Creating a Fan Site from A to Z
Some time ago, my colleague published an intriguing piece titled "Confession of a Tired Admin." The presentation was quite emotional, but the essence was stated very accurately: "How much trash there is on the internet!" I will try to outline some aspects that will help avoid catastrophic mistakes in the initial stage. From there, your experience will guide you. My guide does not claim absolute objectivity, completeness, or, let alone, the truth in the final instance, but all this is confirmed by personal experience more than once, meaning it will be useful for any budding website curator.
"Facepalm" - such is the reaction of computer heroes to most fan sites about them.
So, let’s clarify from the very beginning that we are planning a fan site and specifically about a favorite game. Because if you want to make a "hamster" for yourself, it will be much easier, but if it’s a company site or a music portal, it’s much more complicated. In principle, much of what is proposed is relevant for any fan sites, but ours focuses on games, so let’s concentrate on them.
Why do I need a fan site?
This is the question you must ask yourself first and foremost. If the answer you are coming up with is something like "Just because" or "Xandra has one, so why can’t I," then you’d better toss that idea into a far corner. The correct answer is: "I want to tell the world about my favorite game, and I will do it better than anyone else." And this answer should come to you immediately and without hesitation.
My game is the best in the world!
Yes, that should be ingrained in your subconscious. Fan sites should be created by fans. If you plan to create a site about a game you're not familiar with, one that you don't particularly care about, etc., it’s better not to take on the task. When the game is beloved, news is easier to find, and sifting through foreign forums becomes less of a chore. When you contact the publisher or developer, you will show the glow in the eyes of a true fan, not the ordinary interest of an average gamer.
Better late than never?
The eternal question is when to create a fan site: long before the release, a month before it, or already after? Well, I will tell you that ideally, you should start creating the site on the very day developers announce the game. The sooner, the better. Yes, in the beginning there will be little information, but there will also be fewer competitors, thus increasing your chances of securing a niche significantly. If it didn’t happen - it’s not deadly. The main thing is to have plenty of time before the game’s release. Ideally, at least half a year. A slightly different approach applies to fan sites based on a game series. Even if the earlier parts of the game, which made you feel strongly about it, have already been released, but you know a sequel is coming - create your fan site. Yes, there will be more competitors, but on the other hand, you will have something to fill the site with during those moments when there’s a lack of materials for the new part.
I don't want to create a competition, just to make my fan site
Wrong! You should want to create the best fan site in the world. You should be ready to compete, strive to reach the top in traffic, dream of forming a powerful community, fight for your materials, to prevent competitors from stealing them, etc. If you lack a competitive spirit, you will be overshadowed by more ambitious competitors.
I'm ready - what's next?
So, you are firm in your desire to make the best site in the world about the best game in the world, what’s next? Well, the most interesting part begins. You need a concept. The concept is the overall idea of your site, its structure, and format. In simple terms, here we will have news, here I want to set up a gallery with this structure, and I will post videos on YouTube and only embed the code on the site. To better visualize what I mean, browse popular fan sites. A beautiful design, a visitor counter showing at least a few hundred people daily, and user-friendly navigation – these are the hallmarks of a successful fan site. Aim for those.
Ready for fan site creation!
A Jack of all trades.
You have thought out your site, even gathered a starter set of materials. Now you need to format it. And this is exactly where 80% of fan site creators stumble, even if they successfully overcame the initial pitfalls. Can you design, code, set up the site engine, choose hosting, and a domain, and launch the site? - Then forget about these fan sites, go work for an IT company and earn thousands of dollars. But most likely, at best, you have knowledge in only one area, or perhaps you don’t have any skills at all. What to do?
"Statistics hinting"
Developing a fan site is a delicate matter!
Here, many make a fatal error. People flock to Ucoz.ru, register a free domain and hosting, choose a template design, and happily settle down. The poor souls do not consider that:
The domain is firmly tied to the hosting. When you decide to move, you will lose it.
Free hosting will slow you down, as it is not designed for tolerable traffic.
Your design will resemble hundreds of other poor admins who are just like you.
The only thing worse might be the idea of creating a site on Narod.ru. The only exception could be if you want to quickly put together a site for your clan in MMO or just practice. But once you get tired of practicing, please be kind and take down your training site; don’t breed horrors.
But how to approach the technical side correctly? - There are several paths.
This is the fate of fan sites on Ucoz. And this is still a fortunate option.
DIY
A variant for extremists. You buy literature on Photoshop, read forums about various engines, and gradually move forward through trial and error. In reality, not a bad option, but it’s not for everyone. You are likely to give up before reaching the finish line.
Allodov.net - 100% handmade. Learn from Denai how to build a site from scratch yourself.
Trust professionals
If you are willing to invest in your passion, there is a simple option in terms of effort. You choose a contractor company, discuss your project with them, pay some money, and in a week or two, you will receive your site on a platter with a blue rim. The only downside is that you should be prepared for the fact that developing a turnkey site will cost you at least several hundred bucks.
It’s cool, but it’s expensive.
We are a team!
But there is another method that will suit almost everyone. Assemble a team of like-minded individuals. Surely on the forum where you hang out most often or simply among your acquaintances, there will be some comrade who knows Photoshop well and agrees to help you. Another will help choose an engine, and a third will assist with hosting and domain selection. With a cohesive team, you will create your first fan site. Of course, it most likely won’t be as cool as one bought from a professional studio, but it also won’t be a pathetic template from a standard kit. Gradually you and your comrades will gain experience, improve the site, redesign it, or come up with various nice features. The main thing is to remain a fan of what you do.
The mafia is immortal. The Corleone family will protect you.
Finally, there is one more path for the young creator of a fan site. There are many associations of fan sites under the aegis of a well-established team online. Typically, these are guys who, in their time, followed the previous advice. What’s good about this, and what’s not? It’s good because with the right approach, all the preparatory work will be done for you: they will design, host it. You just need to convince such a team that you are super-motivated and will fill the site with content to the brim and be an awesome leading administrator. The downside is that it won’t be entirely your fan site. It will be collective, and if you suddenly lose interest and abandon the site, one fine day, you may be told that you did not justify the trust placed in you. On the other hand, if you are serious, you will get a site on a platter with a blue rim, a starter bonus in traffic thanks to the advertising of your project opening on other sites in the association. They will teach you, advise you, tell you, help you, etc. You won’t have to bump your head too often. And in a relatively short time, you can become an excellent administrator of the fan site of your dreams and even start earning from your passion. Such associations include sites like OGL.ru, GOHA.ru, RPGArea.ru (the project of your humble servant), AG.ru, and others. They all have different approaches, but the essence is that having a backup is always a significant plus for an active but less knowledgeable individual.
Diabloarea.net - an example of a successful fan site supported by the coalition of sites RPGArea.ru.
A job makes a tired monkey
It is very important for the main administrator of the fan site not to forget about evolution. Even if your fan site isn’t as cool at the beginning as you would like, everything is in your hands. Experience will come; the main thing is that the fire inside you does not go out.
Yes, I’m bragging. You say I have no right? ;)
Instead of an epilogue
Five years ago, when I started developing my first fan site, I could never have imagined that I would one day teach others on this topic. But the fact is that it was the fierce desire to create a fan site for a favorite game that led me to learn all these aspects. So go for it, stay persistent, and everything will work out for you. And if it’s too hard for you alone, just look around. The world is not without good people; we will help. Together, let’s make the Internet interesting, beautiful, and original.