Have you ever wanted to make your own social network? It is probably much easier than you think. All you need to know is where to look.  Whether you want to start a dating site or a collaboration community, chances are that the tools you need are already out there. Why pay a lot of money to web developers to make a costly web application from scratch, when you can use and customize the social networking scripts that have proven to work well?

Listed here are the best solutions for inexpensive web development for online communities and social networks available today. Take a look, see which one of these sites best suits your needs, and start building your very own social network today!

1. Ning

   Anyone looking over the options for social networking development will quickly realize that Ning is the king. Even though the company stopped offering free products since April 2010, everything indicates that Ning still supports the largest number of sites.

   Basically, Ning incorporates a number of separately available technologies in a single unified, hosted, user managed platform. It integrates a blog, wiki, forum, photo/video gallery, “latest activity” micro feed, events calendar and member manager. Extended functionality allows you to add widgets, form sub groups and organize projects. Ning’s interface is user-friendly on both member and administrator end. There are many ways in which you can fine tune the look and feel of your site.

   Ning offers a solid product that provides most of the features a social network site should have. If what you need is the most basic of sites, then Ning’s lowest tier may be a good option. However, if you require more advanced features, Ning does not come cheap. there are still plenty of free or less expensive options out there.
   

2. Elgg

   Elgg is a free, open source CMS that has been online sine 2004. Over the years, the community has grown and now boasts a rather active set of users. With a plugin repository of over 1000 available plugins and a huge selection of themes, Elgg has quickly become the go to CMS for open source social networking.

   Similar to Drupal in that it is more of a content management framework than a CMS, Elgg provides the foundation to build a powerful social networking  website and you get to customize it by adding modules and setting up plugins. At first Elgg can seem very basic, but the real power of the system comes from the ways it can be extended and built upon. You decide what will be added, how it will be configured and as you add the individual plugins, the system begins to take on the form of full fledged social networking CMS.

3. Grou.ps

   Grou.ps is a big player among social network providers. If you have a complex project and require special additional plugins, you will find that Grou.ps have covered pretty much every feature you might desire in a social network. Their system is robust and functional, interface is user friendly and they provide good customer support.

   Free account gives you 100MB of storage, 500MB bandwidth and is limited to 25 members. If you want more options, there are different pricing plans.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

4. Groupsite

   Groupsite is different from other sites on this list whose main focus is on social networking. Groupsite is more of a hybrid between social and professional networking, and it emphasizes collaboration and project completion. It offers many unique features including separate public and professional user profiles, user objectives and personal networking and last but not least, a very extensive event/calendar solution.

   Unfortunately, there is one big downside to Groupsite – it doesn’t leave much room to creativity in customization. The layout and design are fixed, and although you can change the colors and put your own banners, you are stuck with the basic layout and menu order.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

5. Boonex

   Boonex Dolphin is another open source Social Networking system based on the PHP scripting language and MySQL database software under the GPL license. It includes blogs, events, groups, video chat, video messenger, players, mobile app, desktop app, files, media sharing, store, profiles, friends, boards, media sharing, store, and files sharing. It also features paypal supported affiliate management, which makes it ideal to use as a dating script.

   A word of warning: Boonex does not have a coding standard, which causes a lot of bugs in the system. So unless you are a programmer and know how to work on fixing and adjusting the code, you may want to look at other options.
   

6. SocialGO

   SocialGO is a very attractive DIY solution for creating your own social networking site. Its interface is user friendly, has tab-based navigation, and offers a wide array of features, even in the free version (Forums, SubGroups, Photos and Events).

   If you don’t need more than 1GB of storage and are happy with 10GB Bandwidth, then the free Ad supported account is for you. However, if you want additional options, such as the ability to use your own domain name, your advertising instead of SocialGO‘s, expanded layout features, unlimited storage/bandwidth, etc, you will need to upgrade to premium account.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

7. Sprūz

   Sprūz is another service worth looking into if you are searching for a social networking solution. It features very powerful tools for customizing themes and layouts, and an easy to use drag and drop style editor. User profiles even have the option to add custom fields to user permissions/roles administration. However, there are a few disadvantages: the forums are not threaded, and subgroups can’t create group events, house group photos, or subscribe to group forum posts.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

8. Wall.fm

   Wall.fm If you want to make a private social network, or an online community that focuses on specific groups of people (clubs, people who play a certain game, a hobby, etc.) rather than a general social network, then Wall.fm is an excellent option. It is the free, hosted version of an open source social networking software called Oxwall, which you can opt to install on your own domain. Depending on the features you want you can choose between the free and paid options.

