New website on the cheap

[ConstanceSpry]

New website on the cheap

I want to create a directory of selected businesses offering a specific product/service.

The user will wish to locate the business offering this product/service. The geographical location (only the UK) of the business will be the most important criterion to the user.

I have created my own business website (another unrelated business) using a free template and manage to edit the code in notebook to change text and pictures. Its adequate for my needs.

I think this project will be bigger ! I want to start it on my own and if it is a goer, mark 2 or 3 version would be done professionally.

To start with business listing will be free, with click through ads as a source of revenue or direct paid ads. (Have more research to do on this)

Later I may introduce payment for a larger listing if a business so desires. I also envisage that the user may also wish to offer for ‘tender’ what service/product they require (an email would alert businesses that qualify), and only paid member businesses would be able to have access to these enquiries.

Businesses will ideally start signing up online, but I envisage that I will need to approach them directly (starting with local businesses to me) or try other online marketing to create interest and flow to the site.

The Questions :

Can anyone recommend a free template and content management system that will achieve this site much more efficiently (maybe incorporating a postcode search?) rather than listing each region on the homepage and having a link from each listed region through to a static web page?

On the legal side, how can I restrict other people copying my information gathered to create their own website?

Any recommendations of web articles that may be particularly helpful to me?

All comments appreciated. Thanks for your time.

 

[zookx]

Your post brings the Good/Fast/Cheap triangle to mind.

If you are looking to do what you've outlined i'd sudgest Wordpress. It has plugins that will do what you want and it is quite user friendly to use once you get the hang of it.

Good luck.

 

[Experienced IT guy]

Your post brings the Good/Fast/Cheap triangle to mind.

If you are looking to do what you've outlined i'd sudgest Wordpress. It has plugins that will do what you want and it is quite user friendly to use once you get the hang of it.

Good luck.

If you are looking at wordpress then you may want to check this first...

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=1483923

 

[popunder]

I'd recommend Wordpress and a $79 custom theme from directorypress.net. They have the functionality you need to administer listings and take payments, and include AdSense panels if you wish. Bargain.

Not sure you can prevent people copying your data apart from the usual - threatening to sue.

 

[David Mac]

Can anyone recommend a free template and content management system that will achieve this site much more efficiently (maybe incorporating a postcode search?) rather than listing each region on the homepage and having a link from each listed region through to a static web page?

Despite the valid comment above about Wordpress, I still recommend it. You can get cheap professional templates from places like studiopress.com or woothemes.com. With regard to postcode searching, this is not a DIY job. If you would like more information, I am happy to elaborate.

On the legal side, how can I restrict other people copying my information gathered to create their own website?

From a practical perspective, you can't. Copyright laws protect your content, its your choice whether you wish to enforce it. Content and image theft happens all the time. Sometimes you might wish to do something about it, other times you won't even know. It can range from some kid pinching a photo for his gcse project, to a competitor scraping all your database contacts and padding out his database with them.

 

For your specific business requirements I would recommend Google Sites

 

[popunder]

For your specific business requirements I would recommend Google Sites

I suggest you need something more advanced than Google Sites to build a directory site with the kind of functionality required.

 

[ConstanceSpry]

Thanks everyone for replying; I am looking into suggestions

 

[DesignerNick]

You could try Wordpress and the Business Directory plugin. I haven't used it personally though.

On the other hand you could try phpMyDirectory, it is software designed for what you need

 

I'd recommend Wordpress and a $79 custom theme from directorypress.net. They have the functionality you need to administer listings and take payments, and include AdSense panels if you wish. Bargain.

Not sure you can prevent people copying your data apart from the usual - threatening to sue.

LOL $79 isn't free, read the op

 

[popunder]

LOL $79 isn't free, read the op

Well if the OP can't afford $79 to start a website of the kind she's talking about then she can't be remotely serious.

The number of so-called business people on this forum who want everything for free just makes me LOL.

 

There's nothing wrong with wanting something for free

 

[David Mac]

There's nothing wrong with wanting something for free

true, to an extent, but the nature of business is that money usually changes hands. Otherwise this place would be called ukcharityforums.co.uk ;-)

 

[cmcp]

 

You wouldn't burn a £50 note, so why waste it when Google Sites offers it for free? I know plenty of SME's using Google Sites (mostly in property industry) and they're very happy with it. Web designers HATE Google Sites as it takes away their business.

 

[popunder]

> You wouldn't burn a £50 note, so why waste it when Google Sites offers it for free?

Yes but the OP is looking to build a full web directory with all sorts of clever functionality, not a brochure site. Can you show me a Google Sites site with anything like this level of complexity?

> There's nothing wrong with wanting something for free

Wanting something for free is fine, wanting the whole business for free is unrealistic. I think if the OP looks at directorypress and sees what it offers, and how closely it fits her requirements, the $79 will seem like a bargain.

 

Fair points

 

[Bluescope]

+1 To the suggestions for Wordpress.

It's fantastic as a CMS, it gets updated very frequently (and more or less updates itself, you just click a button unlike quite a few others..) and has an immensely huge amount of contributors which means if you get stuck with a problem their community will probably be able to sort you out.

For hosting, I'd recommend Media Temple, their not the cheapest host in the world, but their very solid, have 24/7 phone technical support and have a 1 click installer for wordpress (though if you look for another Web host, just look for "Cpanel with Fantastico" which will have a similar one click installer).

You won't get a brilliant Wordpress theme for free (I paid about £30 for mine, and made some minor modifications to it) but the ubiquity of Wordpress templates means competition is fierce so you can get very good quality for not alot of money.

You can always just try wordpress by setting up a free blog at wordpress.com but note that they'll charge you extra for adding a custom domain, adding custom themes and doing other features you'd do if you just pay for hosting.

Good luck!

 

OP should set out a budget

 

[wizzard]

true, to an extent, but the nature of business is that money usually changes hands. Otherwise this place would be called ukcharityforums.co.uk ;-)

That domain is available as well