Your Forum Review
First Impressions & Appearance - (Out of 20)
I really like the banner of your forum. The different font styles may be a little extreme, but I feel they work. The overall skin is very pleasing and professional. Really draws me into the forum, to look around and see what else there is to find inside.
The first thing, though, that really puts me off; is the affiliates. They should never be the first thing a guest or member sees when first logging on. Some guest could arrive, and those affiliates catch their eye, first. Then, they have found something else to look at, before even looking at your boards. They should be placed at the very bottom of the forum.
As much as I was hoping for some kinda artistic graphic for your forum icons, I suppose your current ones will work. They just look very generic to me. I actually like the paintbrush icon up in the banner; something close to that, or similar, would work great ... just need to be a little downsized, though.
(16 /20)
Site Layout - (Out of 20)
Your board looks very pleasing with no excess categories or boards. This makes finding your way around much easier. However, there is some nit picking I'll make on the order of your boards. Your "Important stuff" category should always be up top, so that's fine. But, your actual forum genre content should always be the next category in line. So, your "Gallery" and "General" category should be swapped in positions. Then, move your Art Discussion board, to the top of the Gallery category.
That will get everything on your forum's main theme, inside the body of the forumn, followed by everything that is offtopic from actual art discussions and showcases.
And, it also seems your General Discussion board is kinda messy inside. Might wanna consider making an extra board for discussion on entertainment and stuff. So it helps organize different topics, into different genred boards.
(15 /20)
Statistics and Activity - (Out of 20)
Your stats are fairly decent. But it seems everything is going on in the General Discussion board. Plus, when i mentioned try adding a few more off topic boards, this will even help generate more activity, since it will be clearly marked what can be discussed.
22 members is a very low member count, even this early on in your forum's life. Members are very hard to gain, especially even expecting guests to find the forum, and register. I promise you, doing member post exchanges does wonders for your forum and activity.
(14 /20)
Staff Moderation - (Out of 20)
From what I've seen, you're the only member of staff. Which is actually very good for this early stage in your forum. Your very respectful to the community, help in any situations you can, also welcoming evry new member to the forum.
(20 /20)
Spelling/Grammar & Professionalism - (Out of 20)
With an artisitic touch, only seems obvious you know how to dot your I's and cross your T's. Everything looks good , simple, and easy to uinderstand. This one board description just kinda threw me off a bit.
Post completed work, works in progress and sketchbooks here for show, comments and critique.
"work" should be plural, and I would try something like this.
Post completed works, works in progress, and sketchbooks for others to comment and critique.
(19 /20)
84 - (Out of 100)
Final Remarks:
What was most liked about the website/forums:
The skin and theme. It had a very nice and appealing look, that should get anyone's attention.
What was disliked most about the website/forums:
For me, it's the affiliates that vacate the top of the forum. Just looks unattractive up at the top.
How could I get you (The Reviewer) to join my website?
I've been around a few times, I'm just not much of an artists anymore these days. Though, I do like the forum, so I do plan on stopping by every now and again. For new members, try and do those post exchanges with members I suggested. My forum has been open for over a year with over 800 members, but even I still do post exchanges to this very day. they really do wonders for activity, and peeking your regular members own interests.
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