I am making a website, targeted towards teens and younger adults. What content would you like to see on the website, so that you will come back regularly? What would make you want to recommend my website to your friends? How would you want the site to look like? How does it appeal to you?

Please don't suggest anything adult-related. Thank you!

Teens and younger adults...

Rap music. Vampires are big right now. I see a lot of teens wearing really tight pants with very strange haircuts. Maybe have a picture of a barber wearing really tight pants.

Are you talking about a forum? A math forum? A Math Help Forum?

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I've thought about some of that. But I wanted something more orginal...more longer-lasting, and...new.

Rap music and the Twilight craze...I bet there are tons of websites on them already. Fashion is all over, also.

Unfortunately, the idea of making a math help forum has already become a reality.

Anyway--what haven't you seen on the net yet that you would like to see? Something attractive?

It is just a view by Shiv Khera:

Winners don't do different things, they do things differently


There are tons of website with the same objective, some of them are the favourites...they have the same purpose, what really matters is how much effective is your site to fulfill the objective. Hence, choose such a topic for your site which you will be able to continuously nurture since the content gets outdated very fast in this times.

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Keep Smiling
Malay


raah pakad tu ek chala chal, paa jayega madhushala

I'm going to be honest with you. Novelty comes few and far between. Coming up with something that has never been done before is extremely difficult. But, sharing the market where it already exists is always a good way to make money. McDonald's shares with burger king. Google shares with yahoo. You don't have to be original, just good at what you do.

If you really want to do something new though. I would be thinking about information, and how to get the right kind of it to people that really want it. Look at wikipedia, google, travelocity, etc... Information my dear friend, is the way the light and the truth.

Take a look at Jameson! Sits back and collects a check. I'll bet he even rents his serverspace! Jameson (and co-founders?) had a good idea and followed through with it. Remember though, that this is not the first math help forum, nor will it be the last. It stands today because it operates smoothly and has little things that make it unique and personable. The thanks icon, ratings, avatars, etc...

These are just some thoughts from a mad man. But maybe they help you.

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I suspect he writes more cheques than he collects...

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Tons of forums of the Thanks options etc....It's not unique.

No it's not, you're right. VonNemo19 has the right idea though. He just made of list of sort of standard things for forums. Really it's a bunch of little things that separate forums in my opinion.

The money MHF receives for donations is ploughed back into MHF. Jameson does not (to my knowledge) use any of the money for his own benefit.

The mods and other helpers who spend many hours a day here do not get paid for their effort.

Neither does Jameson (or other staff for that matter) "sit back". Running and maintaining a forum is hard work and a lot goes on behind the scenes that you do not see.

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I fit into your age group, but what I think you should ask yourself is WHY! Why do you want a website aged at teens to younger adults. Is it because your of this age group (then popular culture), or you want to generate cash throu this market (then cheaper products) or you want to help young adults(then drug/ relationship advice)? You need to consider WHY very seriously, your need to target your content dependant on what you want to use the site for (business, community etc).

Appeal and web design is totally irrelevant without having a clear content in mind. Web design will change overtime, but your key concepts shouldn't, if you have a look at top websites most of them started of looking like rubbish. Content matters over web design totally at this stage. However if you want to attract this audience, it needs to be simplistic but powerful (consider facebook's ease of use) . It maybe worth considering using social networking logins (both IPB and VB have mods for using facebook accounts to become members of the site)

Phil

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"I'd rather you hate me for what I am then love me for what I'm not"

Wow, thanks for all the insight, guys! I've been thinking about "Winners don't do different things, they do things differently". And I think I would want to make a website on music. I mean...I am a musician myself--I sing in a choir, and I'm in a band.

I think it's a lot easier to generate content and put my efforts into doing something I really enjoy.

It'll be a site that could teach basic theory, get teens started on a band, instruments, equipment, and all that. I'm thinking of developing a forum where teens can share all things musical, also. To get more interaction and content, I could allow an option where users could submit their own article/story/lesson/tutorials for anything musical related.

What do you guys think? Will it be the kind of website that you would check back on regularly?

Thanks,

ND

Now your thinking right - .

This is difficult to tell, but do consider refining your audience, I can understand you wanting to help everyone - but are those intrested in classic music and gothic music going to both find the site attractive? Consider geo-targetting and especially how different users will respond to your site. Maybe try generating intrest through existing teen dominated networks?

All the best,
Phill

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"I'd rather you hate me for what I am then love me for what I'm not"

Well, learning how to read sheet music could be learned by classical pianists and goth rockers alike, yes?

Fair point, you could appeal to a large audience on a refined topic, reading music. Personally I would launch the site focusing on "learning how to read sheet music" and then expand into other fields. Also consider using an interface which will appeal to all.

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"I'd rather you hate me for what I am then love me for what I'm not"

For your website, what "backbone" will you be using? Will it be a forum system like vBulletin or more of a CMS system?

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