How do you create a site like blogger or hubpages? Let users create their own blogs

9 replies
Hello Warriors, I'm looking for some help as to how I can create a site with user generated blogs, similar to blogger, hubpages and squidoo.

Not necessarily with all the bells and whistles that come with sites like hubpages/blogger, I just want a way to create a site where users can create their own content/blog type areas of the site.

However, one requirement I want though is that widget/advertising areas on the site that I have control over. Obviously i want to earn revenue from the user generated content.

I don't know if this is possible with wordpress multi-site or anything else but since other people are doing it must be possible.

Is there some kind of certain software/plug-ins I need to make this happen?

If I could pull it off with wordpress that would be awesome.
#blogger #blogs #create #hubpages #site #users
  • Profile picture of the author Mary Green
    I believe it is possible with wordpress. I don't see why not anyway. I would upgrade to wpmu and then find a necessary plugin to do what you need.

    Mary
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  • Profile picture of the author rooze
    Yes, it is very easy to do using WPMU (Wordpress Multi-user).

    You can setup a WPMU network in around 15 minutes, pretty much the time it takes to install worpress plus 10 minutes for the WPMU changes. You'll need file access to your server via FTP or Cpanel.

    Then you'll need to install plugins to get the exact functionality you need.

    There are basic setups or very elaborate setups involving paid blogging, paid memberships etc.
    I have some good resources for setting up WPMU, PM me if you want and I'll fish them out.
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  • Profile picture of the author Cru
    Originally Posted by Adam Roy View Post

    Hello Warriors, I'm looking for some help as to how I can create a site with user generated blogs, similar to blogger, hubpages and squidoo.

    Not necessarily with all the bells and whistles that come with sites like hubpages/blogger, I just want a way to create a site where users can create their own content/blog type areas of the site.

    However, one requirement I want though is that widget/advertising areas on the site that I have control over. Obviously i want to earn revenue from the user generated content.

    I don't know if this is possible with wordpress multi-site or anything else but since other people are doing it must be possible.

    Is there some kind of certain software/plug-ins I need to make this happen?

    If I could pull it off with wordpress that would be awesome.
    There is definitely a way to do this in Wordpress, but since I have never made a website like this, I can't help you too much other than to say that it is definitely possible with Wordpress.

    The question you should be asking yourself is "What's in it for my users?"... it sounds like nothing. You've admitted that you won't have the bells and whistles of the major platforms and you don't plan on doing any revenue splitting. Why would people be compelled to create content on your site over the guys who offer those extras?

    I know ideas sometimes sound fantastic on paper but you should have a sound business plan behind it to back it up. Figure out how everything is going to work before starting. To me, the big question you have to ask yourself is how are you going to drive users to your site to create content for you without having to pay them or offer them any features they can't get anywhere else.
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    • Profile picture of the author Adam Roy
      Originally Posted by Cru View Post

      There is definitely a way to do this in Wordpress, but since I have never made a website like this, I can't help you too much other than to say that it is definitely possible with Wordpress.

      The question you should be asking yourself is "What's in it for my users?"... it sounds like nothing. You've admitted that you won't have the bells and whistles of the major platforms and you don't plan on doing any revenue splitting. Why would people be compelled to create content on your site over the guys who offer those extras?

      I know ideas sometimes sound fantastic on paper but you should have a sound business plan behind it to back it up. Figure out how everything is going to work before starting. To me, the big question you have to ask yourself is how are you going to drive users to your site to create content for you without having to pay them or offer them any features they can't get anywhere else.
      Actually I run a forum going to be close to 100,000 visitors a month soon, so I'm going to market the site to my users I have no doubts or worries about not getting users. It's going to be awesome, just have to figure out how to set it up.

      I've already been building the buzz for this, I'll have 100's of users sign up for it in the first week once I get it set up.
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      • Profile picture of the author Cru
        Originally Posted by Adam Roy View Post

        Actually I run a forum going to be close to 100,000 visitors a month soon, so I'm going to market the site to my users I have no doubts or worries about not getting users. It's going to be awesome, just have to figure out how to set it up.

        I've already been building the buzz for this, I'll have 100's of users sign up for it in the first week once I get it set up.
        Cool, that sounds like it could work, what is the website?
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Since version 3.0 this is a built-in feature in WP. Just search the Codex for multisite and you will find a lot of info.
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  • Profile picture of the author rooze
    Adam,

    On top of what's already been said, you'll need to decide on whether your blogs are created as sub-domains or sub-directories. The best way I think is to use sub-domains and to offer a custom branded domain as an upsell option. For that to work you'll need so check that your host supports 'wildcard' sub-domain creation with unlimited sub-domains.
    That's the only real factor outside of the WP config changes that you'll need to make. Since all WPMU files are 'virtual', you probably won't see a change in disk usage. Server load can be quite high on WPMU particularly when you have some of the sophisticated plugins working. So maybe check with your hosting company before you get started out.
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    • Profile picture of the author staytigler
      So would it be best to run an MS install on a VPS or dedicated server?
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  • Profile picture of the author LifeIsGood
    Excellent idea, Adam Roy.
    Rooze, you are brilliant.

    Thanks, guys.

    LifeIsGood ~ It's About To Get Even Better!
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