MustangEvolution.com
Founded in 2003, Mustang Evolution became a leading online community for Ford Mustang enthusiasts.
Visit MustangEvolution.comProject Overview
MustangEvolution.com was launched in May 2003 during my junior year of high school—originally named 232stangs.com. My love for my 1995 V6 Mustang and early experience with computers inspired me to create an online forum using phpBB to connect with other Mustang fans.
I soon realized that limiting the focus to V6 models constrained the community’s growth. Inspired by a “Mustang Evolution” poster, I rebranded to expand coverage to all Mustang models.
Growth and Development
🚗 Community Engagement
Organized and attended Mustang shows across the U.S., helping build a passionate and loyal user base.
🔍 Search Engine Optimization
Modified vBulletin codebase and structure to improve crawlability and traffic using SEO best practices.
💰 Monetization
Transitioned from direct ad sales to Google AdSense, enabling consistent income and full-time focus on the project.
🌐 Platform Enhancement
Migrated from phpBB to vBulletin and moved to a dedicated server setup for better performance and scalability.
Transition to Full-Time
During my third year of college, I made the leap to pursue Mustang Evolution full-time. This shift included travel for events and conferences, and even involvement with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) to support online advertising policy.
Partnership and Transition
I later partnered with Andy Robinowitz of Social Knowledge, LLC, selling 50% of Mustang Evolution and helping improve their broader portfolio. In April 2012, I sold the remaining 50%, successfully transitioning out of daily operations.
Technology Stack
The platform evolved with the following tools and technologies: