Pre-Launch Review
Site Name: Beer Heist Forum
Site Type: General Discussion (Beer)
Age: < 2 months (approximately around 8-10 days)
Note: I changed the order of sections in this review for easier integration of what I want to write.
First Impressions and Interest
I must be blunt, and I will. First impression is very messy and unclear. Looking at the index page, first thing I saw standing out so big was the strange appearance. Here I took screenshots for you:
picture 1 |
picture 2. And this strange look didn't go away even after I logged in with the demo account you provided. Now about interest. At first from forum name I thought your forum is about beer and drinking tradition. Upon visiting your forum, I found it hard to determine what your forum is actually about. From the forum names and descriptions, I couldn't say which ones your on-topic sections are. Even after visiting 'About' page, I was still confused. Perhaps it has something to do with the way you write descriptions and explanations. Fix the theme and put in more direct and clear explanations; otherwise members wouldn't bother to think twice to join your forum and leave right away.
P.S.: Let me know if you can't access the pictures.
Appearance
For the overall theme, I actually like the idea. You integrated standard forum features in terms of horizontal tabs, and that is quite an interesting idea. However, the execution is not yet completed.
Starting from the top. Banner wise it is quite good, although it doesn't really make the beer stands out. Perhaps changing one of the font with a derivation of a beer image, or add a beer icon to the banner for better touch of the niche. You can add that as a favicon as well. Then you have a line for notification of new messages and link to user panel and logging out. It feels rather redundant to have them here given that you have a side bar you can toggle with exactly the same links. The red navigation bar looks good and stands out.
Entering the body index, again the idea is good but there are rooms for improvement. I wonder why in different categories, the width of the column of forum names and descriptions can be different. It pushes the column of number of threads and posts more to the right, reducing the width of last column, and it gives the impression of being untidy. Categories/forums icons and topic icons are standard icons, don't really reflect what the forum is about. Great job on the buttons, though; they look superb.
Last about the footer. The board statistic and forum legend parts are at the wrong place, thus messing the side bar, so it needs to be put back in the correct place. Don't forget to fix the 'About Us' part too as it is still the standard lorem-ipsum text, meaning it hasn't been touched yet.
Layout
In this point of view, I couldn't tell where are your on-topic sections, as I mentioned before. One category about foot race is one of it, then one forum under off-topic category for discussions about beer. Since your forum is about beer, I think you need to take this as one category on its own, giving more forums and sections to talk about beer, the process to make it, and other fun facts and trivia about beer. Putting it together with off-topic sections feels like telling me that your forum is a general discussion one, while it actually has a specific focus. The last category is the biggest question. You let guests and registered users see a section for administrators only, or so I thought. Upon reading the only thread there I figured it is actually a suggestion section. I think you need to rename and rewrite the description just to make it clear what that section is about. If it is only for administrators or staff members, hide it immediately. I also don't think the resources best go there; it should go under general discussion section instead. At first glance the last category gives the impression of you being a webmaster forum, which is very strange. It is not appropriate to separate them like that when you are not a webmaster or advertising forum.
Start small, but focused. This is very important.
Content
Content wise, there is barely anything for me to say. Most populated forum is the general discussion forum. Understandable for a new forum, and looks like you're still in set-up process. Just keep in mind that to 'open', your on-topic sections must be the most standing out ones. You're not yet focused so I can't give many suggestions on this. Once you have sorted out the layout and show exactly what your forum is about, start populating that section with threads and posts. I have seen some forums which 'hire' posters to make the sections look active before really opening it, to attract attention and interest that the forum is alive.
Grammar wise I'm sometimes confused with what you write. I have the impression that you want to give some kind of opening before getting right to the important idea. It can work, in descriptions for example, to raise attention and put in some fun. Just don't forget to always restate what you mean in a clearer, more direct way to make sure everyone understands it. From posts and descriptions, overall your forum is pretty good. I just don't think 'Rules & Regs' is very professional (I believe 'Regs' here means regulations?). Watch out for usage of capital letters (as in 'Window Shoppers', small 's' should do just fine) and text signs (like in '
This is the one and only place that our (un)activated members 'AKA' "In-line" can post. Either we will get "Hey, I can't figure out how to activate my acct, or we will get spam. This is our test.' you messed up the usage of apostrophes. It should be '
This is the one and only place that our unactivated members or "in-line" members can post. Either we will get "Hey, I can't figure out how to activate my account!" or spam. This is our test.'. Small details build up professionalism, so be careful.
Words from the Reviewer
Judging from the date the rules thread was posted, this forum seemed to be started around a week ago. For a forum a week old, you have done quite much. There are still a lot to improve and fix before saying that your forum is 'opened'. The real challenge is yet to start, so you better prepare the forum as much as you can by being as tidy, focused, and professional as you can be before you start running it for real. Only by then that you will have the chance to survive. All the best!
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