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View Full Version : Starting a Classifieds/Forum Site


lungs
03-09-2014, 03:50 PM
I wanted to pick FOFC's brain for helping me in a business venture I'm looking to undertake. I've talked about having a blog based on some funky things I do with dairy cattle genetics. It's done really well over the past few years such that I'm usually getting 400+ views/day on a slow day.

With that kind of audience, I'm looking to branch out and start an classified/exchange, so to speak, for dairy cattle. I'm thinking I'd like it to be in the form of a forum. I'd like it to be advertisement free. I'm willing to shell out some money for this venture as if I even sold one cow on this site it would likely more than pay for the hosting several times over (I intend on possibly selling 100s of cows through this). I'd like it to be fairly simple to manage. I don't see this being a high traffic volume site. I imagine my own margins on running the site will be quite nice so I'd keep it free for other people to put up their own classifieds.

Do any FOFC tech gurus have recommendations on which direction to go to put this idea into practice? Much appreciation for any advice.

CU Tiger
03-09-2014, 04:55 PM
Simplest may just be a vbulletin forum.
Let folks post just like here?

Ryan S
03-09-2014, 05:54 PM
vBulletin is a bit expensive for a low traffic site at $250 or so.

Assuming you are using Linux hosting, I would look at a free alternative like PHPbb or SMF. I have not used anything bit vB for a long time, so I can't give any specific recommendations.

You should check to see if your host has one click setup for message board software, as that will make the setup much simpler if you are not familiar with php or MySQL.

https://www.phpbb.com/
Simple Machines Forum - Free & open source community software (http://www.simplemachines.org/)
vBulletin 5 Connect, The World's Leading Community Software (http://www.vbulletin.com/en/)

tarcone
03-09-2014, 08:14 PM
Are you trying to get your cows dates?

sterlingice
03-09-2014, 08:27 PM
Are you trying to get your cows dates?

:D

SI