I'm making no progress

I started work creating a website last month but I haven't really made any progress. I've been trying to learn PHP and Mysql to create a website which would run in a similar way to a dating website. Learning at this rate I don't see my website getting up and running for a long time and I really want to get something built within the next 3 or 4 months. Has anyone built anything similar to a dating website? What do you think my best option for getting a quality website up and running whilst keeping costs as low as possible. Should I just keep doing what I am doing currently or should I try to use a Content Management System? (If so do you know of any systems suited to this type of website?)

Thanks

use a CMS, search for "open source dating site software"

If you really want to get the site up and running quickly, you can go a few different routes. #1 get the trial version of Adobe CS4 Suite. It has Adobe DreamWeaver in it and that is what I have used to build my sites. You can build it to your own imagination and its fairly easy to learn and use. The trial version is free for a month. Which is motivation to get it finished in that month. lol Or buy it, but it is kinda expensive.

Or, post your site idea on designquote dot com. You will get about 15 different quotes from designers to build the website. If you have the money to have a designer do it then this is the best way to get the cheapest price possible.

If there isn't an OS CMS, definitely hit Dreamweaver ... I haven't used it in years but just bought it and it has improved greatly and has drop-in AJAX tools and all kinds of other goodies.

Are you trying to "hand code"?

You also might want to try a script of some sort.

Not to steal your thread, but I am in the same position as you. MJ and another recommend dreamweaver, is this the way you guys recommend as far as getting the experience in creating websites??

I have no problem learning the material, but the time required is questionable, which is why I and the poster ask.

if you are very good tech wise, then go for it and learn it, but if tech is not your thing, save your time and hire someone to do it. you can't do everything, and sometimes, you gotta leverage others or the right tools.

What do you mean with "OS CMS"?
I know what it stands for, but what are you trying to say?

Learning a programming language will take you atleast a few months if it's your first programming experience.

I've been learning PHP for maybe 2 months, about 2 hours a day and i haven't even learned the advanced parts. However, you can download some open source script that suits your need, learn some basic PHP and edit some minor stuff on the script.
That can be done in a week or two.

Or you can just hire a cheap freelancer. Be careful with them though.
You could risk losing your money if you happen to hire the wrong freelancer or you could lose your time if you happen to hire a lazy freelancer. Always use contracts if you're about to pay over $XXXX.

I've only hired 2 freelancers.
1 of them was a great professional developer, the other one was a lazy designer and overcharged me for something very simple.

Maybe you can try a PHP Framework like CodeIgniter, it can speed up development time...