How to make your site produce User Generated content?

[ejpayne]

I want to launch a site where it's primarily focused on user generated content. I have some basic understanding of PHP and was wondering if you guys could direct me to any scripts out there? Any other server based language I should know?

 

[abdussamad]

Knowing PHP is a good start. Now you have to learn how to develop using a Content Management System (CMS). There are lots of free CMS available that you can use. No point in reinventing the wheel. I recommend WordPress. WordPress has a user management system built in that you can use.

Actually developing the website is easy. It's getting people to sign up and contribute to your site that is hard.

 

[ejpayne]

Knowing PHP is a good start. Now you have to learn how to develop using a Content Management System (CMS). There are lots of free CMS available that you can use. No point in reinventing the wheel. I recommend WordPress. WordPress has a user management system built in that you can use.

Actually developing the website is easy. It's getting people to sign up and contribute to your site that is hard.

Thanks for the advice. Was thinking of using Joomla instead, any differences? And yeah good point.

 

[Shane]

I'd go with Wordpress.

 

[abdussamad]

Thanks for the advice. Was thinking of using Joomla instead, any differences? And yeah good point.

I suggest downloading and trying out both Joomla and WP. Generally speaking Joomla is harder to learn but more sophisticated while WP is easier but less flexible. The big three CMS are WP, Joomla and Drupal in that order.

BTW you may want to take a look at buddypress. That is a group site plugin for wordpress that may be just what you are looking for.

 

[Albert Tai]

I suggest downloading and trying out both Joomla and WP. Generally speaking Joomla is harder to learn but more sophisticated while WP is easier but less flexible. The big three CMS are WP, Joomla and Drupal in that order.

BTW you may want to take a look at buddypress. That is a group site plugin for wordpress that may be just what you are looking for.

I use to use phpnuke not sure if it exists anymore.
Also depending what kind of site/niche there are various scripts for user generated content. However, the best would be custom php which is a bit costly if you do not know how to program.

 

[copper]

JomSocial?

 

[dcristo]

You need an existing traffic base otherwise you'll be fighting an uphill battle.

 

[Tia Wood]

I have some basic understanding of PHP and was wondering if you guys could direct me to any scripts out there? Any other server based language I should know?

Any script and scripting language will give you the capability to produce user generated content. It's the user generated part that is always the challenge.

 

[RTM.net]

You need an existing traffic base otherwise you'll be fighting an uphill battle.

But a traffic base can be built using a hype / prelaunch / 'request beta invite' strategy so often employed as part of any launch. Make a product inaccessible yet to a "select few" and the people will line up (i.e. sign up) in droves. Just be sure to deliver the product well when you do make it available to all the folks who signed up for the invite!

Rob

p.s. and lots of hard work after to keep them sticky to your site...

 

[dcristo]

Can't see that strategy working if you're a newcomer to the industry. Most users see through the "hype".

 

[ejpayne]

Can't see that strategy working if you're a newcomer to the industry. Most users see through the "hype".

Even with an advertising/SEO budget of $X,XXX USD?

 

[copper]

Even with an advertising/SEO budget of $X,XXX USD?

It may not mean much depend on what you want to accomplish with that budget.
If my budget is $x,xxx, I would use that for website development and
make it really unique and interesting giving visitors reason to join as members.
Having visitors mean nothing if they don't convert, right?

For traffic, here is one method it might work.
Create/find few controversy and post them on your site.
Ask all your friends/associates to start discussing about that on your site even if you have to pay them.
Once you created ongoing artificial interests with those posts, put them on digg.com
and cross your fingers and hope visitors from Digg to join in

Repeat on StumbleUpon, Delicious, Reddit...

 

[ejpayne]

It may not mean much depend on what you want to accomplish with that budget.
If my budget is $x,xxx, I would use that for website development and
make it really unique and interesting giving visitors reason to join as members.
Having visitors mean nothing if they don't convert, right?

For traffic, here is one method it might work.
Create/find few controversy and post them on your site.
Ask all your friends/associates to start discussing about that on your site even if you have to pay them.
Once you created ongoing artificial interests with those posts, put them on digg.com
and cross your fingers and hope visitors from Digg to join in

Repeat on StumbleUpon, Delicious, Reddit...

Well a lot has changed since I first posted this topic, a website development company has offered to do my website for free (long story short, I managed to secure them a big contract with another client) so now website development is not an issue. Well I don't even think I need to do that Good thing is that the competitors I'm competing with have poorly optimized websites and a horrible interface, might spend my time reading on SEOmoz.org and might try what you said. Cheers everyone.