Possible to Build Own Blogging Network??

[SquarePeg]

Total n00b here, so your patience, please!

What would it take to build my own blogging network? Say I wanted to set up something whereby anyone can come and start up their own blog...but I'm not Google or anyone with deep pockets -- what are the costs involved? What are the technical skills necessary??

Just wondering!

[desertrat]

You might ask Steve where he got the software for this site and what he paid for it. If you want a blog site that works like this forum. Then go to godaddy ,ect and set up a web site. Just off the top of my head . desert rat
p.s. I see something here Blogging Software & Tools - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Downloads I dont know if it will do what you want. also there is Free Downloads Encyclopedia - Softpedia

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by desertrat

You might ask Steve where he got the software for this site and what he paid for it. If you want a blog site that works like this forum. Then go to godaddy ,ect and set up a web site. Just off the top of my head . desert rat
p.s. I see something here Blogging Software & Tools - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Downloads I dont know if it will do what you want. also there is Free Downloads Encyclopedia - Softpedia

Thanks for the refs, but I'm not talking about forum software, I mean a site like Google's Blogger where people can just show up and create their own little blogs or webpages...like how in the '90s, everyone was offering you a free "vanity site" with free e-mail accounts, that kinda stuff....

[glow]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

Total n00b here, so your patience, please!

What would it take to build my own blogging network? Say I wanted to set up something whereby anyone can come and start up their own blog...but I'm not Google or anyone with deep pockets -- what are the costs involved? What are the technical skills necessary??

Just wondering!

Hello Squarepeg!
That would be an exciting challenge for a total noob.

You've got two options here. Pay someone else to do it for you, or do it yourself.

If you'll like to do it yourself here are some things you need to know...

Basic stuff...
HTML (a language that defines a structure of webpage. Quite simply, it says what's what. HTML says stuff like: this piece of text is a heading, that's a paragraph etc. It's the least you need to know to make a webpage & it's really simple)

CSS (a language that can be used to control the appearance of all the things in your webpage. You will use it to say stuff like: make that heading big, bold & blue etc)

Javascript (a language that can make your static HTML pages dynamic & interactive. You can use it to make stuff on your page do things. Like make things move, pop out etc)

And then there's advanced stuff...
Design (it's about defining your site & your users, doing research, clarifying user-processes, copy-writting, graphic designing, Photoshop, etc)

A Server-side langauge (and finally, you need to know some language or framework that will work on your server. A server is any computer that hosts your website. For simple websites, it just hosts the webpages. But for more advanaced websites like yours, it will do other stuff like managing user registrations, posting of content to blogs, logins, etc. Here you have plenty of options to choose. You can learn popular languages like PHP or python OR a framework like Ruby on Rails. There are many more options here. You can decide which one you choose by finding out a little about all the options you have here.)

And then there's a necesary stuff like...
A domain name (like stevepavlina.com. You can register it at goDaddy.com.)

Dedicated servers (For simple websites ordinary web hosting is fine. But for your website you'll need a dedicated server.)


And on the top of this you need to offer something that Bloggers, LiveJournal, Wordpress, etc, don't. Why else will people choose your website over them?

I hope this helps! Bear in mind, each of these things have many more things to learn. And there are many other things you'll have to know as well. I'm just giving a really big picture. And know that it's pretty much do-able.

It's an exciting challenge if you go for it! You will learn a lot by doing this project!

[desertrat]

I have no idea if this is what you want Blog Software | Blog Today with Quick Blogcast When you said the 90 s I thought to the bbs days of the 80s for some reason. desert rat

[glow]

Originally Posted by desertrat

I have no idea if this is what you want Blog Software | Blog Today with Quick Blogcast When you said the 90 s I thought to the bbs days of the 80s for some reason. desert rat

I think he means a website like Blogger or Wordpress, where people can sign up for their own blog.

[Sandstone]

Would there be a market? What would you offer that Wordpress and Blogger don't currently offer?

[glow]

Originally Posted by Sandstone

Would there be a market? What would you offer that Wordpress and Blogger don't currently offer?

