Your Forum Review
First Impressions & Appearance - (Out of 20)
The skin does look very nice and appealing. I like the green category bars, and how well it matches up with the banner and forum buttons. The banner is very nice, as well. Sets off a good vibe on what the forum is about.
About the matching buttons. I can see this is a premade skin, and seems the premade buttons came along with it. Which is nice, but I would suggest trying to get some custom made matching buttons, so it sets your forum apart from just adding a premade template to the forum.
(18 /20)
Site Layout - (Out of 20)
First thing, your top category is very lonely all by itself. It took me awhile to find your new members board. I don't see the harm in dragging that sub-board out, and actually placing it under neath the Front Desk board. You always want the introductions board easily findable for new members, as well as returning members so they can welcome them. Kinda hard to do when it's hard to tell if a new member has joined, but it's hidden as a sub-board.
The Recreation center needs a couple of adjustments. For one, the Saloon should be the top category. As it is going to be the most active board of that section. And, Fashion? With it's own board? Not really getting the vibe from that one. I think those 4 topics will just fit nicely in the Saloon board. Motoring is kindof a strange board title; and the board description doesn't really help explain what to find in there. Try to add alittle depth to that description, like, is it just for cars, power tools, computers, etc.?
I can understand Football having it's own board. But, boxing and tennis. Kinda getting the vide that staff are making boards for what they like, but not hinking fo the community as a whole. Especially considering, CrouchisGod, is only a moderator for those two sections, as listed. This may be the way you guys want it; but I just don't think it looks right, showcasing other sports; then leaving other popular sports in the Other Sports section.
And, in Entertainment. Don't really see too many Music or Game reviews flying by. Those sections are tough to get active, even on music or gaming specific forums. I'd recommend just moving the topics in with the rest, and geting rid of those review sections. And just let reviews be normal topics.
(13 /20)
Statistics and Activity - (Out of 20)
Your forum's doing quite well with activity for it's first 2 months. From reading around, seems your forum was derived from a different one. Which is good to branch out, and venture on your own. Some members prefer a fresh start; and will probably welcome the cha nge of pace.
So far, it seems football is the talk of the town, with almost 1/3 of the forum's posts in that board alone. Try and get activity spread out. Talk with staff, and work on making new topics, daily, in other sections of the forum. This will gte interests in other sectuion, as well as, encourage members with ideas on what other topics to make in other sections.
(16 /20)
Staff Moderation - (Out of 20)
Well, first thing i need to point out; is a moderator has had a recent name change; but there's a name on the forum index, which has his old name (Papa Burgundy). This may need to be corrected, right away.
With 2 admins, and 2 mods; I think you're set. Maybe over set. It shows that 10% of your total memberbase is staff; and I'm pretty sure all 46 members aren't active. So there's no need to add nay more staff for a long time.
All your staff seem active on a daily basis, and pitches in on welcoming new members, which is very good, and what your satff should be doing. Though, some do need to work on better quality of postsing. It doesn't look appealing when some staff members are using only smilies to welcome new members.
(17 /20)
Spelling/Grammar & Professionalism - (Out of 20)
As stated above, I'm seeing alot of posts with smilies as the main source of some members posts; and some are staff. This looks very unprofessional. As stated, quality posts, generate quality replies. When a post reply offers nothing, replying or adding tot he conversation, it puts others off from replying.
As for spelling and grammar; seems everything looks good on the index page. But, I would work on some of your board descriptions. Make them unique in explaining what each board is about. Alot of them look rushed, as most do on other forums, cause most admins were in a hurry to get that part of making the forum out of the way.
(16 /20)
80 - (Out of 100)
Final Remarks:
Your forum really set off a good vibe when i first logged on. But there are some issues with the actual board sections layout. When looking around, your forum didn't feel like a general discussion forum, after awhile. It seems like you have the right intentions, but alot of wrong ideas that implement them.
What was most liked about the website/forums:
The skin/template. Was a very nice choice for the theme of the forum.
What was disliked most about the website/forums:
The board set-up. Everything seems kinda random in some places; and that staff just made boards that peeked their own interests. Plus, definitely need to get that new members board out in the open.
How could I get you (The Reviewer) to join my website?
General Discussion forums just aren't my personal taste. As most forums, that i do prefer, offer the same content. But, seems you're drawing in a crowd, in a short amount of time. So with plenty of advertising, in the right places, I'm sure your forum will continue to grow, and find new members along the way.
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