Setting Up A Directory: My Adventures

[kristian]

Thanks Jim and thanks also for the opportunity to do what we're doing here. The link in the newletter also helped a lot. We're getting some great ideas from webmasters of all different levels of experience. Cheers

Originally Posted by Jim

I just noticed that I haven't wished you good luck in this thread, kristian. So, good luck on the new linklist

[kristian]

Brief Update . . .

Had problems installing the script last night. This is the first time in a long time I've had problems with an installation. If anyone wants a tgp script or forum installing, I might just do it to get back my confidence! lol A word of warning about Gossamer Links : its a bugger.

Anyway script is installed now. On Sunday I created the layouts in photo shop. Gave those to Amareck who turned them into CSS layouts. Incidentally, although html is a language we all know and love, it is worth your while learning css too. I didn't want to spend time learning it for this project but am intent on getting to grips with it over time. Much of it is simple but I would not know how to design a site from the ground up with it. The reason I went for a css layout, instead of conventional html, is just to keep with the times and offer my sufers faster loading pages and a little interactivity - primarily, I wanted faster load times that would also save money in the long run in terms of bandwidth.

This afternoon I revised the designs so I'm guessing Amareck will be chewing his keyboard before long.

Will post more as soon as I have more to tell.

[stuveltje]

good to hear you got the script installed, i use myself the gossarmer free script, and i have alot of extra things there (like blacklist on domain, ip, email, words and more), i dont think its hard to install but then i learned from the start gossamer, i have now one linksite done with css script, i dont know, i dont like it myself , probably i like to torture myself and go with the old fashioned doing every page html handcoding( like with stuveltjes porn, i regret i started sucha big list, so much work) still good you have the script running and trying things, looking forward to see your linksite finished

[kristian]

Originally Posted by stuveltje

good to hear you got the script installed, i use myself the gossarmer free script, and i have alot of extra things there (like blacklist on domain, ip, email, words and more), i dont think its hard to install but then i learned from the start gossamer, i have now one linksite done with css script, i dont know, i dont like it myself , probably i like to torture myself and go with the old fashioned doing every page html handcoding( like with stuveltjes porn, i regret i started sucha big list, so much work) still good you have the script running and trying things, looking forward to see your linksite finished

Thanks stu I should have something to show you in a day or so.

[Xeno]

Originally Posted by kristian

Brief Update . . .

Had problems installing the script last night. This is the first time in a long time I've had problems with an installation. If anyone wants a tgp script or forum installing, I might just do it to get back my confidence! lol A word of warning about Gossamer Links : its a bugger.

I remember mentioning it at one point that the gossamer is a little bit more to deal with...I personally dislike the script when it comes to installing and its a bugger to modify the templates and the css for it...however, it looks like you got things going with it which is good to see

The excitement is just beginning

[kristian]

Originally Posted by NetGoonie

I remember mentioning it at one point that the gossamer is a little bit more to deal with...I personally dislike the script when it comes to installing and its a bugger to modify the templates and the css for it...however, it looks like you got things going with it which is good to see

The excitement is just beginning

I'm pleased with the choice but certainly wish it was easier. I guess it's like anything new: bit of a learning curve. Knowing how to enhance and optimise it will be my biggest hurdle I think. For that I may need someone experienced.

Should have some developments to document soon enough.

[MrYum]

Originally Posted by kristian

I'm pleased with the choice but certainly wish it was easier. I guess it's like anything new: bit of a learning curve. Knowing how to enhance and optimise it will be my biggest hurdle I think. For that I may need someone experienced.

Should have some developments to document soon enough.

Like sweaty palms...a nervous facial tick...loss of hair...and quite possibly uncontrollable fits of screaming obscenities?

THOSE kinds of developments???

Glad you got the script up and running Kristian...congrats

[kristian]

A lot has happened this week. I designed the layout of the site in photoshop. Amareck turned those designs into css code. I installed the Links Sql script and my buddy and programmer, Matt, integrated the css to the scripts and also modded the shit out of it. I spent hours pouring over a sketch book, brainstorming ideas for a logo. Eventually I came up with a visual concept and gave it to a cartoonist who is working on it as I type. The site is, for all intents and purposes, built and without bugs. I just need to get it ready for business which will take up most of next week.

THE SITE LAYOUT

I decided to design the layout in photoshop so I could show you guys n girls my ideas. Furthermore, I decided on a css layout, for which I needed the coding skills of Amareck. I could have saved money and coded in html with a little css thrown in but I wanted the site coded from the ground up in css.

