Your Forum Review
First Impressions & Appearance - (Out of 20)
First thing I notice is the banner, of some random guy I don't know. Then, I click refresh, and see that is it a random banner generator for different wrestling characters. This is a very nice touch for the forum, and I think it owrks very well.
The skin is actually very noce looking, even if it does seem a little dark, and monotonous in color. There is a huge problem with your icon choices, which I'll explain more below.
Let me get this out of the way, and be as honest as possible. The new/old post icons used are pretty horrible. There's no way to determine which one signifies new or old posts, and the images are actually really unattractive on the forum. They're just squared pics of two random wrestlers. You need soemthing that not only matches the skin, and layout; but also is very disstinguishable between new and old posts for those boards. Say like, try a wrestling belt. One gold, one gray. The gold would be for new posts, the gray, would be for old posts.
(16 /20)
Site Layout - (Out of 20)
So far, while scrolling down the forum, seems you've got the forum sections pretty well layed out. But then really seems to get excessive the further I scroll down. Everything after the wrestling section gets kinda out off whack. I can see the sections get some kinda activity, and most are needed, but it's the way you went about it, that makes it look very unorganized.
First thing, you need to change "Forum General Chat" to New Member introductions. I don't see any new members introducing themselves, and you already have a general chat section int he off topic section.
Why do you have a section for wrestling media, and wrestling girls, that aren't even up top in the actual wrestling section. And the extra "Monopoly" board just to post hot woman. Trust me, I checked it out, and liked it, but haveing an entire section is very unecessary. why not just have a topic, where members can't just reply with hot celeb pics.
Another thing, I don't see too many aspiring writers on the forum, and have no idea why there are 4 boards for writers. Why not at least have 1 writing section, then those 4 boards listed as "sub-boards" of that section. Would really tidy up the index page, and even make that section look more active.
I also don't see what's the difference bettwen "Super Media" and "Other Media" sections. Your entire "X-Clusive Sections~!" category is actually unecessary. Just find the "like" sections, and move those in those sections.
The Bookie section, is a neat idea, but again. I don't see the need for 3 seperate boards, when one board, with 3 sub-boards would look alot better.
I can see what you're trying to do, by offering anything possible, but seems you may be going about it the wrong way in presentation. Just need to focus on trying to make the index page as less excessive as possible.
(12 /20)
Statistics and Activity - (Out of 20)
Averaging about 1,000 posts a month is about average, and for a new forum it's pretty good. But your member count is what is really low. From that post count ration, seems only maybe 8-10 members are actually active on a regular basis, which is still good; but you need to work on promoting and attracting new, and dedicated active members as well.
Alot of sections are getting nowhere near the amount of attention the other sections are getting; which is why I made aton of suggestion on combining and doing away with some of the excessive boards.
(17 /20)
Staff Moderation - (Out of 20)
You have more administartors, than actual moderators. This might work for now, but evetually there's going to be diffference of opinions down the road, which might make it tough for all 3. 1 Admin, maybe 2 is plenty for a forum this size, and maybe 1-2 moderators.
(16 /20)
Spelling/Grammar & Professionalism - (Out of 20)
I'm not gonna nit pick on spelling. One thing, though, you have some really offensive stuff, that may be funny as an inside joke to your staff; but you have to put guests and new members into account. When i was clicking refresh for the random banner, a message dropping the "F" bomb popped up regularly, which i'm a grown adult, and still don't see the need why someone has to use that out in public, let alone on a forum banner.
You 've got other board descriptions, that seem really useless, and don't do anything to explain what the section is on. and there's no need to write why a section was added in the description. Noone really cares for staff inside jokes there.
(15 /20)
76 - (Out of 100)
Final Remarks:
What was most liked about the website/forums:
The random banner. Though, when it didn't load, was kinda annoyed with the message that popped up. I'm not offended by cuss words, I use them regularly, but I don't see the need of having it on your forum index page.
What was disliked most about the website/forums:
the new/old board icons. They really were an eyesore compred to the rest of the look, and brought the creativity of the forum look down.
How could I get you (The Reviewer) to join my website?
I grew out of wrestling years ago, and just lost it's appeal for me. Though, there'splenty of wrestling fans looking for a place to discuss. Try and figure out what could make your forum the next big thing.
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