forum based website---help needed

[Fitness Bug]

Hi People,

As the title says,

I need some help and advice on setting up a forum based website, The theme will be fitness related.
I would also like to sell various products on their too such as fitness clothing, accessories, supplements etc. Maybe a small little website linked to the forum or something.
I may also speak to various gyms to see if they would like to advertise etc, Maybe have a "members only" area etc

Anyway, As you can probably tell I am in the early "thought process" stage!!

I understand a forum is hard work to maintain and "keep everybody happy" as it where, Im not looking to spend thousands (I dont have it) but something that looks the part and gets people interested. Where I live the "fitness bug" has got the whole town by the looks of it, My town alone has 5 gyms ranging from crossfit, body building and fitness, it also has the "boot camps" going.

Simple discussion topics such as

training tips
dieting
nutrition
upcoming events
gym details and time tables
running clubs
weight training

Is this something that some of you lovely people could help with? As you can probably tell I dont understand a lot of what goes into building a site etc but do have a vision that im hoping will work.

Oh yes, Almost forgot, I have trained on and off for around 20 years and love all types of training so this is something I enjoy and know a lot about which is why Im hoping it will work.

 

[Baz Watkins]

If you can spend the next few months learning how to do things the above can be done, but the learning curve might be steep.

If you have any sort of funds, get a professional to do it for you, but that way lies anything from the upper hundreds to mid thousands to deliver.

 

[Fitness Bug]

Baz,


Thanks for that, I do have funds available but dont want to go silly at first, I know there are many many guys on here that build sites so hopefully a few will come back to me

Cheers

 

[DaveBlack]

Have you really seen how much Invision Powerboard costs? $10/pm for 10 users over a 48 hour period and up to $590/pm for 750 users!

Be advised that there are far better and cheaper solutions available!

 

[ITsoldUK]

Have you really seen how much Invision Powerboard costs? $10/pm for 10 users over a 48 hour period and up to $590/pm for 750 users!

Be advised that there are far better and cheaper solutions available!

Read it again....It is always best practise to absorb the detail before wading in.

That is their HOSTED solution.

I have mentioned the licensed option

Out of interest...name a better solution that meets his needs please which is far better as you state...

 

[DaveBlack]

Most sincere apologies if I have upset you! My advice was not a challenge to you but merely advice to the Fitness Dude!

However, after careful consideration, I stand by and reiterate my statement that there are far superior and cheaper products out there- I'll be happy to share one that I have used before should the Fitness Dude be interested.

Read it again....It is always best practise to absorb the detail before wading in.

That is their HOSTED solution.

I have mentioned the licensed option

Out of interest...name a better solution that meets his needs please which is far better as you state...

 

[kevin.doran]

I half got a fitness/BB forum up and running, still paying for it but it's not live and never will be due to time constraints. Need to wind it down now I think about it...

Anyway, I went with IPB, very easy to use. However, if they could sort their legal issues out I'd go with Xenforo any day of the week.

 

[ITsoldUK]

Most sincere apologies if I have upset you! My advice was not a challenge to you but merely advice to the Fitness Dude!

However, after careful consideration, I stand by and reiterate my statement that there are far superior and cheaper products out there- I'll be happy to share one that I have used before should the Fitness Dude be interested.

I have asked so please feel free to share away.

No problem. Not upset and feel free to challenge away...

Not denying there are cheaper but do they tick all the boxes natively? Do they have the same level of reliability?

I have worked with many variants over the years and my opinion is based on this experience.

 

[ITsoldUK]

I half got a fitness/BB forum up and running, still paying for it but it's not live and never will be due to time constraints. Need to wind it down now I think about it...

Anyway, I went with IPB, very easy to use. However, if they could sort their legal issues out I'd go with Xenforo any day of the week.

Agree. They have been ordered to settle but who can tell...it is still dragging on.

 

[Fitness Bug]

The advice is greatly appreciated guys, no doubt Ill be asking for help along the way......... Im gona need it!!!!

Cheers

 

[123Simples]

Hi Fitness Bug

The first thing you need to know is what types of software can your web host run? If for example you are using a Windows Based Hosting service, then there are various forum softwares that you can use, some are free, others are paid for options.

If you want to maintain a look across the site, then you need to work out the website and the forum side, so they maintain the same feel. You want people to see the website, but when they go onto the forum, it should ideally blend in with the website too.

Finally there is no need to spend thousands. You may need to spend a few hundred, but the most important thing will be your time and commitment.

 

[Fitness Bug]

anybody know anything about VBulletin??

Just reading up on different software for my forum?

Cheers

 

[kevin.doran]

anybody know anything about VBulletin??

Just reading up on different software for my forum?

Cheers

Stay clear in my opinion, vB5 is awful!

Of the paid for versions, Xenforo is by far the most fun/friendly but isn't really being actively developed at the mo due to their legal issues. IBP is rock solid, a tad corporate looking perhaps but very easy to use. Their hosted plan can get expensive though so you'd probably want to self-host (if not straight away then not too far down the line).

Of the free offerings, well I didn't really go down that road but I presume you'd be looking at phpBB as well as mybb.

I warn you now though, you'd better have LOOOOOOTS of free time to run this thing - even I gave up after a couple of months and I rarely quit anything!! We had some decent names coming on board too from the industry, both here and abroad, but still it was a long old slog. Writing all the initial content alone can take an eternity!

 

[ITsoldUK]

anybody know anything about VBulletin??

Just reading up on different software for my forum?

Cheers

Yes...its new carnation is buggy as hell and I am still steering clear until v6

If you are only after a forum then phpbb3 will do but in line with your first requirements there is only 1 solution...and you can guess what that is .

Xenforo is excellent too as a 'forum' but you want so much more...shop, blog, cms etc and nothing does this natively like IPB unless someone can open my eyes to something I have missed.

 

[Faevilangel]

Daren, after talking to the OP, they would like a separate shop (on another site) so IPB would be overkill imho, so something like PHPbb or SMF would be ideal.

 

[ITsoldUK]

Daren, after talking to the OP, they would like a separate shop (on another site) so IPB would be overkill imho, so something like PHPbb or SMF would be ideal.

Ahh Cool job...cheers Gareth.

In that case then if they go down the free route then phpbb3 or paid route Xenforo.

Toodle pip