Here are the layouts I did in photoshop :

-- entry page --
-- main page --
-- today's links page --
-- example category page --

I gave these to Amareck who worked tirelessly to get my visions coded in css. He did a superb job and I highly recommend his skills to anyone who wants a site coded in this way.

SCRIPT MODDING & INTEGRATION

Getting the css to work with Links Sql was one job. The biggest job was modding the script to work according to my ideas.

I needed the services of a programmer. Again, for anyone considering setting up a link list, this is an extra expense that is not required for every project. I wanted the script to work in a different way. Lacking the skills for the job, I had to outsource.

Matt is one of the smartest guys you could want to know. An aussie (but don't hold that against him) with crazy programming skills. Even though Matt is a friend, I looked at other programmers as well. In the end I chose who I consider the smartest: Matt.

What I did was this : I told Matt what I wanted the script to do and then asked him to do it. Long story short, he did it.

When the site is ready, you can look around and compare it to how Links SQL usually runs. This will save me writing about his 20 or so hours of work here! lol

LOGO

I cannot stress strongly enough the importance of a logo. University courses cover this subject alone. For anyone interested, here is a succinct article on the subject.

The designer I chose to give me a professional logo is actually not a logo designer. I know, I know. I contacted Dickman designs, spoke to Bruno, who assured me Milena would be in touch. A week later I have heard from no one and had to tell Bruno on icq that I would be looking elsewhere but wanted to inform him first (still no reply to that). On a side not you'd think with the amount of exposure this thread is getting I would find it easy to acquire services.

In the end I chose a designer who does the best cartoons I have ever seen. And believe me I have looked everywhere. Why a cartoon? Lots of reasons. Briefly, it fits with the type of business model I have (link list), and surfers think cartoon logos are professional because they know they cost money (as opposed to fucking around in photoshop).

I chose Twisted Illustration.

Since Dave is a cartoonist and not a logo designer, I had to come up with the design idea myself. He does offer advice but this man's strengths lie in artwork, of which he is masterful.

My Concept

I needed a visual concept that would explain what my site is all about without the use of words or further explanation.

After hours of sketching ideas, I decided on a yellow pages / phone book style directory. I then needed to express that is was a directory for porn movies. I had an idea to make it a bit like a popup book. The directory would be open in the middle and out would be popped a sex scene. To make it seem more like a porn movie, I decided to have a porn director shooting a hot naked chick. Then to make it all look cool, I thought about them kind of MORPHING out of the book. The finishing touch was deciding to have light beams shooting from the pages.

Here is the sketch I gave to Designer Dave :

my logo sketch.

Over ICQ I explained the sketch to Dave and also emphasized some key points. I need the directory book being thick to imply lots of information. I also want lots of stuff popping pout of it (whips, chains, a stocking leg, cum dribbling, a hand, some hair, etc etc). I want to create the impression that on every page there is a new movie just SCREAMING for release. Any second the current scene could be replaced by another as the pages turn. My site has a black background, so I told Dave this would be a cool opportunity to add a wow effect by using beams of light (OTHER MOVIES) shooting from the pages and framing the scene. It is a bit like when they first open that box in the movie Gremlins!

CONCLUSION

We are almost ready for business. The logo should be ready in a few days. I have the mundane task of adding hosted content, fiddling with css, installing some little extra scripts. I also need to be thinking more about getting trades and finding submitters for content. A little seo tip -- get your trades before you submit for inclusion in directories. You might not get spidered again for several months.

Have a happy easter!

[MrYum]

Looking good Kristian

[Useless]

Originally Posted by kristian

Here is the sketch I gave to Designer Dave :

my logo sketch.

Nice tits.

[juggernaut]

Originally Posted by kristian

Matt is one of the smartest guys you could want to know. An aussie (but don't hold that against him) with crazy programming skills. Even though Matt is a friend, I looked at other programmers as well. In the end I chose who I consider the smartest: Matt.

Sometimes it's best to stay away from friends when doing business but I have to agree with you on picking a friend here. I have worked with a few programmers and man just finding one who speaks english and lives close enough to talk on the phone about changes etc is a nightmare. My best friend is one of the smartest computer people I ever met (hes the only one I know who went to computer camp in the summer at age 6). He is the typical sterotype. Very little people skills and walks with his arms stuck down along his sides, lol. Anyway I aksed him two years ago to code me some stuff and he told me it would take 3 months, well here we are 2 years later and he is still coding it lol. But it's nice to know he has the skills and I can call him up and he will come over to work any changes or fixes. You can't get that with contractors. And with any site the last thing you want is someone not calling you back after a few hours of a script problem. Well I love this thread keep it up, good going..

[Greenguy]

Originally Posted by kristian

-- today's links page --
-- example category page --

Are you going to only have 10 links per page?