Simple Blog / Classifieds site required

Hi Martin

Blogs can be effective when used correctly and within context, however a blog is just one of many social media tools.

Social media is a lot more than blogs. At its most basic t is about connecting people through user profiles, interest and user generated content. There are many other tools, applications and widgets available to allow the sharing of music, video, links etc.

There are a host of white label Social networking platforms available ranging from solutions for small-scale communities such as the one your Polish friend is looking for, right through to larger solutions designed for large institutions.

All have different approaches, rules and revenue models. There is bound to be one that suites your needs. The downside to using one of these solutions is the lack of flexibility in creating your distinctive look and feel. You are also tied to their set of tools and how they are laid out/function.

Here are a few to get you going. If none of these work for you search for white label social networking platforms. I have just selected a random sample of ones that I know provide the scale of services your friend is looking for. To determine the best solution would require more information from your friend as to the goals and business plans he has for this. The best solution for him may not be within this list.

http://drupal.org/
http://www.ning.com/
http://www.phpfox.com/
http://www.phpizabi.net/
http://www.boonex.com/

The key to this will be the preparation you friend does. It is not a case of “If I build it, they will come.” He really has to get thinking about the audience, their expectations, why they would use this, how to get them to join, what will keep them coming back once they have joined, how is he going to market it blah blah blah. Is there a revenue model or is this a community service?

Get him to read the small print of the white label solution he goes for. With some of them you have no control over the advertising being displayed on the site and you have no recourse to any revenue advertising on your site earns.

I hope this helps

Alasdair

I'd add Joomla to that list, http://www.joomla.org/ especially if your friend is not too clued up web coding wise. Drupal is superb, but a bit geekish for the newbie. Added to which, both Drupal and Joomla have far more flexibility and a huge range of template designs to choose from, so nothing like as restrictive as Alasdair's comments may suggest. I think what he means is, those designs can be a bit baffling to tweak for a newbie.

Also with these two, they are Open Source. If there is any advertising at all on the site, it is because your friend invited it and has total control over it. He would receive all of the revenue which may accrue as a result.

Yes Joomla is a good option to consider.

With regard to the design element I was referring to the need to stick within their defined templates and design options. This is fine for a small community based site but can get restrictive for larger companies who are trying to integrate social media elements into their existing web presence and branding.

It is also restrictive for companies that are trying to integrate distinctive business rules, or who wish to use elements that are on offer rather than being tied into a template.

You also need to think about a seamless tie in between your website, your social media elements, mobile, ten-foot interface, e-commerce, t-commerce blah blah

All this is by the way in this instance, I was trying to keep it simple.

Lol. Indeed. There's nothing much there to disagree with. Just the fact that it's a start up with limited budget and, without excellent scripting skills, limited options. So a CMS with many plug in options already available and easy to integrate seems the best way to keep it simple at this point.

If this interweb thingy catches on and we're not all back to beer, skittles and clog dancing next week he can reconsider his next stage then, as the improved financial circumstances open up further options.