Finding a competent computer person

[COOLORANGEFREEZE]

I am getting a script redesigned for a classifieds type site. Once it goes live there will be updates, bugs that happen, security issues, and general maintenance... this is all along with answering emails, questions, and advertising of the site.

Eventually I hope to have a site with a large amount of users. What do you recommend in getting started with a very limited budget besides doing everything all on my own? Hiring through Elance? Find a partner?

Any stories on how others got the ball rolling with getting another on-board?

Thanks

[msafi]

Maybe you'll find my experience beneficial.

I started young with a lot of interest in technical stuff, but I ended up traveling abroad to study business for 5 years. I graduated without any applicable Web and technical knowledge. I worked in sales and on the side I was doing some Web projects.

For everything Web related that required technical, programming, or designing skills, I had to hire a freelancer. Even though I always opted for cheap providers, in aggregate it was still expensive, and the end result was always bad. Occasionally, you might get satisfactory results, but that's the exception not the rule. Dedication and talent are very costly.

Because of that, I decided to quit my job, live on very little, and just dedicate myself to what I love. I learned Web and graphic design as well as Web programming. Now I'm able to design and develop my own Websites.

The advice that I can honestly give is that if you have what it takes, try to do everything yourself. Try to acquire the technical know-how that is necessary to make things on the Web.

That's what worked for me. But if it's just about making money online, then it's much simpler. Many people have made millions online without having much technical knowledge. Check out www.warriorforum.com to see examples.

So, like I said, cheap providers on Elance will just try to meet your minimum requirements, deliver the job, and go to the next one. You can't cheaply hire someone to just take over everything that you're supposed to be doing. I know the virtues of outsourcing and everything, but in order to cheaply outsource, you need to create and establish structure first. Otherwise, you'll have to hire someone to work in an unstructured environment, and those are called managers. They cost a lot.

Good luck,

[COOLORANGEFREEZE]

Thanks for sharing, msafi. I am studying everyday and training myself in the things I need to know (do I really know what I need to know... until I get hammered by spam, hacks, and crappy coding?) LOL! But there is so much more to know. This field is incredible. Even when an answer is posted it can be difficult to understand because you just can't get there from here. There are many things to navigate in between. So I continue to plod.

I order books and do online tutorials and read these forums... and practice as well. It is fun and aggravating as well.

It's all for a good cause though. That is why I do it... plus it's a field I am a green horn in:cool:

[COOLORANGEFREEZE]

By the way here is another big web/marketing forum if interested -

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/