Starting a internet form .Advice needed !
Discussion
Hello Everyone.
I would like to tap into peoples knowledge about a few things . I want to start a small side line business to aid income etc . What I want to do is end up with the following .
1. A very simple one page website .That can take people through a link etc to a forum once they have paid a membership .
2.Its not a secret forum! Just a database for Filipinos in the UK to be able to discuss and share information .
3.They will all receive a welcome pack as part of the membership cost . Car stickers and a lapel pin badge etc .
4.I want the easiest and safest method for them to pay the membership.
I would like to hear all ideas and with luck form a good debate For me to learn from. I have saved to fund the idea as I believe its a lot better to have the correct resources to form good foundations .As I know very little about the whole subject . I just want to end up with a stable platform that I own and have control etc . I have also been looking at the “Fiverr” idea of getting the designs for flyers and badges done etc . Thanks
I would like to tap into peoples knowledge about a few things . I want to start a small side line business to aid income etc . What I want to do is end up with the following .
1. A very simple one page website .That can take people through a link etc to a forum once they have paid a membership .
2.Its not a secret forum! Just a database for Filipinos in the UK to be able to discuss and share information .
3.They will all receive a welcome pack as part of the membership cost . Car stickers and a lapel pin badge etc .
4.I want the easiest and safest method for them to pay the membership.
I would like to hear all ideas and with luck form a good debate For me to learn from. I have saved to fund the idea as I believe its a lot better to have the correct resources to form good foundations .As I know very little about the whole subject . I just want to end up with a stable platform that I own and have control etc . I have also been looking at the “Fiverr” idea of getting the designs for flyers and badges done etc . Thanks
I don't really want to pour cold water on the idea, but,
In many ways forums are a dying beast. Only the very largest and most popular survive, most are run as a hobby by a few enthusiasts. Most of what you are seeking to do can be handled by a Facebook group. A quick google reveals,
Filipino Women's Association UK
Filipino British Society Milton Keynes
Filipino Association of Birmingham
FBFC UK - Facebook Filipino Community in United Kingdom
Filipino Domestic Workers Association UK
Birmingham Filipino-British Community Volunteers
FilUK - Filipino Community in UK (United Kingdom)
and that's just on the first page of results.
So if you do want to create a side-business, before you spend out on hosting and forum software - what has your offering got that nobody else has, and that people are going to be willing to pay Actual Money for?
Edit to add - though surely you already know most of that -
https://www.facebook.com › Pages › Other › Community › Pinoy UK
"Pinoy UK is a social networking website for Filipinos living and working in the UK"
Work on getting your existing setup further up the rankings.
In many ways forums are a dying beast. Only the very largest and most popular survive, most are run as a hobby by a few enthusiasts. Most of what you are seeking to do can be handled by a Facebook group. A quick google reveals,
Filipino Women's Association UK
Filipino British Society Milton Keynes
Filipino Association of Birmingham
FBFC UK - Facebook Filipino Community in United Kingdom
Filipino Domestic Workers Association UK
Birmingham Filipino-British Community Volunteers
FilUK - Filipino Community in UK (United Kingdom)
and that's just on the first page of results.
So if you do want to create a side-business, before you spend out on hosting and forum software - what has your offering got that nobody else has, and that people are going to be willing to pay Actual Money for?
Edit to add - though surely you already know most of that -
https://www.facebook.com › Pages › Other › Community › Pinoy UK
"Pinoy UK is a social networking website for Filipinos living and working in the UK"
Work on getting your existing setup further up the rankings.
Edited by shtu on Tuesday 3rd September 09:35
shtu said:
I don't really want to pour cold water on the idea, but,
In many ways forums are a dying beast. Only the very largest and most popular survive, most are run as a hobby by a few enthusiasts. Most of what you are seeking to do can be handled by a Facebook group.
I would partially agree - the use of facebook for instant responsiveness and quick fix info has certainly put a dent into forums - however... forums have vastly better ability to build community / to see what is going on in discussions / to read back through historical posts / etc. - there are lots of reasons why forums are good - there are reasons why we are all posting this on a forum In many ways forums are a dying beast. Only the very largest and most popular survive, most are run as a hobby by a few enthusiasts. Most of what you are seeking to do can be handled by a Facebook group.
so the best solution is probably a combination of the two - using facebook to drive engagement but using the forum as information repository and as a resource that attracts people. If you say to a community - all the information is in the facebook group - that is a difficult place to find the information, if instead you use facebook as a mechanism for engagement - but build up information within a forum - and then discussion there as well, then if you can build that community you still have a very valid concept... it is all about type of information / ease of access / authority / availability etc. and facebook is seriously lacking in many ways
That Facebook page is not mine !
I have 17 years frontline knowledge of Filipinos in the UK . If you read any of the facebook pages you will see that they are saturated with “Pyramid” sales type posts .Of which many many Filipinos in the UK lose money to etc . Also you cannot I believe break down a forum page into areas and subjects . Trying to negotiate a facebook page to find something can be a mine field !
The big question “What do they get for a joining fee” ?
1. A rather nice lapel pin badge . A car window sticker and access to a forum that will not have any silly “Get rich quick “ posts and pics etc .
The annual fee is £15.00 . I hope this should cover the site ,its hosting and related costs .
