Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hey Guys,

I haven`t posted a topic in quite some time. I`m in the game and talking about it.

I have a great idea for an online business that I want to take action NOW! I don`t know how to do any programming or anything like that. I want to get started with VA`s and have an acct with ELance now. How do I build a team of VA`s to program, build, manage, and design my site? Do I hire VA`s to build everything then hire seperate VA`s to manage and run the site? Also, I want them to build it but I`m nervous to tell the people I end up picking what it is I`m trying to do with the site. Mainly because what`s stopping them from thinking "Oh man that`s a good idea" and run off with it?

Any help or experience in building a huge site from scratch using VA`s the whole way would be a HUGE help!

Pre-Thanks to All,
Eric Silva
follow me- http://twitter.com/esilva83

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Thanks,
Eric Silva
http://twitter.com/esilva83

Hello,

if this will be a big project, involving a lot of peoples from different disciplines, you better look for a `project manager`.  This can be one of the developers or webdesigners, but this can also be an external person. If you will need a webmaster to manage the site, i recommend to promote him to projectleader from the start.

I do not have any experience with hiring people , so I don`t know if this can work for big projects.  I do know that good communication is very important.  So even if you are afraid people will run with your idea, you well need to explain everything into the details to the developers. Most of the projects that fail is mostly because there is no communication.

Good luck with the project.



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Kristof Houwen

www.small-it-solutions.com - Webdevelopment & webapplications

Hey Kristof,

Thanks for the good info. It will be big but not overly big, I`ll just need the people to actually build a site for me. Probably designer, programmer, seo specialist, etc...Maybe about 5-7 people. I should just post the job on ELance and just talk to them to see how I can do this with there company.
 
Thanks,
Eric Silva
follow me- http://twitter.com/esilva83


-------------------------

Thanks,
Eric Silva
http://twitter.com/esilva83

Um....this may be a semantic problem, I`m thinking. A "VA" (virtual assistant) typically means someone who takes direction from you, mostly in office administrative areas, then handles the task. It`s more task oriented, not so much project development oriented.

Of course a lot of really great VAs are selling their initiative and experience as part of the service, so they can take your general need and flesh it out, cover what you may not know or forgot, and get it all done.

On the other hand, freelance developers, writers, designers, and so forth are more like consultants. They offer specialized services for hire on a contract basis, then they`re done. It sounds as if you need a team of freelance "builders" and a plan for what you want to do with whatever they build.

Yes, a project manager would be critical to all this. It could be you, or you could hire a freelance PM, depending on your budget.

Another option would be to form a company and make this team all partners, giving them ownership and equity in the company. Your idea would have to be compelling, and people would have to want to join the company based on expected future income and return on their work. In that case, your primary issue at first would be what your part in all this would be, making you an equal partner.

Hello,

you don`t need that a lot of people for a regular (big) site.  Look for a good freelance developer to do the coding and a designer who you feel connected to (you have to like his/her artwork).  With you as the person to make sure they communicate properly, your team is complete
Once you have written the content, a freelance writer can make sure it`s clean and professional.

Do you already have a storyboard of the site?  And do you have the content?  These things are more important then the latest cool web 2.0 feature. Also good content is great for SEO.

I would suggest you start out with the most neccessary stuff on the site with a small team and see how your customers react.  Once they like it, you can start building the cool,  fancy features and let the specialists do their job.

 





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Kristof Houwen

www.small-it-solutions.com - Webdevelopment & webapplications