   Wall.fm has been called the walled Facebook. All you can do on Facebook you can do here as well: content can be tagged and commented on, and you can  participate in forums, blogs and wikis. However, it provides high privacy, so it is ideal for these social interactions that are not suitable to a site as general as Facebook, and also convenient for educators who want their students to interact in a safe and secure setting, free from any kind of distraction.

   

9. ONEsite

   ONEsite Platform offers a rich community experience with Blogging, Photo and Video Sharing, Tagging, Rating, Flagging, Commenting, Built-in Messaging, and Groups. Their Widget and API libraries let you integrate the ONEsite community with  existing Web properties, search, registration, and authentication systems.

   A subsidiary of Catalog.com, ONEsite has a staff of 40, including developers, designers, systems operations, and their own in-house customer support and service center. They will give your project personal attention and work with you on its concept, design, implementation, and launch.

10. SocialEngine

    SocialEngine is a social net­work system that will let you start a self-hosted social net­work. Based on Zend Frame­work, it is quite easy to customize.

    If you are looking for an application that is affordable then this is a good bet, and one of the better options available on the market today. Priced at $250 for a license, SocialEngine also has a number of plugins which can be installed and configured for use. Plugins are available for between $30 to $50  depending on the plugin.

    

11. phpFox

    phpFox is another online community software packed with features. It is very easy to install and comes with out of the box functionality. The core phpfox script is well written and unencrypted, but you will need to know php and mysql to customize it.

    phpFox interface is simple and features pretty much everything you would need. It has a great events calendar; however, there is no video chat or phone. Priced at $300, it is still another inexpensive alternative.

    

12. Pearse Street

    If you would like to have a professional team handling your project, check out Pearse Street. It has been providing social media services since 2005, giving its clients professionally designed and programmed new media solutions, from social media marketing campaigns to blog development to large-scale social networking websites. Their portfolio is quite impressive.

    Pearse Street‘s biggest advantage in the world of web giants is that they are small enough to give you personalized attention, and yet large enough to be able to easily address the many aspects of your project, including graphic design, advanced programming and marketing support.

Finally, one word of warning as to the cost involved: Unless you opt for a free, open source script, most of the networking software will have a price tag attached to it. Keep in mind that even though you pay the initial fee for a license, you will have to pay extra for all the other things: additional apps and plugins, ads removal, branding removal, etc. So the final price can easily go up to $100 per month, or even more. But don’t despair, and don’t stop here. Do your own research and find the solution that best suits your needs and your budget.

Great news for all you young, bold and beautiful women and men! If you have an appreciation for the finer things in life but cannot afford them yet, now you can easily find a sugar daddy, or a sugar momma, someone rich and loving who will be more than happy to lavish you with gifts and help you out in your time of need.

And, if you are rich and bored, now you can meet someone young and beautiful to enrich your life and give you a fresh take on things. Someone you will cherish and lavish with gifts and money that you are struggling to spend anyway. You don’t have to be old to be a sugar daddy or mummy. You don’t have to beautiful, or healthy, or anything but rich.

Sugar daddy dating has brought an overdose of realism to the online dating arena, simply by discovering that wealth and success are traits of attraction in a relationship that in some cases far exceed the traditional stereotypes. Not only that, but these kinds of dating sites have worked out much better than the traditional dating sites. This has been attributed to the fact that sugar daddies, mommies and babies are inclined to place more importance on the type of relationship they seek and be clear about it. In non-sugar relationships, entered upon with intangible romantic expectations, it’s common to be indecisive. It almost seems as if non-sugar relationships lack a certain imperative, a certain mandate, for success.

Here are two typical reviews randomly taken from these sites:

“Regular dating websites are for regular people. I’m a wealthy man who wanted to date a beautiful woman. On other dating sites, I had to compete with a multitude of ordinary singles. On Sugar Daddy sites, I was the selected few and was able to find the relationship I wanted painlessly.” - Sugar Daddy

I was skeptical at first. Who would have thought a Sugar Daddy would actually take care of my bills? But being a struggling actress, the only other option was to waitress in between auditions. This didn’t appeal to me, I wanted to focus on my work, so I thought I’d give Sugar Daddy dating a try. And I’m happy to say, it’s worked out great for me. – Sugar Baby

So there you go. As always, Internet’s got something for everyone.