I think even if his website doesn't mount to much, financially speaking, it will still be worth his while.
Doing a project like this can teach skills that no school or book can. And this is probably a very effective way to learn all this stuff. And it will lay nice groundwork for any future projects he might undertake.

Having said that, I agree with you. He should differentitate himself from Blogger or Wordpress somehow. He has to find a unique selling-point.

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by glow

I think even if his website doesn't mount to much, financially speaking, it will still be worth his while.
Doing a project like this can teach skills that no school or book can. And this is probably a very effective way to learn all this stuff. And it will lay nice groundwork for any future projects he might undertake.

Having said that, I agree with you. He should differentitate himself from Blogger or Wordpress somehow. He has to find a unique selling-point.

No, nothing unique. Hopefully I'll have great marketing, though! Creating the perception of value, that kinda stuff.

I was just thinking I could offer to share half of all ad revenue with the bloggers, like what eHow does. But I would focus on specific niches, I dunno...this is just a thought experiment still!

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by Sandstone

Would there be a market? What would you offer that Wordpress and Blogger don't currently offer?

Not sure, actually; was only wondering about technical feasibility, not the bottom line.

I was thinking I'd offer bloggers half of all ad revenues. I believe this is already being done, though I'm not sure why it's not being done by everyone. Maybe it's technically complicated, requiring a lot of administrative resources?? That's why I was wondering whether one person could just set some such thing up him or herself and make at least a decent amount of money on the side.

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by glow

Hello Squarepeg!
That would be an exciting challenge for a total noob.

You've got two options here. Pay someone else to do it for you, or do it yourself.

Really? No simple "free license" stuff such as with forum software like what this site is using??

Originally Posted by glow

I hope this helps! Bear in mind, each of these things have many more things to learn. And there are many other things you'll have to know as well. I'm just giving a really big picture. And know that it's pretty much do-able.

It's an exciting challenge if you go for it! You will learn a lot by doing this project!

"Do-able" for the average-joe or for a dedicated computer buff??

Thanks for the heads-up, Glow. I'm familiar with HTML and CSS, and am a SkriptKiddie when it comes to JavaScript, but server-side languages are definitely terra incognita to me!

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by desertrat

I have no idea if this is what you want Blog Software | Blog Today with Quick Blogcast When you said the 90 s I thought to the bbs days of the 80s for some reason. desert rat

LOL

I remember those days on the C-64!

Nah, I'm looking for Google-Blogger-in-a-box, so to speak.

[VinceG]

If you've ever heard of Tucker Max, he did such a thing when he started a blog network called Rudius Media. They found people with interesting voices and experiences and gave them a platform to put them on. It worked because Tucker already had a huge following and anything he endorsed would instantly get loads of page views.

He had editors, web designers, programmers. These were the days before Wordpress got so huge. Eventually he shut it down and moved on to other projects.

I don't know how you plan on differentiating yourself, but that plan would likely determine how you would go about building an infrastructure. Being an IT systems guy, I could easily handle the technical aspects of something like that, but I'd only want to put time into something I'd think was successful, or if I was getting paid for it.

[desertrat]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

LOL

I remember those days on the C-64!

Nah, I'm looking for Google-Blogger-in-a-box, so to speak.

My first computer was a zx81 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zx-81 and them the Adam Coleco Adam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the adam I bought a 56k modem for , mid 80s . desert rat

[Brutha]

The technical stuff is easy. Marketing is much harder.

I was thinking I'd offer bloggers half of all ad revenues. I believe this is already being done, though I'm not sure why it's not being done by everyone. Maybe it's technically complicated, requiring a lot of administrative resources??

Most blogs don't have meaningful traffic to pay out a significant amount of money.
Those that do probably wouldn't want to give you 50% of their profits.

Really? No simple "free license" stuff such as with forum software like what this site is using??

This forum isn't running on open source software.

Drupal can probably be configured to do what you want.

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by VinceG

If you've ever heard of Tucker Max, he did such a thing when he started a blog network called Rudius Media. They found people with interesting voices and experiences and gave them a platform to put them on. It worked because Tucker already had a huge following and anything he endorsed would instantly get loads of page views.

