Need help setting up website for club.

gaillimheach

I am a member of a cultural club.

I wish to set up a website, at no financial cost, to promote the activities of the club.

I am technically extremely challenged.

The website I wish to set up should, ideally, have the following:

A blog section;
A forum section;
Links to various websites where club members can get further information;
Links to about 200 videos on Youtube;
Instant messaging;

In order to avoid the website forum being misused, I wish it to be on an "invite-only" basis, at least for the first year or so, til we see how it goes.

Somebody suggested a pbwiki. Anyone got any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.

gaillimheach

I've spent hours today tinkering with pbwiki. It's ok, but doesn't have the forum, chat, or instant messaging options that I need.

I've also tinkered around with Zoho, wikispaces and other similar sites whose names I can't remember (what does one call them: "generative" /"collaborative" sites?), and I still haven't found that complete package.

In the absence of a suitable complete package, I may settle for a combination of two options. So, I'll continue working on wikispace and try and put all my website links and favourites in there. That'll be one half of the job done.

Anyone got any idea where I could create a second safe haven for club members only to have their own forum/instant messaging/blog options. Club members are all minors.

hairyfish

Hi

what i would reccomend is to pay this site a visit http://opensourcecms.com/

It has all the content management system sites up for tinkering around with. I had a bit of use with php-fusion which might look after most of your features.
Now when you say no financial cost do you mean not paying anyone to design it or are you talking no money to host etc?

A site with the features you talk about will require more than basic hosting (php / use of a SQL database etc) and this will cost you money unless you get it donated by a hosting company .

Hope this helps

gaillimheach

Thanks, Hairyfish, for an extremely helpful reply. That site you mention is spot-on.

I certainly will try out php-fusion.

When I say no financial cost, I mean free. No design/set-up costs, no hosting costs, no maintenance costs.

In light of what you say, I suppose I'll have to cut back on features.

Have a good day.:)

gaillimheach

Hairyfish, you are a genius. I LOVE that php-fusion thingy and think I'll go with it!

Do I need to get a web hosting service with it? Someone has just told me that web hosting isn't that expensive.

sheesh

web hosting is not that expensive
blacknight and hosting 365 are 2 irish companies that do it and have been recommended on sites I visit. both will also have a cms and forum software installed in your webspace when you get it.
All you do is pick a domain name check to see if its available remember your password and pay with credit card. hey presto you are part of the knowledge economy!

the webspace will also enable you to have cool email addresses like [email]superman@[yourdomain].com[/email]

spannerotoole

sheesh wrote: »

web hosting is not that expensive
blacknight and hosting 365 are 2 irish companies that do it and have been recommended on sites I visit. both will also have a cms and forum software installed in your webspace when you get it.
All you do is pick a domain name check to see if its available remember your password and pay with credit card. hey presto you are part of the knowledge economy!

the webspace will also enable you to have cool email addresses like [email]superman@[yourdomain].com[/email]

Personally, I use Letshost.ie they are quite good and use Linux Based Servers, Has some nice things like Fantastico Control Panel and other things like that are installed on it. and 12GB Space 100GB Bandwidth Per Month. We got it for €80 per year including the domain name.

gaillimheach

Thanks, everyone. Website is now set up (php-fusion) and with a very helpful hosting company. I had to get professional help. Was completely out of my depth!