1. Sugar Daddy For Me

   This seems to be the most popular Sugar Daddy dating website. It’s been online since 2004 and boasts over 1.5 million members worldwide. Unlike most similar dating sites, it caters to both straight and gay sugar daddies, babies and mommies.

   Trial membership is free for sugar babies. Browsing is free for Sugar Daddies and Mommies. There’s no verification of financial status or income, so any information given in member profiles needs to be taken on trust. Sugar babes are able to indicate on their profile exactly what financial assistance they need from their prospective sugar daddy, while sugar daddies can say what they can afford to pay.

   Sugar Daddy For Me

2. What’s Your Price?

   This outrageous question is the brand name of the fastest growing dating site in the Sugar Daddy niche. They certainly aren’t afraid to call things by their name. Based on a patent pending dating system, WhatsYourPrice.com provides a platform where generous and attractive singles can negotiate and agree on a price for a first date.
   

   What’s Your Price?

3. Millionaire Mate

   MillionaireMate is also open to both wealthy men and women; a large number of these niche sugar daddy dating sites tend to be just for wealthy men. This is one of the largest Sugar Daddy dating sites, with over 4 million members from all over the world.

   Powered by the hugely popular FriendFinder dating service site, MillionaireMate.com instantly has all the features of a well established, feature-rich dating service plus a little more. It also allows members to have their photos, income and profession verified. This helps to ensure that the person you are in contact with is the person their profile says they are.

   

   Millionaire Mate

4. Seeking Arrangement

   SeekingArrangement is the premier dating site for Sugar Daddies, Mommies and Babies, which was featured in Playboy Magazine. With the tag line “The Meeting Place for Mutually Beneficial Relationships”, it doesn’t leave much to be said. The site is obviously created for those realistic, down-to earth individuals without any romantic notion. Sign-up is free, and membership is free for sugar babies of either gender.

   Seeking Arrangement

5. Millionaire Match

   MillionaireMatch.com is one of the pioneers in sugar daddy dating, present online since 2001. Such a long track record has its benefits. For one, MillionaireMatch by far surpasses the others by featuring an overwhelming number of incredibly attractive members and verified millionaires.

   The site caters to both sugar daddies and mummies. Their members include CEOs, pro athletes, doctors, lawyers, investors, entrepreneurs, beauty queens, fitness models, and Hollywood celebrities. Featured in Forbes Magazine and The Wall Street Journal, Millionaire Match’s premier status and leadership in the wealthy dating category seems to be fully verified.

   

   Millionaire Match

6. Established Men

   Established Men is an international dating community geared exclusively toward young women and rich men. It is the most unique service of its kind in that it is the only site that boasts a greater female-to-male ratio.

   The success of Established Men lies with its founder, a woman, Simone Dadoun-Cohen. Being a true opportunist, she always understood that the affluent businessmen could help her achieve her goal of having a successful career and enjoying a pampered, luxurious lifestyle.

   Established Men

7. Sugar Daddy Meet

   Sugar Daddy Meet is a relative new comer to the sugar daddy dating niche, but powered by Successful Match it keeps growing at a very fast rate. The site is targeted especially towards young and beautiful women looking to meet successful, rich men. Their sister site, CougarMingle offers online dating service for successful, mature women who like young men, and vice versa.

   Although quite new, Sugar Daddy Meet is full of fun and useful features. They have a photo verification process which assures that members’ profiles are not just authenticated, but put todate. The site also features a blog/forum area, online chat, video uploads, and more.

   

   Sugar Daddy Meet

8. Seeking Millionaire

   SeekingMillionaire.com is an American-based website designed to meet the needs of wealthy men and women seeking relationships with young and attractive people, and vice versa. To join as a sugar daddy or mamma, you need to make over $100K+ a year or have a networth of over $1 million. To join as a sugar babe, you need to be young, classy, and attractive.

   SeekingMillionaire members include executives, doctors, lawyers, professionals, millionaires, entrepreneurs, CEOs, CFOs, athletes, and beautiful models, actresses, playmates, and the sexy girls next door.

   

   Seeking Millionaire

9. Marry Me Sugar Daddy

   Although the name of this website would suggest that it caters to singles looking for serious relationships and long-term commitment, MarryMeSugarDaddy has a lot more adult content than most of the other dating sites on this list. It features straight and gay sugar daddies, mummies, and couples, making it the first dating site to cater to sugar swingers.