He had editors, web designers, programmers. These were the days before Wordpress got so huge. Eventually he shut it down and moved on to other projects.

Hmm. Wonder why he shut it down?? No Wikipedia article on his venture, which sounds like it should have been at least modestly successful!

Originally Posted by VinceG

I don't know how you plan on differentiating yourself, but that plan would likely determine how you would go about building an infrastructure.

Yeah, I thought the sharing half of all profits (heck, why not make it three-quarters -- long as expenses are covered, it's free money) would be the clincher, but then I also thought that many must have already explored this model...wonder why they failed??

Originally Posted by VinceG

Being an IT systems guy, I could easily handle the technical aspects of something like that, but I'd only want to put time into something I'd think was successful, or if I was getting paid for it.

Just thought-experimenting here, nothing else, not even "passion." It's been very interesting, though!

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by desertrat

My first computer was a zx81 ZX81 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and them the Adam Coleco Adam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the adam I bought a 56k modem for , mid 80s . desert rat

Yeah, I remember the Coleco Adam! A pal had wanted it; his family was using the Mattel Aquarius and wanted to upgrade!

Well, you sound like you've seen it all, so I guess if you don't know about any Blogger-in-a-box software then it must not exist....

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by Brutha

The technical stuff is easy. Marketing is much harder.

So true! Really want to learn this DIY social media marketing stuff....

Originally Posted by Brutha

Most blogs don't have meaningful traffic to pay out a significant amount of money.
Those that do probably wouldn't want to give you 50% of their profits.

Well, I would! I'd pay the best folks, who bring in a certain level of ad revenues, half of all such revenues! That would be my UVP...though surely others have thought of this before, which is why I'm wondering why we don't see this model all over the place. I mean, so many sites have got great folks writing for free right now! I could attract them with such an offer -- if only I could get the technical backend up, I imagine....

Originally Posted by Brutha

This forum isn't running on open source software.

Huh? It looks like php bulletin board or whatever that's called...maybe it ain't "open source" but it sure looks the same as any other open-source forum software!

Originally Posted by Brutha

Drupal can probably be configured to do what you want.

Yes, I last investigated Drupal three years ago and they had, whachamacallit, modules for forums and blogs...but "primitive," IIRC...will take another look!

[desertrat]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

Yeah, I remember the Coleco Adam! A pal had wanted it; his family was using the Mattel Aquarius and wanted to upgrade!

Well, you sound like you've seen it all, so I guess if you don't know about any Blogger-in-a-box software then it must not exist....

I had some fun with my Adam . They came with a printer , I got mine for around $300. You might learn C++ programing , you might be able to write your own blog program. desert rat

[VinceG]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

Hmm. Wonder why he shut it down?? No Wikipedia article on his venture, which sounds like it should have been at least modestly successful!

It wasn't doing bad, for a start-up, but then, there's no real knowing without looking at the balance sheet. I rather think he didn't want to run a startup while he was engaged in all these media efforts. Rudius Media has a mention on Tucker's Wikipedia page. There's a good chance he saw the writing on the wall when Wordpress started getting real popular, cutting into the main reason someone would use his service.

Yeah, I thought the sharing half of all profits (heck, why not make it three-quarters -- long as expenses are covered, it's free money) would be the clincher, but then I also thought that many must have already explored this model...wonder why they failed??

You'd need to bring some pretty special talents. Blogging is already free, and services like SEO and advertising are getting cheaper and easier for anybody to do.

[Clint Cora]

I know that some small companies have done just that. Hubspot is an example. They provide website consulting services to small businesses and individuals and have build their own blogging platform for their clients to use.

[billionairekid]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

No, nothing unique. Hopefully I'll have great marketing, though! Creating the perception of value, that kinda stuff.

I was just thinking I could offer to share half of all ad revenue with the bloggers, like what eHow does. But I would focus on specific niches, I dunno...this is just a thought experiment still!

The perception of value isn't going to get you far. These days real value is what people are looking for and they're finding it in different ways.

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by VinceG

There's a good chance he saw the writing on the wall when Wordpress started getting real popular, cutting into the main reason someone would use his service.

