Free Blog site - suggestions please

I am working on a free blog site which will provide registered users with free blogs like blogger or wordpress
I am planning to use blogging software WordpressMu and modify/customize it to provide some different features like
1) users can have their own ads on their blog which won't be limited to adsense only
2) will be hosting regular contests for traffic to blogs, design of blog

The only thing I am worried about is that I won't be able to provide subdomains for blog addresses but will be giving subdirectories like something.something/username

Will like to get input from members here about what else should be featured on the blogs and what not to make the idea a sucess

 

I think MU allows subdomains but you need wildcarded subdomains support...correct me if wrong.

 

MU allows subdomains
but my hosting control panel is Hspehere which doesnot allow to create direct subdomains

 

well wildcarded subdomains needs to be set up through dns records...ask you host for help.

 

That is a great idea !! I was thinking of something simular, please share your experiences with this

 

I was thinking of this too, but this is a very saturated market, and hard to compete with blogger, xanga and alike. You must find some unique things to get attraction.

 

I'd say if you had some sort of marketing push aimed a certain nice (music fans one example) with a contest aimed at that category that would help grow your user base slowly.

 

Worked on the subdomain issue. actually wordpress mu does not create a subdomain but just an alias and tested it on a test site and it worked without problems with hspehere control panel too

rather than a niche main site will be targetted to general audience
and will be making few same sites for niche too

agreed thats why I am writing certain mods myself to provide different features to the users

sure will keep this thread updated

over this weekend I checked with the WordpressMu script and it worked fine for my initial analysis Today I will be installing the script on one of my live test sites so will need beta testers. I will post the link after I have installed the script so if anybody interested in beta testing let me know

Also for ads, I plan to allow not only adsense but others like like YPN, bidvertiser and text links/ banners for the blogs so will be creating the mod myself which I intend to finish within this week

then is the name of the site I have few in mind but still looking for ideas if you have any cool name suggestions do let me know