Fresh Startup

**sykotik** · 06-Jun-12, 05:28 PM

Im in the process of creating a discussion forum very much like this one and have just started experementing with the creation of an Ecomm store essentially what i want is to get the forum live and start generating interest and a good solid community obviously the content will solely based on the product and industry which i am attempting to tap into, then at a later stage i would like to incorporate that forum into a fully functional ecommerce store. I have absolutely no experience with this im creating both the forum and the store using open source php software and have come quite a long way id like to think.
What id like to know from you guys, the experts, is do you think this idea is a bit too over ambitious? If i might add i work full time and this will operate as a side project, my earnings by no means could cover a substantial stock file so i intend to operate on a kind of dropship prinicipal and slowly build a stock profile. Ive gathered that my site will be the turnkey and traffric generation is paramount for success and so recently oblivious ive come across terms such as adwords, adsense, wordpress, affiliates, SEO, meta tags etc etc and feeling a little overwhelmed.
Look forward to your input guys!!!

**Bizfact** · 08-Jun-12, 11:53 AM

Well, for starters I don't think you can be over-ambitious. You just have to support your ambitions with practical thinking and action.
I wish you all the best.

**Dave A** · 09-Jun-12, 07:11 AM

My first question would be which is your priority goal - building a community website or building an eCommerce website?

**sykotik** · 10-Jun-12, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Dave A

My first question would be which is your priority goal - building a community website or building an eCommerce website?

My first priority right now is the forum, which is almost complete, i just need a name... Will use that to get familliar and 100% comfortable with the administartion of my own site, get to know my host and its capabilities or lack of and most importantly build a loyal community.

**Dave A** · 10-Jun-12, 05:39 PM

In that case I'd suggest if you want to get going with eCommerce any time soon, you do it as a completely different project on a different website. There are some niches where I've seen it work, but mostly I've seen perfectly healthy communities die with the introduction of a shop.

Originally Posted by sykotik

...and most importantly build a loyal community.

That's the toughest challenge in the whole process of establishing a community website, really. If I can give one tip, you stand a far better chance of succeeding if you're doing it for the love of it rather than thinking it's going to make you money.

**sykotik** · 11-Jun-12, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Dave A

In that case I'd suggest if you want to get going with eCommerce any time soon, you do it as a completely different project on a different website. There are some niches where I've seen it work, but mostly I've seen perfectly healthy communities die with the introduction of a shop.

That's the toughest challenge in the whole process of establishing a community website, really. If I can give one tip, you stand a far better chance of succeeding if you're doing it for the love of it rather than thinking it's going to make you money.

Thats an interesting direction to consider, i did want them to both compliment eachother as one entity, but now that i think of it... It would make sense. Unless both are introduced simultaneously??

The community was an idea with no profitable business in mind, and was simply for the love of it, The business idea developed later on...

**Dave A** · 11-Jun-12, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by sykotik

i did want them to both compliment eachother as one entity...
Unless both are introduced simultaneously??

If your primary goal was the eCommerce store, that would probably be OK, although I'd suggest start off with a blog first. If you get great engagement in the blog, to the point where people are communicating with each other via it (rather than just with you), only then would I consider introducing forum functionality.

As much as you might hope the traffic in the forum will generate interest and new buyers in the shop, the reality is it will be the other way around. You will find the mere presence of the shop is such a strong influence it will be the primary driver that shapes the development of the community, whether you like it or not.

**sykotik** · 12-Jun-12, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Dave A

If your primary goal was the eCommerce store, that would probably be OK, although I'd suggest start off with a blog first. If you get great engagement in the blog, to the point where people are communicating with each other via it (rather than just with you), only then would I consider introducing forum functionality.

As much as you might hope the traffic in the forum will generate interest and new buyers in the shop, the reality is it will be the other way around. You will find the mere presence of the shop is such a strong influence it will be the primary driver that shapes the development of the community, whether you like it or not.

Thanks for the advice Dave, I really appreciate it!! I could switch the main focus to the Ecom store, at the end of the day i only really want to register one domain. I was thinking maybe a wordpress stlye blog site with seperate page links to the store and forum it seems to be the standard in my experience browsing through many websites. Im not sure, Yes ultimately i do want to turn a profit. The hosting and domain registration etc does cost money and i would like to get it right from the get go.

**Dave A** · 13-Jun-12, 09:40 AM

On VAT - whether to register or not really depends on quite a lot of different factors. This was one of the earlier discussion on whether to register for VAT, but there have been quite a few others since.

**sykotik** · 14-Jun-12, 08:40 AM

Read a couple of the VAT registration related threads, what ive gathered is avoid VAT registration, unless my turnover exceeds 1 mil p.a i can do without the formality right now....

Also what about tax? ive never registered with SARS... sadly ive never been in the bracket for PAYE until recently ive noticed PAYE on my payslip? What are my tax obligations on a personal capacity and when operating a business as a sole prop?