subscription website design - recommendations?

[The Invader]

Hi

I have been tinkering around for some time now trying to put together a website on my own, using open source software based around one of the popular CMS tools. I am an IT professional and so reasonably technical, however I'm not a programmer or web designer by trade so I have my limitations.

I have a site in place that would suffice well enough as a free website, but the problems have been where I try to integrate the functionality that turns it into a paying subscription website.

Once I have the paying users on board I want a site that is slick and robust, and easy to support, allowing me to focus mainly on providing the content (photos and video) and promoting the site. But with the site I currently have, I am constantly pestered with upgrading the open source programs to the latest version, and having to check that everything is still integrating correctly.

I run another non-adult website and for that project I didn't try to do the site myself but paid for a bespoke development. This model seems to work well because all I have to worry about is the content, newsletters, promoting etc, which fits nicely into the limited time that I have free to work with my websites.

So finally cutting to the chase...I am now considering following a similar model for my adult website. The developers/hosts I used for my other site don't do adult sites otherwise they would have been ideal. So I'm looking for some recommendations for web design companies who might be able to provide a good, honestly priced development (as I work in IT I have a good idea when it is overpriced).

In summary the site mainly just needs to provide the following:

- subscription management (probably CCBill will be the payment provider)
- content is photos and videos
- I already have my main website logo and other logos (designed by an art school graphic design student), and these will be provided to the web designers
- since I already have my open source site in place, I already have a good starting point for the web developers to reference

Thanks

[The Invader]

Oops...

I should also have mentioned that I would like the site to have a Forum and some basic User Profile features.

[puretotty]

I outsource my work to a designer in the Philipennes and a programmer in Canada... yes is would be great to find one who had both skills... but I find it best to find people who are expert in one...

They have done me sites like www.chloelove.com and are currently working on my new project with sites like www.nataliebanks.com and www.jessicacutie.com

Also if your in the market to buy more content for your sites have a peek at my content store www.TrashyContent.com

[Cenobitez]

The easiest way in your position is run 2 CMS's, 1 for your free sections and 1 in the members section.

The memnber management and evertything else is run my CCBill, so create a folder called 'members' install your CMS/Gallery/Forum in there and off you go

[The Invader]

hah! never thought of that one!

A couple of questions:
- Do you use the same CMS for each one?
- Do you have registration on the free CMS, and if so does this mean paying members end up having 2 logins?

I tried something slightly similar by attempting to make the subscription program I have only protect the CMS gallery plug-in folder, but then the preview thumbs/images wouldn't display once it was protected.

The subscription program I have is supposed to integrate with the CMS at database user group level, but I can't get it to work so far (even though it's supposed to), plus since it's right into the database layer I'm not sure I trust it security-wise, plus I also have to worry about the CMS version updates cocking things up.

Another idea might be to install only a separate gallery program outside of the CMS in as you suggest, the members directory. Would mean 2 different logins, but at least it would remove a lot of the security and CMS upgrade concerns.

More to ponder I guess...

[The Invader]

How do you find the language barrier getting your requirements across to them? (although looking at your sites which look excellent it would seem that goes well enough)

Are you concerned if one of them were to get run over by a bus you could be in a sticky situation, or is it companies you are dealing with rather than individuals?

As for content, I've got enough from shoots done myself to provide about a year of initial content (membership will be very cheap initially). If the site gets popular though I obviously may have to look elsewhere for additional content, so I will bear you in mind. I've actually done a couple of shoots with models linked to you within the past year What a laugh they were to work with

[puretotty]

Hey Invader... language no problem... Canadians aint bad at English The Philipennes also uses Engrish a lot... MWAHAHAHA The things you have to look out for is Natural Disaster, which is in the Philipenno book of excuses

My Designer as had his village washed away 4 times to date ! But still manages to work to my tight time frames... Even forbid one is run over, however the designers always load the PSD originals... and the programmer can always be replaced... it's all basic coding.

I think a content management system such as SiteDepth would be able to manage what you want pretty easy... give me a shout if you need info on it, it's pretty cool and reasonably priced

What models you shot ? trying to think which ones make me laugh, most just make me cry

[The Invader]

He/she could have been a staunch 'separatist' French Canadian who refuses to speak English

SiteDepth was recommended to me (probably on here) when I was originally looking at which CMS to use. Indeed I think the guy who runs SiteDepth sent me a very informative email response at the time. But I chose the very low cost option of trying to do it all myself via the open source channels. However as you probably know not many folk in the open source community see making money as the priority (they love programming more!), so it's perhaps not the easiest route to take when trying to set up a paying subscription website.

I may still stick with doing it all myself however thanks for the reminder about SiteDepth, I shall reconsider it again.

The models in question were Katie K and Natalia/Natalie. Did a solo with Katie last year then did a girl-girl with both Katie and Natalia last month. Lots of laughs all round.

[puretotty]

if any part of my programmer was French he would not be my programmer

Yeah SiteDepth is a cool option and not that expensive, especially considering the exchange rate... if you want a proper solution it's better than trying to frankenstein a free option together...

[The Invader]

"if you want a proper solution it's better than trying to frankenstein a free option together"

I think you have just summed up perfectly, what I have just started to realise...