Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hey SuN!!!

Having a bit of a predicament here. My startup deals with football film that needs to be put in a very large database online. I`m definitely not web design/database savvy and I`m wondering where I can find a web designer with database experience that actually knows something about the game of football. Because, let`s face it... not many web designers are the "football type." And that`s not meant to be derogatory to web designers or football players at all... I`m just searching for someone who has web design knowledge with large databases and at least some interest in the game of football. Anyone have any advice?

Just out of curiousity - why do you care whether your web designer has interest in football, or knowledge about football?  You should look for someone who is knowledgeable about technology, web design, search engine optimization, web marketing, etc. - not football, unless you also expect them to create the content for your site.

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Oleg Issers | StartupNation.com Web Team

50% of computer programming is trial and error. The other 50% is copy and paste.

Austin,
Oleg is right, What difference does it make if the designer is in to footaball or not? May I say Im a web designer, I hate football! But love Boxing and snowboarding. What difference does it make? I can design anytime of web site whether it needs a database or not?
I think your objective is? to find someone that knows about large scale database, architecture and design. NOT IF HE KNOWS WHO WON THE SUPERBOWL in 1983.


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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

I beg to differ, guys.  I think it is somewhat important that a web designer have an interest of sorts in the subject at hand.  I`m not saying that the designer needs to be as passionate about football as Austin there but I do think it matters.

Austin is building a company, a website and a brand based on football.  If he is looking for a single web designer to help build and launch this site, then I have to wonder what more could a football fan/web designer bring to the table over one who is not a fan of the game.

Sports are a particular subject.  People who are not sports fans, like myself,  could care less about football or other team sports.  (And I know I am generalizing here.)  I`m a talented artist and I could easily draw football themed illustrations, logos or whatever.  But I don`t think I would be the best match for the job.

Just because someone has the skills to do something doesn`t mean they are the right fit for the client/company.  And I think it is even more pertinent in the startup stage to be aware of these decisions.  (Besides, the game of football has a large enough fan base that I am sure there are plenty of web designers who are fans.  It`s not like he`s looking for a designer who also understands jai-alai.)

Finding a web designer that understands databases is about as likely as finding a shy politician. 

Seriously though, it sounds like you are seeking a web developer to design a database to house your football data.  As far as building an optimal database structure, it shouldn`t matter whether or not the programmer understands football.  To them, field 1, field 2, and field 3 can easily be substituted with touchdown, field goal, and two-point conversion.

As far as web designers go (those that bring the look & feel of your site to life), it usually helps for that person to be somewhat knowledgable about the subject of the website.  It`s difficult to understand the audience for whom you are designing, if you don`t understand WHAT you are designing.

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Brian Cleveland,
Web Producer,
StartupNation

I think it is somewhat important, from a marketing perspective, to find someone who knows the subject.

That being said, I`m feeling a little like a leper here ....
Is it THAT unusual that I can program PHP, don`t know what channel Star Trek is even on, do know that the Red Sox are winning 1-0 right now in Arizona ... and that Tom Brady is dating a supermodel but the actress from I Robot is having his little mini golden arm baby? (Well, being female ... you know, we females know these things about who is dating who, it`s our job to read People magazine ... usually during the 7th inning stretch or halftime.)