   There is no free membership. However, for just $1 you can buy one-day premium membership that will give you unlimited access to the whole website. This way you can first check how many members there are in your area and if it’s worth the money.

   

   Marry Me Sugar Daddy

10. Millionaire Flirt

    Another top choice in the sugar daddy dating arena is MillionaireFlirt.com.  The website has a simple layout and is easy to navigate. Before signing up for a free account you can see how many members they have in your area. There’s a “rapid sign up” feature that lets you dig into the site without having to fill out a long questionnaire. This is good if you are impatient and want to see the available singles in your area immediately.

    

    Millionaire Flirt

There are so many specialized dating web sites that some of them border on bizarre. For this list, I’ve selected only the ones that are outright weird, no pun intended. If you don’t agree, or want to suggest some other sites, free to post your opinion in the comments.

1. Asexualitic

   This internet dating service is dedicated  not to heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, but the most overlooked category – the asexual. It is a place where people without any sex drive can meet and form meaningful, platonic relationships. I guess you could have a platonic affair too, but if you are looking for one-night stands this is not a site for you.

   On a serious side, considering that statistically there are that many asexual people, this site definitely has an audience to tend to, one all the other dating sites are leaving out.

   

   Asexualitic

2. You And I Abstain

   Here is one dating website where your virginity is highly valued. It was made for singles who want to “save themselves for that special someone”. To quote the website creators, “Abstinence is a beautiful and powerful choice to create and sustain stronger bonds in couples.”

   
   

   You And I Abstain

3. Discreet Adventures

   If you are married, you may want to check out DiscreetAdventures. It caters primarily to married men and women, offering them the possibility to be honest about their marital status. Sounds weird, huh? Well, considering that 30% of the “singles” on regular dating sites are married, it’s easy to see that there is a place for DiscreetAdventures in the dating niche.

   The membership is free of charge. Being a prime service provider for a such a delicate matter, they place a lot of importance on privacy, security, and confidence, and have a team that works 24/7 to properly moderate their members’ interaction.

   Although it has been accused of encouraging adultery and is condemned by religious groups and authorities, DiscreetAdventures’s popularity does not diminish.

   

    DiscreetAdventures

4. ScientificMatch.com

   ScientificMatch.com is an internet match-making service that pairs up singles based on their DNA. Scientific research shows that people are attracted to potential mates who have different immune system genes, a way of nature to ensure healthier relationships and children.

   The registration that costs US$2,000 covers the DNA test and guarantees a lifetime membership to the site. The DNA kit is sent by mail. Their laboratory analyzes the immune system genes, uploads the information to the site, and the user is then free to browse and contact his or her matches.

   Here is a segment from The Today Show that gives an overview of the service.

   ScientificMatch.com

5. Trek Passions

   If you happen to be one of those people who believe that “Star Trek” isn’t just a TV show, but a way of life, then this is the place for you.

   Trek Passions is a social network and online dating community aimed at bizarrely large fan audience of Star Trek and Star Wars. It is also open to all SciFi lovers. So, if you are longing to meet people who read Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, here’s your chance.

   
   Trek Passions

6. Date My Pet

   The name says it all: this is a dating community created exclusively for pet lovers. At DateMyPet, you can find a date for you AND your pet. The website offers pet advice and dating tips. It also features pet buddy communities and pet dates, innovative ways for members to meet and get to know each other.

   

   Date My Pet

7. No Longer Lonely

   Welcome to the online dating for adults with a diagnosable mental illness. As the site says, “here you can find romantic relationships knowing that everyone on this site has some form of mental illness”.

   No Longer Lonely. If you are insane, there is no more need to feel isolated. Here you can find others as crazy as you are.

   

   No Longer Lonely

8. Darwin Dating

   Darwin Dating was created exclusively for beautiful, desirable people, promising to weed out the ugly, unattractive, and desperate. The site claims to have strict rules and a selection process based on rating, ensuring that all the members have great looks. Among the things that have been banned, for example,  are sweat patches, nerdy glasses and pocket protectors. Their tagline? Online Dating Minus Ugly People.

   If only Charles Darwin could see what his work has come to…

   

   Darwin Dating

9. Meet-an-Inmate

   If you are a lonely, troubled soul fantasizing about having a close and loving relationship with someone doing 20 to life, this website is for you. Inmate.com offers you the chance to develop pen-pal relationships with inmates, both men and women.

