Forum Feedback - Ideas Welcome

[Redfly]

Originally Posted by blacknight

I set this forum very recently, as most of you know and I would love to see it grow to become a useful and interesting community.

If anybody has any feedback, thoughts, ideas, critique or whatever I would love to hear it.

You asked for feedback.

[blacknight]

Originally Posted by redflystudios

You asked for feedback.

Yes and I normally appreciate feedback, however if you tell me that the site looks like it is a hobby......

[Cormac]

You can only do so much SEO to get people visiting the forum but it's important to turn guests into members and members into posting members and to that, for a good few people, an aesthetically pleasing design is needed. Some people are fickle in that way.

The default template isn't going to help.


There is no need to search for a suitable template as most templates out there for vb are horrible. A few alterations to the CSS in the admin panel and the 'colouring in' of the default images will provide a unique design.


I can rustle something up for you if you like?

[richardo]

Just an idea off the top of my head.....

At the moment, the URL leads directly into the forum which, as RedFly says, is like a thousand others.

How about a designed front page with a sort of news/articles/about type of interface? This would give the site the colour it lacks. Obviously, this page would lead straight into the forum.

Just an thought?

[Redfly]

Originally Posted by blacknight

Yes and I normally appreciate feedback, however if you tell me that the site looks like it is a hobby......

I said "I get the vibe" and was only providing requested feedback. Feedback to better the forum for everyone. There was nothing malicious intended and it was only constructive criticism.

[RedCardinal]

I think that unless you have some really excellent content a splash page is just going to increase the bounce rate IMO.

[blacknight]

Originally Posted by Rollo

I can rustle something up for you if you like?

Cool ....

[blacknight]

Originally Posted by richardo

Just an idea off the top of my head.....

At the moment, the URL leads directly into the forum which, as RedFly says, is like a thousand others.

How about a designed front page with a sort of news/articles/about type of interface? This would give the site the colour it lacks. Obviously, this page would lead straight into the forum.

Just an thought?

Like one of those portal frontend things?

[dave]

How about having some forum members write articles/ how to's etc as content for the site. Drives more traffic to the site plus the members could plug their own business or service.

[richardo]

Now we're getting some ideas