In fact , these are one of the main subjects I hope to cover on part of the forum. The “Scams” that are going around the Filipino community .Who is behind them and to allow those who have lost thousands to discuss the issues .
Then we have the property rental issues . MANY go “off road” when it comes to renting for various reasons . Another section of the forum would allow people to warn of bad landlords etc and to recommend good ones .But only after proof etc has been shown that that they did rent etc .
Jobs!! Every Filipino wants a extra job .
Lawyers and immigration “experts”. What a minefield this is for Filipinos .Many have lost all their savings due to been scammed. They seem to read adverts in the 3 Filipino community papers .And despite huge complaints . The companies don’t care and just take the advert fees. So the “good the bad and the ugly “ can be discussed in private .
I cannot see a single Facebook page that could cover these demands with a simple layout to find the forum sections etc .
Cheers for replies . Happy to listen to all advice etc
I have 17 years frontline knowledge of Filipinos in the UK . If you read any of the facebook pages you will see that they are saturated with “Pyramid” sales type posts .Of which many many Filipinos in the UK lose money to etc . Also you cannot I believe break down a forum page into areas and subjects . Trying to negotiate a facebook page to find something can be a mine field !
The big question “What do they get for a joining fee” ?
1. A rather nice lapel pin badge . A car window sticker and access to a forum that will not have any silly “Get rich quick “ posts and pics etc .
The annual fee is £15.00 . I hope this should cover the site ,its hosting and related costs .
In fact , these are one of the main subjects I hope to cover on part of the forum. The “Scams” that are going around the Filipino community .Who is behind them and to allow those who have lost thousands to discuss the issues .
Then we have the property rental issues . MANY go “off road” when it comes to renting for various reasons . Another section of the forum would allow people to warn of bad landlords etc and to recommend good ones .But only after proof etc has been shown that that they did rent etc .
Jobs!! Every Filipino wants a extra job .
Lawyers and immigration “experts”. What a minefield this is for Filipinos .Many have lost all their savings due to been scammed. They seem to read adverts in the 3 Filipino community papers .And despite huge complaints . The companies don’t care and just take the advert fees. So the “good the bad and the ugly “ can be discussed in private .
I cannot see a single Facebook page that could cover these demands with a simple layout to find the forum sections etc .
Cheers for replies . Happy to listen to all advice etc
Pinoyuk said:
That Facebook page is not mine !
Apologies, Guess it's a common name then.The trouble you then have is who or how are you going to vet your content to ensure you're filtering out the scams and cons?
On the face of it to your users, you're offering the same services as many other places, but charging to do so, and most people have a massive reluctance to part with £Actual Money for any web-based content.
There's also the liability risk of offering 'vetted' services, which will be great until someone feels they've been ripped off, gets nowhere with the ripee, and decides to come after you instead, on the ground of your site's recommendations.
Feels like a minefield. Are these services you already offer in another form\via a different channel? If so, may be better to try and promote those more conventionally.
Otherwise, it feels like a fairly std. generic chat forum, and we roll back round to FB already having the market cornered...
Hi Shtu
My wife and I would “moderate the forum” . I have spent a few hours looking at “community “ facebook pages .And they all seem a MESS ! .You cannot seem to form separate section for different subjects .And trying to locate something is not as easy as a simple forum .We need at least 15 “areas” sections to cover the main cities etc . Then we need at least 7 main forum sections for different subjects like housing and jobs etc . Knowing so many Filipino facebook pages.They all get swamped with silly “scam” sales posts etc !
We feel the basic join fee will appeal to a more serious Filipino who seems toto have no other platform to discuss some serious issues in “private” . By offering them as much privacy as possible .They should be more encouraged to Join. We have yet to meet any Filipinos that have not lost money to landlords or scams etc . Also the immigration law aspect is one that has seen many of them lose £10K plus . So , as long as they can show evidence etc. They will be able to explain to others why they would not recommend a certain lawyer/company etc . And they get a lovely enamel lapel pin badge .And they love to be associated with things .
But , I still want your opinion etc .I have looked this morning into forum costs and they are ok. As for litigation etc. I don’t worry too much . Each member has to be able to show some form of evidence in order to make a “negative” post/thread etc about a business or individual.
My wife and I would “moderate the forum” . I have spent a few hours looking at “community “ facebook pages .And they all seem a MESS ! .You cannot seem to form separate section for different subjects .And trying to locate something is not as easy as a simple forum .We need at least 15 “areas” sections to cover the main cities etc . Then we need at least 7 main forum sections for different subjects like housing and jobs etc . Knowing so many Filipino facebook pages.They all get swamped with silly “scam” sales posts etc !
We feel the basic join fee will appeal to a more serious Filipino who seems toto have no other platform to discuss some serious issues in “private” . By offering them as much privacy as possible .They should be more encouraged to Join. We have yet to meet any Filipinos that have not lost money to landlords or scams etc . Also the immigration law aspect is one that has seen many of them lose £10K plus . So , as long as they can show evidence etc. They will be able to explain to others why they would not recommend a certain lawyer/company etc . And they get a lovely enamel lapel pin badge .And they love to be associated with things .
But , I still want your opinion etc .I have looked this morning into forum costs and they are ok. As for litigation etc. I don’t worry too much . Each member has to be able to show some form of evidence in order to make a “negative” post/thread etc about a business or individual.
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