, not for mean unhelpful people. I'm trying to learn and I appreciate you kind help.

[oldandinthe way]

Snickdog

It is clear from your posts that you lack the skill to produce a website like videohelp. Or a feel for the magnitude of the task involved.

The reason you receive sarcastic responses is that you are completely oblivious of just how ignorant you are.

In my opinion, Lordsmurf's response is equally sarcastic, since it is highly unlikely that you will be able to implement such a website by following his advice.

When you post a message with a question about which you know nothing at all, it helps if you an develop an empathy with other posters by explaining why you are attempting to meet a need. Otherwise the solution to your need is to PAY a competant professional to help you implement your website.

[gadgetguy]

It was not a sarcastic remark, and it was not a personal attack. You sited that your other thread received offensive replies and I explained why. I've been here a long time and have watched VideoHelp.com grow and improve over the years. Baldrick, the site admin, has worked long and hard to meet and exceed the users expectations and I, for one, appreciate his efforts. To refer to this site as "simple" in the manner you did is insulting. It is simple for the end user to use, which is part of what makes it elegant, but it was not a simple process to get it there. You would have received a very different welcome, if you had worded your request more along the lines of. "I really like how this site is laid out and how it operates. What do I need to get and how can I accomplish something similar?" Hopefully you can see the difference and learn from it.

[freebird73717]

You would have received a very different welcome, if you had worded your request more along the lines of. "I really like how this site is laid out and how it operates. What do I need to get and how can I accomplish something similar?"

I agree whole heartedly.

Snickdog

I really don't feel the others were being rude at all. The term "simple" implies that it doesn't take very much to create and maintain a site like this. I really don't know the in's and out's of creating forum for a site but I do know that it is very involved just from reading some of the threads relating to phpbb posted by baldrick, the coalman, and lordsmurf. I think if you would have just omitted the word "simple" you would have gotten much different responses.

You can look into phpbb by checking the following link.
http://www.phpbb.com/

[snickdog]

You can't tell me the owner of this excellent site agrees with this mean spirited remark calling me ignorant? Look at what 'oldandinthe way' says:

"The reason you receive sarcastic responses is that you are completely oblivious of just how ignorant you are.

In my opinion, Lordsmurf's response is equally sarcastic, since it is highly unlikely that you will be able to implement such a website by following his advice."

I have intermediate experiece in video production and a leader in the private sector and non prof to buy video soft/hardware. Why should I come back here for help and look at the ads? I know the owner of this site would not agree with you. By the way, the rude comments have force me to look away from this site because of your rudeness (that is not the goal of this site)

I trying to simply find other help / links for beginners on building an easy ecom site with a forum. If there is any civil member on this site that can help this newbie that would be nice.

[lordsmurf]

In my opinion, Lordsmurf's response is equally sarcastic, since it is highly unlikely that you will be able to implement such a website by following his advice.

Yes and no. I've been making sites since about 1995, and have adopted several languages and programs. Even after 10 years of off and on (some casual, some professional) experience in creating, maintaining and implementing websites, I have to say that I can't do what Baldrick does. (I know ASP, not PHP.)

If a person doesn't even know to read the bottom of the site (or source code) to learn what makes a site tick, then it's unlikely they'd know much about putting one together. This excludes business sense and hosting needs, which are just as important.

The most I can say is to learn the open-source he does, and then wish you good luck.

phpBB is not a very friendly setup and is not as secure as, for example, vBulletin or SMF. phpbb3 is really a huge pain in the ass as far as I'm concerned, a downgrade in some areas. OScommerce is about as easy as touching your nose with your elbow. And the you've got to have a pretty decent grasp of PHP to tie systems together and customize. Maybe you'll get lucky and find others who have done it AND made guides/scripts for you.

You have to learn how to crawl before walking. Before running. And before performing complex acrobatic stunts (an analogy to what videohelp is).

Try to make simple HTML first. Then learn one new thing after that. Repeat as needed until you arrive here.

