I have a video sharing website idea any help?

Jobs for 14 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 04:07 AM

The problem is that I have no money to start it. I know people would say youtube, but my website idea is dedicated to one thing. I have a catchy domain name that I already bought. My friends say this could make millions of dollars. How can I get assistance from investors or regular people with money?

MDN · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 07:06 AM

Web hosting is so cheap these days, and the amount of bandwidth and storage space you get is just border line ridiculous for what you paying for most companies.

It's not very likely that you'll be needing much bandwidth or storage space when you first start off any way, so start off with a low price plan, then if this idea of yours is going to make you millions, you'll easily be able to upgrade.

But are you telling me that you honestly can't round up less that $10 a month to pay for hosting?

You have a link in your sig that tells you how to get a job, maybe you should follow that advice to get some money...

Nora · #3 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 09:34 AM

A very important thing to remember is that hosts offer an enormous or unlimited amount of bandwidth just so you purchase their package. They will never be able to keep your website online if it uses too much bandwidth/server power (forgot the real term).

I think you should accept that if you don't have hundreds (perhaps thousands) to invest in bandwidth/hosting each month, you can't start your own streaming video site. Sure, at first you won't need that much bandwidth but it's unlikely you'll be making enough money to afford powerful dedicated servers when you need them.

The chance of people investing in a website idea is extremely unlikely. If the idea is good enough to invest in, someone will probably take the idea and claim it is their own.

Remax Agent · #4 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 03:36 PM

I think that you should consider starting with youtube or one of the other sharing sites. Use that site as a proof of concept and to build your user base through subscriptions. then you can create critical mass and move your site to a dedicated platform with a good user base and it will likely be much easier to justify the costs and find someone to partner with for startup capital.

Joe

mirage2009 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 06:20 PM

i think its a great idea
but you need to really plan a time table of goals to reach and stick with it

Nblufire12 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 06:42 PM

You dont need to waste bandwidth

upload to megaupload.com and then embed the videos

saves so much bandwidth!

mirage2009 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 06:51 PM

retrieving videos from megaupload can be sometimes is frustrating

Nblufire12 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 07:13 PM

y?

mirage2009 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 07:18 PM

because their servers some times get to crouded

Nblufire12 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 07:19 PM

Oh. I see.

ShakespearesBrother16 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 11:54 AM

If you really think you'll make Millions, then maybe you should go to a bank, put your idea to them and see if they'll give you a start up loan. With the current credit crises though, you may not be lucky though.

I only recommend you do that if you're sure it will be a success, but personally I never would take that risk. Could you not just start off small and build and build. Then if you start making money from it, then you've got more money to invest and so on...

Whatever you do, good luck

mirage2009 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 12:02 PM

it is very hard to convince a bank with an internet business, as a matter of fact it is hard to convince lots of people with a job online.
but with time that will change

Nblufire12 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 12:05 PM

I really don't thnk its a godo idea unless you have a lot of money laying around.

It will cost alot of money for a good webhost that can support streaming videos.

If you're trying to make millions, then you can't just upload videos to youtube and megavideo and then embed it, you gotta host it yourself, and thats gonna take a lot of disk space and bandwidth. I'd say it would cost around 100-200 dollars a month for a good dedicated server.

So unless you have a lot of money to spare, I don't reccomend it.

ssmorgan · #14 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobs for 14

The problem is that I have no money to start it. I know people would say youtube, but my website idea is dedicated to one thing. I have a catchy domain name that I already bought. My friends say this could make millions of dollars. How can I get assistance from investors or regular people with money?

Hi Jobs for 14,

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

1. It may cost you less than you think. Previous posts have recommended YouTube and mentioned that hosting now is cheap and offers a lot of space and bandwidth. Having looked at your signature with your list of websites, I will assume you already knew all this. Now it still stands, however, that whatever you needed the money for (for example, if you need to hire a full time programmer) may still cost you less than you anticipated.

So I would make a list of all the costs, and think about alternatives.

2. When you say the word investors, people automatically assume you're referring to venture capitalists, banks, or angel investors. This, however, may not be the case. It depends on how much money you need, of course, but you may be able to fundraise the capital you need from friends, relatives, schools, church, soccer team, etc, over a period of time.

3. I don't doubt at all you have a great idea... but you may have to be a little bit patient. You can work toward it... you can create a parallel website to help you get involved a little bit more with the niche, while raising money to launch your original website idea.

Generally speaking, below I have listed a few things to keep in mind before you talk to anyone about money:

1. a really good estimation of how much money you need to execute your idea and for what reasons (dedicated servers, programmers, etc).

2. have a very realistic plan to give your investors their money back with profit.

3. a way to protect your idea (so you wouldn't pitch the idea and your potential investor would just run with it).

The nice thing about the internet is you can always start small, re-invest your profits into your business, and continue to grow.

If you don't like anything I said here so far (

)... look into a local Angel Investor agency and see if any of them would be willing to take a bet on you. You never know... someone may be willing to invest a little bit of money into you and your website, especially if you are not asking for much.

Let us know

Sherif

WB Sponsors