I want to start a social network but am a little afraid

Script I want to buy will cost me about $300, which for me, is a good bit of money.

Now should I go ahead and just try it? I feel I have a good niche. I mean, worst comes to worst, it doesn't really get anywhere, and I can just sell the site/domain for basically the same I paid for, correct?

 

I doubt you will easily sell for $300 with no traffic, but what do I know really.

 

If you build the site up and it has potential, I am sure that you'll be successful

 

Initially don't go for $300 scripts. First try with free scripts and later after getting more hits redesign it using freelancers. You can try PHPizabi a free social networking script. Niche social networks are getting popular these days so try to develop a Niche social network. All the best.

 

what script you plan to buy?
abledating?

 

Free scripts suck.

If you want to make one your going to have to do it unique and your going to have to go big fast aka. spend big bucks in advertising.

If you buy your $300 script and domain (im presuming this is brandable/generic right?) then if it fails you'll probably make a certain chunk of it back however, you will loose some $$ for the script sale.

 

you can buy scripts that are less expensive in my opinion... and take care because social network websites are pretty well developed world-wide, maybe just if you want to create one for your country. i don't see too many chances of success in something like this.

 

I hope you're not intending to go with PHPFox. That's a sinking ship.

 

No, I wasn't.

PHPizabi is good (b/c it's free) but is too much like Myspace for my likes. I like SocialEngine since it is like Facebook, and I need something like that. SE is exactly what I need but it costs too much.

By the way, if someone knows how to create a custom template for SE, and is interested in partnering with me, PM me. I will provide you with my niche idea and we can get started on this.

 

these websites offer free social network hosting

everyvisitor.com
colectivex.com

 

Just from experience no matter what script you buy you will find something wrong with it. I haven't found a social networking script that is 100% bug free. Also you will find that you want to change couple of things in your script.

I am currently developing a social networking site myself.

 

PM me; I have a bunch of those scripts and made a few myself also; maybe we can work together?

 

Wish your success. But social Network is too big things, I will go first small something.....

 

I think it wont work .. bcoz such sites need a lot of advertising .. and hence lot of moolah .. moreover .. orkut and facebook and myspace are the giants of social networking .. so i would better not go for one and not atleast for
$ 300 !!

 

But on the other hand, a highly specialized niche website could be very highly profitable because it's limited nature will create a concentrated market, which i creates a good prospect for attracting advertisers.

 

We are using social engine too and have recently added many members via our own real social and business network, attracting new members is a challenge since the competition in this industry is very high

 

i wasted $400 for buying a social network script. eventually i converted to vbulletin

 

I got a quote for a social networking script for $1000. This will be no basic script, it had a ton of AJAX stuff, etc. You can easily get 70% of that back if it fails. It's worth the risk.

 

This is a really old thread.

I keep hearing that social networks don't pull in any money..which has been holding me off from going down that route.

 

The eCPM would be terrible unless you reach massive traffic.