August 24, 2009 - 3:43pm
Tough Question
This is a tough one. Before you dive head long into this project please pray about it and think it through. I've yet to see a Christian social networking site be a real success or be a witness to those who are lost. Here are a few reasons why this is really hard:
- Non-Christians aren't going to come to or even be looking for a Christian social network. It won't even register on their minds unless they hear about the technology behind it and are interested. It's just not their thing.
- Christians who use social networks tend to use Facebook and the other big boys. That's where the biggest churches are, where the most Christians are, etc. I'm not saying this is good or that a niche site won't work. It's just a factor to realize.
- Content and unique experience are key. If you won't have content that pulls people to read it of features that compel people to use them it won't succeed.
If you are looking to build a social network fairly easily I'd suggest checking out drupal. It can be scaled to millions of page views a month (depending on hardware), there are a lot of people here who can help you with it, and it's been proven to be solid in the social networking arena.
Hello Everyone,
I believe the Lord has given me a unique idea for a social network/utility that I would be an incredible blessing to the body of Christ and a powerful witness to the lost but will need much work.
I am a Web designer with a bit of experience in (X)HTML, CSS, (a little) Javascript & jQuery. I also know WordPress and can totally customize a self-hosted blog.
But I also know that these skills are limited in scope and not necessarily all the skills needed to perform what I have in mind.
I am willing to boot-strap the beginning costs and work of starting this project up but i am incredibly conscious of my lack of proper skills in coding and limited knowledge in certain areas to properly get this project to the place of a working model that I could show to those who may fund it.
What I am needing advice or help in are several areas:
•Do any of you know of a place or places where I can get advice on bringing together such an endeavor?
(I heard these forums may be a good place to start)
•Do any of you know the necessary steps I should go through or people to contact to secure some type of VC (Venture Capitalist) funding for a Christ centered & God glorifying project?
•Are there any designers or coders here willing enough to take part in the development of a web application that could become a great encouragement for the Body of Christ. (possibly even for little or no pay in the beginning, though i hate to even ask this. yes there's risk! but i've heard a great way to spell FAITH is... R - I - S -K)
Live, think & speak truly,
Philoveracity Design, 2009
Verious Smith III, CEO
http://www.philoveracity.com
verious.smith@philoveracity.com