   

   Meet-an-Inmate

10. Positive Singles

    Positive Singles is a site for people who suffer from all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases, such as Herpes, HPV, HIV or AIDS, and are looking for love and friendship. The site prides itself in being the ‘best, largest and completely anonymous, most trusted’ STD dating site on the Internet today.

    

    Positive Singles

11. MeetAnOstomate

    Ok, here it goes…. I wasn’t sure if this site should go here because it deals with very serious health issues. But bizarre does not necessarily have to be funny.

    MeetAnOstoMate.com is more than a specialized dating site. It is an online community for people who have had an ostomy surgery. Here they can meet others with the same problem, find more information and advice, and finally, have someone to talk to. The site has around 5000 members from over 50 countries.

    MeetAnOstomate

Technorati Tags: bizarre, online-dating, strange, groups, weird, love, networks, date, communities, offbeat

Internet has moved into our offices, homes, hearts… So naturally, the dating websites are sprouting online, like mushrooms after the rain. There are so many of them out there, from expensive ones claiming to have a proven formula based on scientific research of complementing personality traits, to those utterly bizarre in every way. The dating websites today  attend to every ethnicity, special interest, fetish, even financial aspirations of their members.

But whatever happened to good old FUN? Isn’t it still the main ingredient of successful dating? If you agree with me on that, then this dating list is for you!

1. Find Your FaceMate

   Talk about different approaches to dating, Find Your FaceMate® is a  new online dating site based on the idea that the resemblance of facial features in a couple is a significant factor in their chemistry and compatibility. Scientist have offered compelling data on romantic chemistry and findings prove that passion is subconsciously ignited when we see someone whose facial features are similar to our own.

   Find Your FaceMate® employs sophisticated facial recognition software and a proprietary algorithm to identify partners more likely to ignite real passion and compatibility.

   

   Click here to view the video on YouTube.

   Find Your FaceMate®

2. WooMe

   WooMe is the world’s largest live introductions platform. WooMe users meet live in timed sessions via webcam. There are no questionnaires, lengthy profile descriptions or software to download. Users can simply find a speed session that interests them, join and meet five people in five minutes.

   WooMe is easy, fast and free allowing users to meet new people around any shared interest for fun, to hook up, or for pure entertainment. With WooMe, meeting people online is transformed into a face-to-face experience that makes sifting through static profiles a thing of the past.

   

   WooMe

3. Flip Me!

   Flip Me! cards, a new dating retail product with an online component, is giving singles the chance to make connections they might otherwise miss with the aid of a personalized dating card. Rather than relying on online profiles and pictures, FlipMe card is designed as an open invitation to connect.

   The cards include the “flipper’s” private online dating ID code and each card bears a unique “CardCode” that opens up a secure line of communication between the flipper and recipient of the card. The card also contains FlipMe’s catch phrase: “I’ve said, ‘What if?’ too many times. Not this time,” along with directions on how to contact the flipper. If the person you flipped is interested, they can log on to flipmedating.com, enter the FlipperID and CardCode and contact you directly.

   With FlipMe, dating is looking far more real than too-good-to-be-true profiles with retouched pictures. FlipMe offers the best of both worlds – real interactions with real people along with a website to help you get to know each other. So go ahead… Look, Like, Flip.

   Flip Me!

4. TypeTango

   Here is a completely free dating site with an intelligent approach. It is a platform for people to meet according to their MBTI type. Myers Briggs Type Indicator, the advanced testing system based on personality theory was originally developed by Carl Gustav Jung in the 1920s, and expanded in 1940s by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. To date, it has been the world’s most widely used personality assessment tool because it focuses on two essential factors: personality traits and personal values.

   Due to its popularity, one can easily find numerous resources on MBTI online. Although you need to pay to have the official test done, available online are many free versions to find out what your personality type is. TypeTango has a resources page with links to such sites, but does not feature the test itself. Rather, it serves as an online community where people can meet each other according to their personality type.

   

   TypeTango

5. PerfectMatch

   PerfectMatch.com holds a special record among dating sites. It has has been featured more than any other matchmaking service on the big screen in the major motion pictures such as Must Love Dogs, 40 Year Old Virgin, Failure to Launch, Superman Returns, and No Strings Attached. It has also been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America and Dancing With the Stars.

