So you want to make a fansite?
Do you now? Then this is the tutorial for you!
First and for most, you will need hosting for web space, shoutcast, domain, and forums (if applicable).
Looking for web space? I would recommend http://admin.1and1.com/ It offers cheap, quality hosting with easy file managing and alot of other add-ons like web site builders and applications. For more (free) web hosts, visit this thread made by Oli. Click here.
Is your site going to have a radio? Well for quality shoutcast servers I recommend http://iw-host.com/ They have quick and easy surface and when I was having troubles, they answered my support tickets in under an hour! That is amazing, I used to use JJR-Servers and when I had to contact them it took 2-3 days for any type of reply.
Need a domain? There are loads of great domain providers such as http://godaddy.com/ http://1and1.com/ and loads more.
Want a free domain? Try these:http://co.nr/ http://www.co.cc/
Searching for a quality forum?
There are loads of free forums such as
http://www.mybboard.net/
http://www.phpbb.com/
http://invisionfree.com/
http://proboards.com/
http://freeforums.org/
Or you can go with the most popular Habbo Fansite forum, vBulletin.
vBulletin is easy to use, supplys great features, and offers loads of innovative add-ons. Visit http://www.vbulletin.com/ for more info.
Don't have any money!? Not to worry! There are alot of free hosts not posted above, just do a google search. OR maybe tryout hosting for habbo credits. In my opinion, http://habboshosting.com/ is the best habbo hosting site out there which provides great hosting with little downtime.
Now that that's out of the way, your site will need a fresh modern web look.
Your layout should have bright, matching colors on it so it is appealing to most users. If you cannot design or code, you should hire someone to do it for you! It is never to expensive and there are several great web designers on this forum alone. Some people who can do this for you are Iszak, Meti, Excellent2, Me, Invent (Simon) & more.
Now. Your content. Most sites have the usual, news, rare values, habbo imager etc.. Your site should have unique content that other sites do not have, which users can use constructively. For example, text generators with good fonts such as http://habbotimes.net/ get alot of hits from that alone. Some scripts are difficult to make so again, hire someone to do it for you. Some are cheap, some are expensive depending on the features you want. For this, I would again recommend Iszak.
A huge part of your site is staff. These are the people who keep your site interesting and running. It is next to impossible to run a fansite alone. You need 1-2 co-owners, managers, reporters, designers, coders & more. To get staff, ask around the hotel, or advertize on popular forums such as Habbox, or HabboDiscussion. Make sure you treat your staff nicely, but make sure they are doing their work at the same time. Don't hire people because your desperate, take the time to find the best.
The last thing I am going to talk to you about is advertizing. Flooding a room on Habbo is not the answer. Just send out the occasional invite to your friends list telling them to take a look. Again, forums are a great source of hits. As for ads on your sites, try to keep them to a minimal, they are unappealing to most users.
If you used this tutorial to help you with your fansite please let me know the url so I can see if I made a difference :D Thanks!
This tutorial was created by HabbDance and may not be used on any other forum without permission from him.
