Site URL: http://chattrbuzz.com
Review Type: Feedback Topic + Advanced Review
Extra Notes: Thanks. 🙂
Review Type: Feedback Topic + Advanced Review
Extra Notes: Thanks. 🙂
ChattrBuzz
- Thread starter Allenafaith
- Start date
I like the new logo. You're previous logo's weren't the best aesthetically but this one is really nice and sleek. I would maybe put the shoutbox at the bottom of the forum so it doesn't distract too many users. You have a good amount of forums but maybe remove the graphics section as it looks to be empty and not used much. Your stats are good but for the amount of members you have it should be much higher, how long have you been open?
Since May, lol.Frankenstein said:
Joshua Farrell
FP's Housekeeper
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Joshua Farrell
FP's Housekeeper
ChatterBuzz
Review by Joshua Farrell
Review by Joshua Farrell
When I first opened your forum, I liked the dark theme, and the logo that was made for the forum. They complement well with each other. There is nothing amazingly painful for a first time visit to the forum, other than the fancy usernames, which aren't too bad. I probably would adjust to it if I were to use your forum a bunch, though a few of them don't go well with the theme, the way they are. The ones that get at me the most, is the colors for the Retired Staff and FSTAB Squad.
The only other issue I see is stats, in relationship to how old the forum is. The forum was made back in May, yet it doesn't seem all that active.
Overall, I have a pretty good first impression of your forum, other than your total activity for a forum that has as many members as it does, in a 5 month period.
Rating: Good
I probably should note, I love simplistic designs more than designs that are decked out all the way. I love the design that is used as your default theme. It is simple, there are custom graphics that had been made for your forum. Really can't say too much about the Carbon theme, because I like it. 🙂
Out of your other themes, there are certain groups that are either very difficult to read, or non existent on being able to see the group name, or person in the group. You probably should look into that, and see what you can do to make it easier to see those names on the other groups.
The Hayden-Dark Theme is missing a large number of images. Did you not finish uploading that theme, or did something get deleted? That theme can be a good alternative to your default theme, if it wasn't for the fact that it was missing images that are essential to the theme. I would go and see about fixing that issue, by uploading a fresh copy of the theme to your forum.
Rating: Average
For a forum of your age and total number of members, I kinda expected more posts and threads on the forum, and more number of the boards having "today" listed in the last post box. I am not sure, but I it appears as if you didn't maintain the forum for a few months actively. Correct me if I am wrong. 🙂
For your staff that do come online, please get them to start posting more threads. As a rule of thumb, a forum with allot of threads, though there be few members, tends to have a higher activity rate from the members that do visit, than those forums that have a higher membership rate, but not as many topics created on a daily basis. Try to get them, and yourself to make a couple of new topics a week, and see if that helps with some of your activity issues. 🙂
Also, some of those boards appear awfully empty. I suggest putting some emphasis on the topic creation there for a week, so that there is something fresh in those boards too. 🙂
Rating: Average
To be honest, a general chat forum/off topic forum isn't all that original. There tends to be plenty of general boards that open up, and to later close, because of activity issues, and longevity of the older more established forums. Try to make your forum different! Try looking around some of your competitors and see what they are doing! Sometimes one can find out that the best way to help one succeed, is by imitating some of the things that the older bigger forums do, like offering things to it's users, that you cannot generally find elsewhere.
For example, you can have a service that allows people to create a group, that allows them to see a private forum to just that group, so that they can discuss things and have fun, without feeling like they are being judged by others, by what they do. 🙂
Other than your custom made images, you need to find more original/less used items, that could help land people on your forum, because of your genre.
Rating: Poor
Your general setup for your forum is pretty good for what you have to offer. Your general, easy to find boards are at the top, and the more focused ones are at the bottom. Sounds pretty logical to me on the setup.
Though I don't know about you, but I would rather see the introductions board, either at the bottom of the Chatterbuzz's Home Category, or in the General Category. It's current location subtracts from the general flow of things, because of it's location. It makes me wonder what you want people to focus on more, the new members or suggestions. You should have the news and announcements board at the top of the category, then your feedback board, after that the account issues board, then introductions. Try that, and I bet you will see some people posting around a little bit more because of it. 🙂
Rating: Average
The spelling that I have seen on the forum, isn't bad, but pretty good. And from what I can tell, you and your active staff are generally accepting, like to have fun where needed, and are professional when needed. Good job. 🙂 Keep up trying to do your best, don't rush into adding new things all the time, and it should be good.
Rating: Good
Final Remarks
I love your forum, keep trying to do your best to keep it going, and you shall have a medium sized forum in no time!
Biggest like about the website?: It's clean appearance.
Biggest dislike about the website?: Total activity for the age of the forum.
What could I do to make you (the Reviewer) join my website?: If you create more topics, and encourage your staff to be more active, I would definitely join up and start posting on it. 🙂
Your Score
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milksheikh
Paragon
I really like the clean design.
Great activity, Keep it up!
Great activity, Keep it up!
You know me well enough to know that I'm a fan of dark themes! I really like the dark theme of your forum. I'm glad you took my advice--and the advice of others--by changing the logo so it wasn't so bright, bold, and blinding. It looks much better now compared to before. Generally, I like the icons that you've chosen to use here. They're simple, yet effective, which is always a good thing. One thing I think you might want to change is the glow/shadow colors of the staff. While some of them look great, other's do not. Mainly, change the "Co-Owner" as the white glow/shadow stands out like a sore thumb against the dark colors and I don't think it looks that great. Otherwise, I think your forum has a lot of promise! Good Luck!
Teg said:
Thanks. 😀 I removed the sparkling usernames after the members voted them out in a poll. I also removed the co-owner group. 😀
It's a pretty good looking forum, first off. I see you have the spot for forum-specific icons, but you don't use them. For example: the "Phones and Tablets" section might look better if you added a picture of a mobile devices beside it. It's something that looks really good and is very drawing towards guests. Also, in your footer, I'm a big fan of having the usergroups with the most power closer to the left. Your "Owner" usergroup is just kind-of floating around in the middle. It actually took me a second to find it. I'd recommend you put the more powerful usergroups farther towards the left.
Best of luck, Allena. 🙂
Best of luck, Allena. 🙂
John said:
I was actually thinking about the icons a few weeks ago but I never changed them. I really like the idea, though.
With the usergroups, I have tried to put them in a certain order in the past but not all of them I can edit the order number.
Ah, I see. Have you tried asking MyBB about it? I'm not an expert with their software, but I'd think there would be some way to customize how they appear.Allenafaith said:John said:
I was actually thinking about the icons a few weeks ago but I never changed them. I really like the idea, though.
With the usergroups, I have tried to put them in a certain order in the past but not all of them I can edit the order number.
John said:Ah, I see. Have you tried asking MyBB about it? I'm not an expert with their software, but I'd think there would be some way to customize how they appear.Allenafaith said:John said:
I was actually thinking about the icons a few weeks ago but I never changed them. I really like the idea, though.
With the usergroups, I have tried to put them in a certain order in the past but not all of them I can edit the order number.
I didn't think about that. There might be a topic on the forum or something with the plugin I am using. There is another plugin that I could install, though, that might be more customizable if I can't figure this one out.
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