Entrepreneur Website idea: (Need advice and Help)

[astralone]

Hello,

My Name is Rufus, and i have been pondering the idea of starting a full website dedicated to young entrepreneurs like myself. I have browsed the internet for some time, and haven't really found any high quality website dedicated completely to teen entrepreneurs. Through this community based website, I was thinking of having of course articles from entrepreneurs with great experience and knowledge, message board/Chat rooms for entrepreneurs looking to actually talk to others similar to themselves. Websites such as Entrepreneuer.com are great sites for content, but I wish to expand this to make it more of an internet community. Often times, I find that teens get a little bored of just reading articles, but would like to actually try some of this stuff without actually taking on the risk of investing capital, especially if they are inexperienced. Therefore i was thinking maybe there would be someway to set up a game system on the website where teens could try ideas, or practice somehow. Something similar to a fantasy stock market game or something. Well these are just a few of my thoughts. I have a lot of others regarding this website, but i think it would be best if i kept them to myself for now. But if there is anyone interested in helping me (Content Writers, Web designers, Web programmers) please email me at: RufusBurns5@msn.com . Advice and Criticism would also be greatly appreciated

Rufus Burns
RufusBurns5@msn.com

[Arlene M Passalacqua]

Most people don't realize how difficult it is to start up a community website. If it were easy, you'd have found that someone already did it. I'd recommend going with the /. model, focus on the content first, community second, that will make it easier on you.

[astralone]

Thank you for your advice.
How do u think would be the best way of going about getting this content? Based on my inexperience, I know that i cannot simply write all of the articles myself. Do you know anyone who may be willing to write articles? Does u think this idea is feasible enough to take to a venture capital, for funding for the design of the game system I spoke of? Thank you again for you helps.

Ps - If there is any still interested (Writers, Web Designers, etc) in helping please email me.

Rufus Burns
RufusBurns5@msn.com

[taj79]

Rufus,

I would like to hear more of your ideas on this teen entrepreneur community. I am a young entrepreneur myself who has had some sucess in my market of expertise. I think it would be a wise idea to get young people with good ideas to get a move on them, even though it may be quite impossible because of the risks and investments required to really get anything accomplished.

Writers are a dime a dozen, and you can really get people to write for you just by posting a classified in newspaper for people with the expertise that you are looking for. My grandma in law runs a small newspaper and she gets columnist to send he free articles all the time, simply by just asking arounf in forums like these and by posting free wanted ads for them in her local community newspaper. Plus once you get some readers they will come to you.

[Arlene M Passalacqua]

You can usually get people who run websites to write you an article if you link back to their website in the byline.

[astralone]

Hey,

Yeah, I agree. Writers are a dime a dozen, and are so important. In what area do you have expertise? Like what Paul said in his earlier post, I think it would be best that I focus on the content first; therefore I am also designing a site that will be easy to navigate. I am currently trying to find web designers to help. If you know any writers please tell them to contact me: RufusBurns5@msn.com.

I also didn’t realize it would be that hard to set up a community, I mean when I thought about community, I thought about message boards, and chat rooms. I now realize that in order to get this site out to people effectively its going to require some serious marketing. How would u suggest I got about marketing this website once it is completed? Since I am a college student, I also have to factor in my limited funding.

Also, if there are any teens or young businessmen/women who would like to share their success/failure stories in order to help others, please email me.

Thank you again for the help.

Rufus Burns
RufusBurns5@msn.com

[pmoores]

This online site sounds interesting. I have yet to find a one-stop-shop for all my entrepreneurial needs. Content is definitely important. Maybe for a promotion, you could do a sort of reality series (and write multiple columns about it), following an individual young entrepreneur who is out to form his/her own business. Also, the idea of a community with message board is also good (much like this current one that we are both using to exchange thoughts). Add to that, you could also offer a premium paid service for subscription members. Come to think of it, maybe I should do one also. I have lots of great ideas for the site. But well, that's not my main interest. Create a site, provide a lot of good resources, invest a lot of time in good web design because sometimes a site seems unprofessional, form a newletter, offer the latest news in different industries, and so on. Actually, if anyone else is interested, I'll consider the position as a consultant on the site and give some more ideas.

[Dalen]

I would be happy to contribute financial articles if you'd like. I encounter many teen business owners in these forums and find many of the same questions.

[astralone]

Hey,

I would like to say thank you to all of who replied to this post. I have just finished exams at school, which mean I will be able to pursue this idea full steam into the summer. Those of you who said you will be willing to contribute to this idea, I have already, or in the process of emailing you to receive some information on what you would like to contribute. Those of you I haven't emailed yet, is probably because I do not have your email. Could you please post your email here in the thread, or send me a message at: RufusBurns5@msn.com. Once I receive word from you stating your interest, if will send you a basic outline and plan of the website, and what areas I will need help in. Thank you again for you time.

Rufus Burns
RufusBurns5@msn.com

[AndrewZ]

Hi rufus,
Its very simple. Use either vbulletin or php forums. Get it custom programmed to suite your needs and custom graphics then your away. To advertise just use google adwords. Simple procedure.