There's nothing simple about a good site. You can install phpbb, but it's easy to crash a server, overrun resources, or get hacked, if you don't actually know what you're doing. Setting up the mySQL alone can be too much for some folks.

To some degree, it's like walking up to a doctor, and asking him how you can also perform easy surgeries like he does. You'll get rolled eyes, evil stares, and you'll be put in your place. I'm trying to not do that, I'm giving out information as best I can, but with an attached warning that this stuff is NOT easy.

Or, in another area where we can both relate, take this situation. I've worked on some Premiere projects that take up to 20 hours of editing. I've had people ask me how they can do it. It's one of those things where, if you have to ask, you're not ready. I don't know what your level of experience is, but imagine your most complicated video project, and then ask you how they can also make such an easy video. To top it off, they'll probably toss in the lovely gem of "in freeware".

............ on another note, you mention "e-com" (meaning e-commerce) in the post title, but seem to be after banner ad revenue. E-com is selling things online, shopping carts, using something like OScommerce (or any number of solutions -- some free, some not; some PHP, some not).

Ad revenue is where the marketing comes in, and it requires more than an average IT person will ever know or understand. Ads are tied to traffic trends, audience identification, and search engines (SEO). You can use something like Google AdWords, but there are downfalls to that system, and it won't pay as well as you might think.

Online resources on this topic are lacking. They start at intermediate levels, more or less. You need to go the book route to learn anything "newbie"-like. I'm doing the same right now. I've got a big book on CSS and need to buy another topic here soon.

I just don't know how to help you any more. It really is a complex subject. I would see if a blogger somewhere has discussed this process at length.

Again, good luck.

[snickdog]

Thank you for this very helpful information. I will start using it and learn more. Too bad you were also misrepresented in this forum. If they can't help they need to stay off; and they need to be like you. Thanks again.

[lordsmurf]

There are a number of us here that work professionally (in some capacity) in various media fields. Others are serious hobbyists. Just latch on to those folks, and ignore the ones that are just here to compensate for whatever.

We'll help you, in between the heckles from the peanut gallery.

It's really that way all over the Internet. Sad, but a reality.

Sometimes you just get people on a bad day, or they come across rude when they're not (I'm guilty of this, because I don't sugar-coat anything or use long-winded speeches full of politically-correct euphemisms). Gadgetguy seems to have been insulted, and reacted accordingly, which is not typical of his helpful nature. Remember these factors.

Check your PM, too.

[videobread]

Oldandintheway said, "PAY a competent professional to help you implement your website".

Good advise. I did my own site and have maintained it for years. I'm a not all that competent professional. People, including relatives, have asked me to do sites for them over the years. They are willing to pay. I always flatly refuse. I believe you have to do it yourself. You will want to change the site on day two. The professional will work with you for a few days. Within a short time it will be too expensive to pay a programer to make ongoing changes.

[lordsmurf]

Give a fish, teach him to fish, yadda yadda ... I agree, to a point. That's best reserved for people who want or need updates. Those who want something up and static make for great customers. You can also retain an SLA if you want updates, but don't want to do it yourself.

[freebird73717]

You can't tell me the owner of this excellent site agrees with this mean spirited remark calling me ignorant? Look at what 'oldandinthe way' says:

"The reason you receive sarcastic responses is that you are completely oblivious of just how ignorant you are.

Okay I gotta admit I didn't read his reply. I agree that it really wasn't neccessary. Especially calling you ignorant. Lord Smurf is right though. There are some very knowlegable and helpful people in this community. Most people here are very willing to help. Myself included. I'm not a "pro". Just enjoy this hobby. If I new more about the subject I would be happy to help.


Good luck to ya man!

And since you haven't been properly greeted yet...
Welcome to our Forums.

[ahhaa]

snickdog-
google freeforums & you'll find a couple outfits that will let you just run a forum without learning code. Tie that to a free blog and you are in business. Later you can migrate if you want.