In the past I've been a do-it-all-myself for free kinda gal, but for one of my new projects I decided to open my wallet and pay for a license for BlogHoster.
BlogHoster is a PHP-based software that allows your users to have their own blog on their own subdomain.
My Favourite Features
Each user has their own admin panel when they login. From there they can either add a new blog post, add photos to their photo gallery, read and respond to private messages, turn on or off their own RSS feed, add their own avatar, mark specific other users as friends, and ban specific IP addresses.
As the admin, everything is already programmed and the admin panel makes everything easy. You can alter the welcome messages, browse your users, view logs, delete users, edit templates, set up user groups, add customized header and footers per user group, edit help files, and customize the fields on each user's profile.
Templates
The default install comes with at least 25 templates. You can add more at any time. You can also control which user groups are allows to edit their own template.
Installation
BlogHoster was incredibly easy to install. I'd recommend you have a bit of PHP and SQL experience so you can customize your own main portal page to your liking. I had to do a couple of minor tweaks to my server to get the subdomains working, but I'm sure your host could help if you are on shared hosting. They have a full money back policy if you can't get it set up on your server (I believe they'll even install it for you if you choose).
Cost
Right now the cost is $299.95 USD and you are able to download upgrades for free. As far as I know, the license doesn't expire.
Monetization
Built into the program is the ability to have user groups. I set up mine with two user groups - paid and free. Users can sign up for free but they will have an advertisement at the top of their blog (that I geotarget with a separate installation of phpadsnew ). People can pay a yearly (or monthly) subscription so they have no ads. You have an admin panel where you can easily set up user groups and control what features they each have. For instance, I only allow my paid user group to be able to edit their own blog template. You also decide how much disk space they can have for their content (ie. 2mb or 5mb or more)
Support
There is a forum you get full access to once you purchase a license. Because the user agreement allows you to edit the original code, there are user submitted mods for extra features. Some users are frustrated about a lack of contact from the original programmers, but I understand they recently hired a programmer to work only on BlogHoster so more features and upgrades are in the works.
Overall, I'm really happy I decided to pay out the cash. If I had attempted to build this for myself I would have wasted too much of my valuable time programming something that already exists. I had attempted to use WordPress-mu at first but I didn't successfully get through the setup and customization.
I used my copy of BlogHoster to build a cool new feature for a spin-off of a Golden Retriever forum I've run since 1999. Now they can upload photos of their dogs and write stories (although some of them have started writing blogs in their dogs voice - an unforeseen development that drives me batty - but to each their own). Although most have selected a free account, I do have a few who have paid for a yearly subscription.
URLS
BlogHoster - BlogHoster
My site that uses BlogHoster - DogBlogs.ca - Create Your Own Dog Blog, Share Your Dog's Photos and Stories
Disclaimer: I have no interest or ownership in the company, just a happy customer.
BlogHoster is a PHP-based software that allows your users to have their own blog on their own subdomain.
My Favourite Features
Each user has their own admin panel when they login. From there they can either add a new blog post, add photos to their photo gallery, read and respond to private messages, turn on or off their own RSS feed, add their own avatar, mark specific other users as friends, and ban specific IP addresses.
As the admin, everything is already programmed and the admin panel makes everything easy. You can alter the welcome messages, browse your users, view logs, delete users, edit templates, set up user groups, add customized header and footers per user group, edit help files, and customize the fields on each user's profile.
Templates
The default install comes with at least 25 templates. You can add more at any time. You can also control which user groups are allows to edit their own template.
Installation
BlogHoster was incredibly easy to install. I'd recommend you have a bit of PHP and SQL experience so you can customize your own main portal page to your liking. I had to do a couple of minor tweaks to my server to get the subdomains working, but I'm sure your host could help if you are on shared hosting. They have a full money back policy if you can't get it set up on your server (I believe they'll even install it for you if you choose).
Cost
Right now the cost is $299.95 USD and you are able to download upgrades for free. As far as I know, the license doesn't expire.
Monetization
Built into the program is the ability to have user groups. I set up mine with two user groups - paid and free. Users can sign up for free but they will have an advertisement at the top of their blog (that I geotarget with a separate installation of phpadsnew ). People can pay a yearly (or monthly) subscription so they have no ads. You have an admin panel where you can easily set up user groups and control what features they each have. For instance, I only allow my paid user group to be able to edit their own blog template. You also decide how much disk space they can have for their content (ie. 2mb or 5mb or more)
Support
There is a forum you get full access to once you purchase a license. Because the user agreement allows you to edit the original code, there are user submitted mods for extra features. Some users are frustrated about a lack of contact from the original programmers, but I understand they recently hired a programmer to work only on BlogHoster so more features and upgrades are in the works.
Overall, I'm really happy I decided to pay out the cash. If I had attempted to build this for myself I would have wasted too much of my valuable time programming something that already exists. I had attempted to use WordPress-mu at first but I didn't successfully get through the setup and customization.
I used my copy of BlogHoster to build a cool new feature for a spin-off of a Golden Retriever forum I've run since 1999. Now they can upload photos of their dogs and write stories (although some of them have started writing blogs in their dogs voice - an unforeseen development that drives me batty - but to each their own). Although most have selected a free account, I do have a few who have paid for a yearly subscription.
URLS
BlogHoster - BlogHoster
My site that uses BlogHoster - DogBlogs.ca - Create Your Own Dog Blog, Share Your Dog's Photos and Stories
Disclaimer: I have no interest or ownership in the company, just a happy customer.