Eh? But weren't folks being paid by him, the bloggers?? Not sure how Wordpress' entry affects things for folks who are paid already for their writing....

Originally Posted by VinceG

You'd need to bring some pretty special talents. Blogging is already free, and services like SEO and advertising are getting cheaper and easier for anybody to do.

Not that it's free, but that it pays!

Again, I'm sure folks smarter than me have had it all figured out already so it's not that I'm trying to reinvent the wheel here but just understand why this idea didn't seem to have taken off...I mean, lots of folks are still trying to start blogs -- why wouldn't they want to start one on my network (or one such as I'm proposing) and have the potential of getting paid for it??

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by billionairekid

The perception of value isn't going to get you far. These days real value is what people are looking for and they're finding it in different ways.

Well, the real value would be real money, sharing of ad revenues that content they create generates, fifty percent or even much more (heck, it's just "free money" to me or whoever runs such a network)...the perception/marketing aspect is just to generate initial buzz....

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by Clint Cora

I know that some small companies have done just that. Hubspot is an example. They provide website consulting services to small businesses and individuals and have build their own blogging platform for their clients to use.

Yeah, interesting that there's been nothing publicly available...wow!

Wonder why that is? Maybe the open-source programmers thought that forum software would benefit a greater number of people than blogging-network software (or whatever it's called that I'm talking about here!)....

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by desertrat

I had some fun with my Adam . They came with a printer , I got mine for around $300. You might learn C++ programing , you might be able to write your own blog program. desert rat

Yeah, I'm gonna go half-way here and take Brutha's suggestion and check out Drupal again, maybe learning a little Python....

[VinceG]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

Eh? But weren't folks being paid by him, the bloggers?? Not sure how Wordpress' entry affects things for folks who are paid already for their writing....

Part of the reason people let him handle their blog "business" is because he provided pretty much everything, all the writer had to do was write, and cash checks. There were two functions Tucker solved, professional technical setup, and driving the audience using his name. With Wordpress, one of those reasons is gone. The writers weren't being paid directly, but as a percentage of advertising revenue.

Not that it's free, but that it pays!

Again, I'm sure folks smarter than me have had it all figured out already so it's not that I'm trying to reinvent the wheel here but just understand why this idea didn't seem to have taken off...I mean, lots of folks are still trying to start blogs -- why wouldn't they want to start one on my network (or one such as I'm proposing) and have the potential of getting paid for it??

You would pay them directly, per blog post? If you were planning on paying them with a percentage of advertising revenue, then they could easily just cut you out and get all the revenue themselves. Wordpress makes that super-easy.

[glow]

A unique selling point might not be obvious, SquarePeg. May be you'll have a better chance of finding it with some research, perhaps? Like trying to find out if there's something you can offer that's missing from Wordpress or Blogger?

Is there a "need" that the popular blogging platforms don't address. In trying to define that need & a solution for it, you'll get your unique selling point. Like can you find ways to give your writers exposure they won't get elsewhere? Or may be there will be some standards for the quality of a blog, so that your network produces only the highest quality content.

These are some suggestions that might help you get some ideas.

[Clint Cora]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

Yeah, interesting that there's been nothing publicly available...wow!

Wonder why that is? Maybe the open-source programmers thought that forum software would benefit a greater number of people than blogging-network software (or whatever it's called that I'm talking about here!)....

I think in the case of Hubspot, they wanted their blogging system as just one component of their overall package that they offer to clients rather than release it publicly. They probably didn't want to bother going head to head with Wordpress, Typepad, etc.

[Brutha]

As far as Rudius Media goes, it was more than a blogging network. They also published books.

I think Tucker Max shut it down to focus his efforts on his movie.

Again, I'm sure folks smarter than me have had it all figured out already so it's not that I'm trying to reinvent the wheel here but just understand why this idea didn't seem to have taken off...I mean, lots of folks are still trying to start blogs -- why wouldn't they want to start one on my network (or one such as I'm proposing) and have the potential of getting paid for it??

Most blogs are way to small to make money with AdSense advertising.