Music Contest Website

[Sheehan]

I was about to attempt to create a site using WordPress by watching tutorials(I'm totally web illiterate).  Now I'm told that a WordPress site wouldn't have the security capabilities I'd need for such an involved site... that hackers from all over the world will be trying to mess with my site.  I have a temporary site up that will quickly explain to you what I'm doing.  I've taken care of music contracts, TM's, copyrights, purchased domain names and hosts, etc.  The web site is my last big hurdle, and it seems that that hurdle just got higher... unless you disagree and feel that WordPress would be safe for what I'm doing?  The site will need to handle uploading and downloading music files, PayPal, playing and selling music tracks, and handle online registration.

Link:  http://www.thetrackmeet.org/

Please advise as if it were your project and you were as web challenged as I am.

ANSWER: Hey Dave,

Nice animated GIFs. If I were you, I would scrap Wordpress and hire someone to build this for you. When you deal with online money transactions, it is very important to be aware of the laws you may be breaking without even knowing it. You are handling very private financial information. Wordpress does have the capability, but you are doing e-commerce, which it was not meant for. Good Luck.

Drew

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

Thanks for the quick reply.  It sounds like I need an attorney who knows e-commerce law as much as I need a web site creator?  I'm starting to get really nervous about all this.  Would a web builder necessarily know e-commerce law?  I was initially warned about hackers... now I'm also just as concerned about breaking hidden laws.

Are you saying that WordPress is okay for private financial info, but can't do e-commerce"? Or are you saying it can do e-commerce but it wasn't initially designed for that purpose?  Because if it can do e-commerce safely and affectively, I don't know why it would matter if it was initially made for that or not?

[Jaymes]

Dave,

A developer who is familiar with building e-commerce websites should be educated in all the applicable laws concerning what they are building, just like a building contractor would know the laws concerning the work they build. You shouldnt need an attorney unless you are thinking of taking your project to a corporate level with other staff and partners. Wordpress IS capable of doing what you want, but it would have to be so cut up and pieced back together that there are better easier solutions out there. Picking it just because you heard good things will only lead to complication. A CMS needs to be chosen based on all of its merits, not just for comfort level. Its like taking a bicycle and making a nascar racer out of it. You COULD do it, but why not just start with a nascar frame and parts?

Try talking to a few development studios, get quotes, and see what they think. there is no obligation to use them, but you will be much more educated by the process, trust me.

Drew