Great Idea for Social Network, But No One to Make It

[Quindora]

1) Project Details: (be as specific as possible):

I need someone who can create a social network.

If anyone can do that, I'll add better details. I'm sorry, but I already typed this up once and my computer screwed it up (it was my fault though).

2) Payment Amount:

unknown

3) Payment method/ details (Paypal, check? Timeline?):

unknown

4) Additional Info (about project or potential bidders):

I can tell you now, this won't be easy. My demands are VERY specific.

[Quindora]

Since I can't sleep, I'm going to try to type up the details (again).

Important Features

Groups - Users need to be able to join and create groups
Private Messaging - Users need to be able to send private messages to each other
Forums - There needs to be a forums section (more details later)
Image Uploading - Users need to be able to upload images (more details later)
Level System - (more later)


Possible Features (not required)

Gifts - I'd like people to be able to give each other gifts
Badges - I'd like it if people could earn badges
Points System - Earning points is fun


The REALLY Hard Parts

Forums - I'd LOVE to be able to customize the smileys!
Image Uploading - I want each account to have pre-named galleries that each have their own size limit based on the person's level (below)
Level System - Basic (free), Premium ($/month), Super ($/month), and Ultimate ($/month) and the option to purchase a lifetime account in each category

[it career]

To code important features alone it will cost you around $500, if interested you may post it at our website http://liveperson.in/ .

[Quindora]

I'll have to think about it though... I wrote this post EARLY in the morning, before I thought it over. I might have a reply later on (after 5:00 pm).

[Quindora]

Someone offered to do this all for $400. If anyone has a better offer, please let me know.

[Fumigator]

Name that tune!

p.s...

I can tell you now, this won't be easy. My demands are VERY specific.

Someone offered to do this all for $400

Something's going to give.

[Quindora]

Please instant message me, for some reason I can't send you a message.

[bcarl314]

Name that tune!

p.s...





Something's going to give.

No kidding. New social network for $400? Yeah ,right. What you're getting is some minor customizations to an out-of-the-box script.

I GUARANTEE you won't get anything custom for $400.

Don't expect to make the next myspace / facebook which cost thousands of hours to create for $400.

Caveat Emptor is all I can say

[Quindora]

Thanks for the advice. I don't think I'm going to trust that guy, since two of you say that's too cheap, and I thought it was a going to cost a LOT more.

Any price estimates? You said a few thousand hours, but not how much it would cost... Thanks!

I can't pay much, but I am willing to split the money earned through the site.

What I really want is a business partner (or something like that). I think I'd need a lawyer to make sure that the person wouldn't steal the idea, but that would probably cost a lot.

It's really frustrating to have a good idea, but with no way to make it a reality. :(

[bcarl314]

The reality is there are usually 3 components to any project - time, cost, and quality.

I usually tell clients that they get to pick two, and I get the third. If you want a perfect system (picky requirements) and it to be cheap, it's going to take forever to build. If you want it fast and cheap, you can't be picky on the quality, etc.

That said, from your requirements, I don't see a reason not to start with some open source software and customize it to your needs.

The features you're requesting are part of most forum applications.

If you want to build from scratch (and there are a lot of benefits to doing this), remember a developer would also need to set up the architecture, develop a user authentication system (login, forgot password, register, admin, etc) and develop a few other systems components as well.

If you go the "customize an out-of-the-box" approach, I would expect you can get a decent system (not perfect) for a few thousand (maybe under $2k with the right developer). If you want a custom system, that's exactly tailored to your needs, I'd think you budget is going to have to be over $5k.

[Quindora]

Can I see some example websites (they don't have to be social networks)? I'll check out your site.

By within my budget, how much do you mean exactly?

[billvasko]

I am an amateur developer. I recommend Ning if you want to set up your own social network. It's pretty simple to use, tho Ning's operations can be a pain sometimes. But you could set the site up yourself. However, if you want to do a lot of custom stuff like you want, you are gonna need lots of coding after it is set up--trust me, there are things you are going to want to constantly add, change, and upgrade. I do it all on my own.

If you go with a custom platform, it is going to cost you thousands more.

If you don't want to do it yourself, I can set up a Ning social network for you then turn it over to you. I charge $1200-$1500 which includes domain name and server setup. You would be responsible for monthly fees associated with domain name, server hosting, and premium features that are necessary to make a Ning site white-label.

I've highlighted in red the things on your list I can set-up on your network using Ning.
PM me and I'll show you the social networks I've created on Ning.

There are lots of outta the box platforms I've investigated--none are as feature rich as Ning. But there are some new ones coming out that may be able to top Ning soon.

One other thing--it takes a lot of time to make a network succesful. And typically, you need money to promote it in order for it to grow.

Important Features

* Groups - Users need to be able to join and create groups
* Private Messaging - Users need to be able to send private messages to each other
* Forums - There needs to be a forums section (more details later)
* Image Uploading - Users need to be able to upload images (more details later)
* Level System - (more later)


Possible Features (not required)

* Gifts - I'd like people to be able to give each other gifts
* Badges - I'd like it if people could earn badges
* Points System - Earning points is fun


The REALLY Hard Parts

* Forums - I'd LOVE to be able to customize the smileys!
* Image Uploading - I want each account to have pre-named galleries that each have their own size limit based on the person's level (below)
* Level System - Basic (free), Premium ($/month), Super ($/month), and Ultimate ($/month) and the option to purchase a lifetime account in each category

[Quindora]

Thank you so much, but the single most important thing is the image feature (in the hard parts category), so that would not work. I'll keep that in mind though in case nothing else works out.

[the moose]

I can do this for you (all the bits of all the sections you have writtenout) - a 100% custom solution, but it will not be cheap.

If you're looking for this, please send me a PM on here.

Please note that you will have to be VERY specific on your requirements...not just 'some sort of forum' etc.

Cheers

The Moose

[Quindora]

Thank you for your reply! I don't have a lot of money to pay, so I guess you wouldn't want to do this project. I'm sorry, but I'm NOT a very rich person! I think I may have found someone to do this for me. I have this post still open in case anyone can give me a better offer, which probably won't happen. Sorry if this inconveniences you in any way.

[bazz]

Quindora, are you able to elaborate a bit more either here or by pm? Is it just to be like another myFace.com etc or are you doing something specifically different with it. scrub that - I don't want to know any IP stuff.

Is there something that would set this apart from the rest? who is it aimed at: teenagers? adults? IT ppl?

I have a genuijne reason for asking so while it is a bit of an odd question I may be able to help with it.
bazz