Anyone with Web developement/Design experience?

[Grady666]

Over the years I've had an aspiration to run a PC Hardware review site, I dont have enough experience to make one quite like I'd want to: So Initially I looked for a good CMS to manage all the 'back-end' stuff for me. I used Drupal Gardens for 2-3 Years, It didnt really get where I wanted it to. I would get stuck on how to implement certain features or arranging content. I recently decided to go full Noob and try Wix.

Aesthetically speaking, its much better than Drupal Gardens. But its plug-ins are limited and I'm a bit stuck as far as Implementing things such as a Community Forum and properly organizing Articles, Pictures, Tags ETC. Here's what I have so far with Wix: http://gradyturner95.wix.com/pchub
And Drupal Gardens: https://www.drupalgardens.com/mysites/1024126/login

Right now, I'm not trying to do any SEO(Search Engine Optimization), or making sure 'PCHub' as a domain/site name is even available. Its more of simply designing it.

So long-story short: Im looking for someone that has a good bit of experience with any CMS, or just can tell me how I should go about accomplishing some of these things.

Thanks,

- Grady

[KaosC57]

Over the years I've had an aspiration to run a PC Hardware review site, I dont have enough experience to make one quite like I'd want to: So Initially I looked for a good CMS to manage all the 'back-end' stuff for me. I used Drupal Gardens for 2-3 Years, It didnt really get where I wanted it to. I would get stuck on how to implement certain features or arranging content. I recently decided to go full Noob and try Wix.

Aesthetically speaking, its much better than Drupal Gardens. But its plug-ins are limited and I'm a bit stuck as far as Implementing things such as a Community Forum and properly organizing Articles, Pictures, Tags ETC. Here's what I have so far with Wix: http://gradyturner95.wix.com/pchub
And Drupal Gardens: https://www.drupalgardens.com/mysites/1024126/login

Right now, I'm not trying to do any SEO(Search Engine Optimization), or making sure 'PCHub' as a domain/site name is even available. Its more of simply designing it.

So long-story short: Im looking for someone that has a good bit of experience with any CMS, or just can tell me how I should go about accomplishing some of these things.

Thanks,

- Grady

You might look into Google Sites. I'm not sure how well their stuff would work for you though. I only have minor experience with one of the more code heavy website creators, and I'm far from a great coder, or even a coder in general. You might start looking at books on how to create websites and stuff like that.

[AOD_Guybrush]

You've said a lot of things here, but I might have some suggestions for you. In a separate thread I talked about Wordpress, which is just one of several CMS' out there that can adequately handle the backend aspect of maintaining a site. The question is, what exactly are you looking for, and are you planning to maintain it yourself? I mention Wordpress because it sounds to me like it would do what you need it to, and not because I'm an evangelist bent on forcing everyone to use it. It's just that WP is pretty damned flexible and fits most use-cases.

Admittedly though, web design and development has changed drastically over the past 5-10 years or so. Jumping into the field is a little bit different than it used to be. Wordpress is one of dozens of tools out there that will provide you with the functionality you need to achieve your goals, but in order to really take advantage of what WP has to offer, you've got to do some work.

You said community forum, are you referring specifically to a forum like AOD's? Are you looking to start a forum community with vbulletin or IPB?

Are you just looking for a way to publish reviews on various pieces of hardware? What is it that the Wix / Drupal garden sites don't do that you need them to?

It would be good to know exactly what kind of functionality you're looking for in order to give you a recommendation. But truthfully, most people who aren't interested in tackling all of the things necessary to put together a current, relevant web front usually hire someone to do their dirty work for them. I don't know if that's defeating the purpose of what you had in mind, but it would good to have some more details.

In the context of a blog, where you want to publish articles and associate them with categories, tags, etc, Wordpress would be right down your alley, and there are a couple different ways you can approach it.

Long story short, more details required. :)

[AOD_31drew31]

Sorry for the book, I kind of got on a soapbox :)

Thought this might be appropriate here too ;)

[AOD_Guybrush]

Thought this might be appropriate here too ;)

Fortunately for me this book was warranted. A lot of discussion is required for these kinds of things. Otherwise you just end up wasting time, and I'm trying to do him a favor by asking questions.

[AOD_31drew31]

Fortunately for me this book was warranted. A lot of discussion is required for these kinds of things. Otherwise you just end up wasting time, and I'm trying to do him a favor by asking questions.

Touche

[Grady666]

You've said a lot of things here, but I might have some suggestions for you. In a separate thread I talked about Wordpress, which is just one of several CMS' out there that can adequately handle the backend aspect of maintaining a site. The question is, what exactly are you looking for, and are you planning to maintain it yourself? I mention Wordpress because it sounds to me like it would do what you need it to, and not because I'm an evangelist bent on forcing everyone to use it. It's just that WP is pretty damned flexible and fits most use-cases.

Admittedly though, web design and development has changed drastically over the past 5-10 years or so. Jumping into the field is a little bit different than it used to be. Wordpress is one of dozens of tools out there that will provide you with the functionality you need to achieve your goals, but in order to really take advantage of what WP has to offer, you've got to do some work.

You said community forum, are you referring specifically to a forum like AOD's? Are you looking to start a forum community with vbulletin or IPB?

Are you just looking for a way to publish reviews on various pieces of hardware? What is it that the Wix / Drupal garden sites don't do that you need them to?

It would be good to know exactly what kind of functionality you're looking for in order to give you a recommendation. But truthfully, most people who aren't interested in tackling all of the things necessary to put together a current, relevant web front usually hire someone to do their dirty work for them. I don't know if that's defeating the purpose of what you had in mind, but it would good to have some more details.

In the context of a blog, where you want to publish articles and associate them with categories, tags, etc, Wordpress would be right down your alley, and there are a couple different ways you can approach it.

Long story short, more details required. :)

Thought this might be appropriate here too ;)

Fortunately for me this book was warranted. A lot of discussion is required for these kinds of things. Otherwise you just end up wasting time, and I'm trying to do him a favor by asking questions.

It's absolutely helpful, definitely NOT a TLDR. I havnt checked into wordpress, Ill take a look. As far as community forums: I've seen alot of great forums created w/ vBulletin. Ive looked at their site, its $200+ to purchase. I don't really have that kind of expendable income right now.
There are other things that are contingent upon me justifying the price of vBulletin, Domain name, and hosting. I need to have subjects(IE: Hardware, which I have, its not really in 'reviewable' condition. Or its in my Rig) to create the content on. Distributor/Manufacturer sponsorship would be EXCELLENT, but they will ask to see any of the work or reviews I've previously done(which makes sense). So these things might be a quote 'price of entry'. I might want to talk with you a little in TS if you get a chance.

Thanks Guybrush-