   Needless to say, PerfectMatch is a recognized leader in the online dating sector and the top choice for adults looking for successful and long lasting relationships. PerfectMatch has the exclusive to the Duet® Total Compatibility System co-developed by renowned relationship expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz. Enjoyed by millions of PerfectMatch members, Duet® has proven to be one of the most effective matchmaking services on the Web.

   Click here to save $100 (55% off) with a 3-month membership at Perfectmatch.com!

   PerfectMatch.com

6. Smingle

   Smingle is а new dаting site thаt takes the wоrld оf online dating to а new level with the help of cutting edge technоlоgy. Smingle dating is an interactive, virtual experience where people first date online via sexy 3d avatars. These can be personalized to resemble you. The site offers many other interesting dating aids, such as the “get tо knоw me” gаme, which is an intuitive wаy tо get tо knоw people.

   Smingle

7. OkCupid

   With over 3.5M active members worldwide, OkCupid is definitely a main-stream dating site. It deserves to be on this list though for its ultimately fun approach to dating, if not for the mere fact that it’s 100% free.

   What makes OkCupid different from other dating sites is that it does not employ third party professional personality assessment tools. Instead, it relies on its own dating community to submit their questions and matches users based on their response to these questions. With so many users, the questions never end. OkCupid uses its patent-pending algorithm to calculate match percentages based on answered questions.

   OkCupid

8. eHarmony

   eHarmony is another main-stream dating website, generally tending to a more mature audience (35+). eHarmony counts impressive 33 million members, with an average of 271 eHarmony members in the U.S. marry every day.

   Compatibility is the essential focus at eHarmony. They believe that it’s not about matching people who like certain hobbies; rather, it’s about compatibility. eHarmony aims to differentiate its matching service by what it calls a scientific approach to a deeply personal and emotional process. So how does it work in practice? Prospective eHarmony members complete a  questionnaire that purports to determine characteristics, beliefs, values, emotional health and skills. Using matching algorithms the company matches the members with compatible users, focusing on people’s core traits and values to replicate the traits of happy couples.

   Click to receive a FREE Personality Profile

   eHarmony

9. Match Matrix

   Match Matrix also has very impressive results when it comes to matching couples compatibility. However, they do this without lengthy questionnaires. Using numerology (birth date only) they found a way to define four cornerstone emotional traits of a personality. Those are: communication style, activity level, financial logic, and sexual response.

   The many combinations of the traits produce what is known as the Matrix.  The Matrix is accessed by each person’s birth date.  There are many ways to profile individual personalities, however, the unique value of MatchMatrix is its ability to map the dynamics of a relationship by comparing the alignment of two people for each of the four traits.

   Match Matrix

10. SpeedDate™

    SpeedDate™ is a revolutionary online dating service designed to make it as easy and quickly as possible for those looking for love to connect with other singles in their area. The concept is simple: you can go on multiple live 3-minute online dates from the comfort of your home. At your disposal you have instant messaging, webcam video chat, and live audio. It takes only a minute to sign up for SpeedDate™. After you sign up, you can immediately begin live online dating and meet up to 15 other singles per hour.

    SpeedDate™

Whether you are looking to set up an internet shop, or take an existing business online, you’ll be surprised to find how many e-commerce solutions there are to choose from. Most of them offer standard shopping cart features, plus additional marketing tools and administration panel to help you keep track of products, orders, customers, shipping, etc. Depending on the  particular requirements and the size of your business, you will want to compare a few of these services in terms of what they can offer you.

The most important thing to watch out for is  whether your e-commerce service provider is PCI-compliant. The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard is a joint creation of Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. In response to the growing severity of credit card theft, the PCI Standard was created with the goal of protecting cardholder data wherever it may reside. The PCI has developed industry wide standards for card data security to be followed by both merchants and providers alike. Compliance with PCI Data Security Standard is highly recommended for all on-line stores.

1. Volusion

   Volusion is a premium, award-winning e-commerce software, featured in PC Mag and other media and used by major companies like Disney and Motorola. In short, Volusion allows you to build and manage an online store to effectively sell products and services on the Internet. A low cost merchant account is integrated with over 35 Gateways.

   Volusion’s flexibility, power, ease of use and price make it great for small businesses, but it has the infrastructure and expertise necessary to meet the demands of a larger company. Many business owners find that as they grow and become more successful online, their use of bandwidth increases along with their sales revenue. Volusion will not compensate for this by charging you a percentage of your sales, but only charges a minimal monthly fee for the hosting of your online store, while additional bandwidth is available for only $0.007/MB.

