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The Future of BCF

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Basil,
Your suggested system of membership looks good to me and I think your charges are very reasonable. I think you have hit the correct balance of not deterring people by having high charges, but hopefully it will make the BCF pay for itself and become a viable long-term fixture.
Please excuse my technical ignorance, but I have a few questions.
What is the difference between a web site and a blog?
Is there a size restriction on the blogs and web sites?
Would it be possible to split the web site, so that my wife could have some pages about her interests and I could have some for mine?
Does the web site come with a fools guide to creating your own web site, ie a template or something?
If not should we buy some sort of software to do this?
How do we get a domain name registered?
Sorry for all of the questions, but I did say that I was technologically challenged!
Keep up the good work. You are a real hero for all you do with the BCF.
Nick
 
Two things:

First: Given the number of posts I make here, I think you should pay me. :smile: Just Joking. Actually, I will buy a subscription and pay for it out of the car budget. I just need to decide which level I want.

Second: For a free and easy website development software for simple sites, look at netobjects essentials. https://www.netobjects.com/html/essentials.html
 
Will there be an annual reminder to members to renew when the current subscription runs out?
 
Basil said:
Two things <span style="font-weight: bold">Butt Monkey</span> Basil
Click to expand...

Butt Monkey? :nonono:

Go to your room, Big Guy! :wink:
 
That was quick and easy! Thanks Basil for setting that up for us. Fates willing I will have a british car as long as I can draw air....any thoughts of Lifetime Membership or Sponsor, etc? Just a thought....

Thanks again for all you do for us and the Forum!
Peter
 
Good questions all. I'll try to answer them one at a time:

NickMorgan said:
What is the difference between a web site and a blog?
Click to expand...

Well, a Blog is a piece of software that resides on my server that allows you to post articles about yourself, which can include pictures, etc. Actually the Blog software I'm going to use (Mambo) for this is pretty powerful, but not as flexible and not as many features as a full blown web site. For example, with a Web Site, you can design your pages to look and feel like anything you want, but with a blog, you would be somewhat limited to the pages generated by the Blog software. Also, with a web site, you would have more HD space available also be able to have up to 3 personalized email accounts. You would not have that with a Blog. The bottom line is, a web site gives you a great deal more flexibility and features than just a Blog. With a web site you could, for example, have a blog as part of your site, but you could also have a full-featured Photo Gallery, which is available as part of your hosting plan, or any number of other cool programs that you can install (many programs are available for installation with a hosting plan). Another important difference is, with your own website you can have your own Domain name, such as www.mywebsitename.com where "mywebsitename" is whatever domain name you register. With a Blog, your Blog address is www(dot)britishcarforum(dot)com/yourforumname.



NickMorgan said:
Is there a size restriction on the blogs and web sites?
Click to expand...

Yes, for a Blog you can use up to 20MB of HD Space, but with a web hosting plan you get 200MB of space and 10 Gig per month of bandwidth. So far, with the members hosting here I have found that to be more than adequate, but upgrades for additional HD space and bandwidth usage are available.




NickMorgan said:
Would it be possible to split the web site, so that my wife could have some pages about her interests and I could have some for mine?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. It would be your web site - you can have whatever pages you want split out however you want them. My only restrictions (which I doubt apply to you) are that the web site must not contain anything illegal and not contain pornography. Also, if your web site is about your car you can post a link to it in your signature here. (I reserve to right to limit what can be linked to in the forums just because I'd prefer not to have political sites or other controversial stuff associated with the BCF).

NickMorgan said:
Does the web site come with a fools guide to creating your own web site, ie a template or something?
If not should we buy some sort of software to do this?
Click to expand...

Well, thats a good question. There are many ways to skin the cat when it comes to building a web site and many different kinds of software. A lot of people use Microsoft FrontPage which allows you to build your web site on your home computer and then "upload" it from the program to my server. FrontPage has some disadvantages (for me anyway) in that it adds a lot of "junk" to the pages that FP uses to control what its doing. But my hosting service does have what are called "Front Page Extensions" on my server that allows Front Page to be used. There are also other programs available where you build the page off line, but then use a third party FTP program to upload all the files. Someone posted a link earlier to a site that is a good tutorial on web sites and HTML code, etc. Do a Google search for HTML tutorial or "Web Building" software. I do have a number of ready made templates available as well...and I can give you enough personal help to get you started.

NickMorgan said:
How do we get a domain name registered?
Click to expand...

There are many places where you can "register" a domain name. The place I recommend is www.Dotster.com only because I'm familiar with them and can help with them if need be. Once you register a domain, I would need to set up your account on my server for that specific domain. Then you would need to go into your Dotster account (or whatever registrar you use) and tell them what my "name servers" are (So the internet world will know where to point when people type in your domain name in their browser).

NickMorgan said:
Sorry for all of the questions, but I did say that I was technologically challenged!
Keep up the good work. You are a real hero for all you do with the BCF.
Nick
Click to expand...


No problem ... these are good questions and others may benefit from this discussion as well.

Basil
 
Wouldn't you know, the internet comes through again. A Butt Monkey smilie.
shakin.gif
 
Silverghost said:
That was quick and easy! Thanks Basil for setting that up for us. Fates willing I will have a british car as long as I can draw air....any thoughts of Lifetime Membership or Sponsor, etc? Just a thought....

Thanks again for all you do for us and the Forum!
Peter
Click to expand...

Thanks for signing up! You have a PM! (Private Message)
 
Wow Basil, thank you for such a quick and comprehensive response. I will have a look at all of the suggested web sites and get back to you.
Nick
 
Mickey Richaud said:
Basil said:
Two things <span style="font-weight: bold">Butt Monkey</span> Basil
Click to expand...

Butt Monkey? :nonono:

Go to your room, Big Guy! :wink:
Click to expand...

Too Funny!

I'd hate to see the BCF dissapear and dont know much about computers so dont have much advise to offer. I love this place, Its my homepage on both my computers. Certainatally a priceless wealth of knowledge. Real people answers in seconds most of the time. I dont belong to any other forums and have looked at some otehrs but this place is so user freindly and people freindly. We'd all hate to see you go at any rate. I do believe you should be compensated for all the work that makes this place so welcoming. Wether adverstising or membership fees or anything that needs to be done Im sure it'd be worth it...
 
Yikes! This was fun (?). As I don't get email notices anymore, I didn't realize there were a gazillion posts here on the most important topic of all - BCF.

Is there a summary of "where we're at" so I don't have to digest all eleven pages of posts?

Thanks.
Tom
 
Well, I may be "Silver Tongued" but I can't find the place to send my $$'s to become a "Silver Member"....
 
Thanks Pat!

OK - as Tony's ready to send his $$ ... I'm assuming the new "plan" is in effect?

T.
 
If you sign up for a lower level, can you up it for the difference in price?
 
I like the subscription model, Basil. Keeps the site free for those who want/need it, but gives those of use who choose donate a few other perks. I think you found a nice balance.

I was about to send in my anniversary (3 years on March 11) donation anyways, so now I'll subscribe instead.
 
tony barnhill said:
Well, I may be "Silver Tongued" but I can't find the place to send my $$'s to become a "Silver Member"....
Click to expand...

My Stuff >> Subscriptions
 
PAYMENT SENT!!!
 
Emperor:

My paypal account is all ~bleep~, is their another way of acceptable payment?

Thanks,
Pat
 
vping said:
If you sign up for a lower level, can you up it for the difference in price?
Click to expand...

I'm sure we could work something out on a pro-rated basis.
 
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