   Volusion

2. CoreCommerce

   CoreCommerce is an award-winning, feature-packed e-commerce software that apart from the standard options also provides search engine optimization, one page checkout, and integration with third parties, such as QuickBooks, Facebook, UPS Worldship, and more. Store administration is easy to customize and design, and the control panel is integrated with over 26 payment gateways, all kinds of credit cards, multiple currency support, fully-integrated shipping options, order management, customer tools, etc.

   CoreCommerce offers several pricing plans, starting at 29,99 per month, and all pricing plans include all the features. They also offer a free trial.

   CoreCommerce

3. BigCommerce

   BigCommerce is one of the most trusted names in e-commerce business. They protect your store and data with the same military-grade security and encryption that the big banks use, and have a 99.99% average uptime track record.BigCommerce includes dozens of built-in marketing tools to drive traffic to your online store, including advanced search engine optimization, Google product export and the ability to sell your products on Facebook. It’s very easy to customize. Business owners can choose from over 60 store designs and use the Drag & Drop Design Mode to customize the layout of their store while designers have full access to HTML and CSS via FTP, as well as QuickEdit and different tools.

   You can sell products online easily even without any prior experience. The getting started wizard helps you get your online store and shopping cart up fast and there are dozens of step-by-step videos if you get stuck.

   With over 25 business intelligence reports built in (such as top selling products and average revenue per order), BigCommerce helps you make better decisions which mean more money in your pocket with less work.

   But best of all, there are no transaction fees — ever! Big Commerce never charge transaction fees and have no hidden costs. What you see really is what you get.

   BigCommerce

4. Interspire

   Interspire Shopping Cart is a non-hosted version of BigCommerce, an all-in-one e-commerce and shopping cart software platform that includes absolutely everything you need to sell online and attract more customers using the power, reach and affordability of the Internet.

   Interspire offers an opportunity for web developers and designers to get full access to the source code and easily customize HTML-and-CSS-only store designs. They can create new stores for clients in record time using Interspire software.

   From expert search engine optimization to powerful merchandising features and unique built-in marketing tools to drive more traffic to your online store, Interspire Shopping Cart guarantees you’ll generate more sales by committing to give you your money back if they don’t deliver.

   Interspire

5. eStore Advanced

   eStore Advanced will provide you with a cart, a merchant account, secure payment gateway and unlimited use web hosting. They offer an affordable, easy to use, high powered shopping cart system that includes numerous useful features for your business administration, product management, marketing and promotion, order management shipping and tax, reports, etc.

   They also offer in depth marketing services and guarantee a top 30 ranking on the major search engines. eStore Advanced customer support is exceptional, and they are very flexible in terms of accommodating your individual needs by customizing the software or shop design just for you, free of charge.

   eStore Advanced has fully integrated the Drop Ship Access program into it’s shopping cart code. This implementation gives you the ability to quickly and easily add as many products to your store as you want. You can add as many of your own products as you like then supplement your product offerings with products offered by DSA or set up a store to just sell products offered by DSA.

   

   eStore Advanced

6. 3DCart

   3D Cartis one of the most complete website e-commerce solutions, with over 100 features designed to grow your online business. Easy-to-use web-based administration enables you to customize your website and online shop, no graphic design or programming necessary. Additional plugins such as Livechat, Quickbooks integration and ROI tracking give you the competitive edge in an ever increasing market.There are many features to help you run the shop, from strorefront design, promotion and marketing, product management, order processing, statistics and reporting, shipping and payment, etc.

   3DCart

7. Avactis

   Avactis Shopping Cart is another software package that allows you to open an online store on the Internet. Compared to other similar e-commerce solutions, Avactis allows for a fast and easy integration of an online store into an existing website without any programmer’s knowledge or skills. Unlike other shopping cart software, Avactis is integrated into your website, instead of integrating your website into the online store.

   The client side (the storefront) is your website as seen by visitors. The Avactis’ client side allows the visitors to your site to browse products in the online store, select products and put them into the shopping cart, as in a conventional supermarket, and then pay for the selected products using a credit card or other payment options. The Avactis’s administrator side allows you to stock up the store with products, as a conventional warehouse, maintain the inventory, track orders and payments.

   

   Avactis

8. Shopster

   Shopster is a free merchant network that lets you build a free online store, connect to other merchants, find dropship products to sell and sell your own products through new channels. What makes Shopster special is that you can find products from hundreds of different free dropshippers in one place. Get your products in front of thousands of retailers who sell online. Connect with a few or connect with them all – you choose who you build business relationships with. The Shopster platform provides you with a free marketplace and resources to get your products sold.Their online store is customizable, integrated with PayPal, E-bay listing and auction manager. Basic merchant account is free. For more information, watch the video.

   Shopster

9. Vendio

   Vendio is another award-winning platform that has been supporting the needs of online sellers for over 10 years. Similar to Shopster in that it lets you reach buyers where they are shopping, without forcing you to learn a different interface for each online channel. Whether you are a seasoned online sales veteran, or just a beginner, Vendio provides an ecommerce solution that enables you to share inventory with eBay, Amazon and more, which means it makes it easy to build and run your online ecommerce business no matter where your buyers shop.

   No programing knowledge necessary to set-up the ecommerce solution you need in minutes. Once you create your items you can sell them  through multiple marketplaces without complication. There are no hosting fees, listing fees, or final value fees.

   Vendio

10. Summer Cart

    Summer Cart is 100% SEO Shopping Cart Software, with search engine friendly URLs, SEO keywords on every page, automatic generation of sitemaps, etc. The store setup wizard makes it easy to setup your store quickly. The admin panel is very functional, offering useful sorting, filtering and search options, and easy product tracking and management.

    Summer Cart offers numerous payment & checkout options, multi-language support, and 39 automatically updated currencies. It allows for product comparison by attributes, product ratings and reviews, in-stock and out-of-stock tracking, and many other really handy options.

    

    Summer Cart

Technorati Tags: e-commerce, e-store, e-shop, ecommerce, internet-shopping, online-services

Not much introduction is needed here, the title says it all. Here are the most bizarre online communities internet has to offer. Please let me know if there are any other ones out there I might have missed. Thanks.

1. My Free Implants

   This is a network for all you girls and women out there who dream about having a boob job done, but can’t afford it. Just register here, and you’ll have a chance to meet gentlemen who just might make that dream come true. Don’t believe it? See for yourself.

   

   Visit MyFreeImplants

2. Daily Diapers

   DailyDiapers is the internets premiere free community for Adult Babies, Diaper Lovers, Big Kids, Mommies and Daddies featuring over 10,000 photos of diapered women, men and couples; Plus stories, diaper reviews, videos, personal ads, message boards, polls and so much more! Please note: DailyDiapers is an adult community.

   
   Visit the Daily Diapers

3. Walker Tracker

   This is an original concept indeed. Here is a community website for pedometer fans (whatever that means), to keep track of their steps. Wow! Interesting feature: they also offer custom walking programs for organizations, corporations, and municipalities.

   

   Visit WalkerTracker

4. Post a Secret

   If you have a secret that’s weighing down on you, spill your guts out on a postcard and mail it to Post A Secret community. It just might make you feel better.

   
   
   Visit Post A Secret

5. I 4give U

   If you have a secret to post, than you probably have a confession to make too. Here’s where you can not just confess, but get forgiven and forgive others.

   
   Visit I4GiveU

6. Vampire Freaks

   A social community for Vampires and Vampire fans, dedicated to promoting Gothic Industrial culture. Any questions?

   

   Visit VampireFreaks

7. Pot Space

   As their motto says, “A Place for Stoners”. This is the adult social networking community for marijuana enthusiasts around the world.

   

   Visit Pot Space

8. Euro Gay Police

   This is not a fetish website. It is a real, operative online network serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual police in Europe.

   Visit EuroGayPolice

9. Meet An Inmate

   This is a network for men and women who are in prison to connect with those of us who are outside. A great place to find pen-pals who reply quickly and write often.

   

   Visit MeetAnInmate

10. Zombie Preparedness Initiative

    This is a community of citizens concerned about the impending zombie invasion and the imminent disaster that is sure to follow. They are gathering knowledge and sharing the acquired information with the public in order to help people prepare for the very real threat when zombies show up and governments have not taken the time to prepare. They are working to do what they can to help people find others in their area that are interested in fighting against the zombies so that when the time comes there can be safe locations all around the world.

    

    Visit Zombie Preparedness Initiative

Technorati Tags: bizarre, groups, weird, networks, communities, offbeat