Your Forum Review
First Impressions & Appearance - (Out of 20)
The new look does look more attractive, now. A Dark theme wouldn't be my preferred choice for a Bond fan forum, but it works here. The Board icons are great for new/old/locked boards. Very stylish and unique to the forum theme.
The Banner is pretty good, but why doesn't it have the forum title? Instead, you have the latest bond film in the banner. The text to the left of the banner just kinda seems like it was thrown up quickly just to have something there to fill in the space. If you've got all that space there, use it. Looks like you can fit about 4 more lines of what guests can expect when registering on the forum, with other types of Bond activities and discussions.
One thing, in particular, that is very unattractive; are the navigational buttons under the banner. They look good, but you have way too many; and should all fit on one line. You only need important buttons that benefit the forum, and make navigating, and finding useful links easier for members. Gallery/Groups/Donate/Bond Sites <--- those 4 should be removed. You have no gallery cateory up, even if you did, it doesn't need to have a quick link. Groups, not everyone will be interested in this; and should just have a request topic for members to be requested to be placed in a certain group. Donations are VERY raraely made on forums. So, I wouldn't be expecting too many. Finally, Bond Sites. Why are you making it easier for guests and members to find a way out of your forum, to other sites for Bond? They're just buttons, and I know you're trying ti get as much as you can, so I didn't count off much; but, you need to make the forum look professional, and with 4 buttons all alone on the 2nd line, it looks very tacky
(17 /20)
Site Layout - (Out of 20)
OK. After going through your first board, it's time to split these. You should make an Announcements/Updates board ... then a separate Suggestions/Help/Feedback board, directly underneath. I see you have 6 announcement topics, followed by 7 sticky topics. It's getting a little too cramped. Hopefully, if you do that, and move topics into their respective boards, have the introduction board remain the last board, and renoved the member blogs board, seeing that it's closed, anyways.
You have 3 boards, that may work better as one. All the boards for future bond films, could just work as one; something like "Future Bond Film Discussions". And seems, Interviews, isn't a good idea all on it's own. Maybe making the Reviews a "Reviews & Interviews" board would work best. Finally, I'd move Bond Polls just above Bond Forum Games, since it'smore of an entertaining feature for the forum.
You'll notice, with those 4 extra boards gone from that section, will make your General Bond category much, much more tidier, and less excessive.
Everything else seems good, though i would recommend placing the Chill Out Zone board at the top of the 007 lounge. Ususally off-topic discussions are best to be at the top of off-topic categories.
(16/20)
Statistics and Activity - (Out of 20)
Activity is suprisingly good, keeping in mind the forum id directed to one main theme, and honestly is that popular at the moment. Ususally a new Bond film be announced and released is when you'll see the peak of your forum's daily activity rate.
Some sections just don't get much attnetion, and make them look unecessary, which is why I provided some suggestions on combining boards that were similar. You current active member list is very good, and I hope it continues to grow more, providing they return to see fresh and updated topics and posts to keep them returning each day to the forum.
(17 /20)
Staff Moderation - (Out of 20)
It's very confusing trying to figure out who is who on your staff team, with all the different member groups, and those who appear, repeatedly, in them. But, after studying these, for a very long time. I've concluded you have 5 staff members on the forum. Which is actually a large number; but some seem to be dedicated, while others seem to be there, just to be there,a nd wear a rank. You have 2 of these staff members, with less than 10 posts.
Here's another part I'm gonan nit-pick on, cause I have no idea why there are so many staff names, and groups for your forum. You have 8 member groups, and half of those not even being used. James Bond Crazy Helpers, absolutely unecessary, the admin is the only one listed, and it's pretty obvious they work on the forum. Donators, as i covered before, are not very likely to happen, and again, only the admin is listed. Robot, only has one, which seems like a waste, since that member only has 7 total posts on the forum. Retired Staff, why oh why, is the admin listed, and the only one listed. There's no need to have a retired staff rank.
I just honestly feel maybe you got these ideas from other forums, and they seem to come from promotion forums. these don't work everywhere. Most forums,. like yours and mine, are just best left with admin, mods, graphics team, and "maybe" VIP ... if that.
(15 /20)
Spelling/Grammar & Professionalism - (Out of 20)
I don't like to throw stones, cause I make so many typos myself when posting. But, when it comes to my forum, it's index, and thinking of how it reflects the forum, I want it as prestine as possible. So, I want to make sure some errors on your index page are taken care of.
Take the time, and re-read all your board descriptions out loud. And think if they make sense. Some do, but your punctuation is all worng. Like the first board description. "
All updates will be posted here , If you need any help or have a suggestion also post here"; yup, no period, either. It should read ... "All Forum news and updates will be posted here. If you need any help or have a suggestion, please ask it here." Also, if you do plan on separating announcements, and suggestions, be sure to change your descriptions.
In the intro board, "
Are You New? Well Don't be shy introduce yourself and tell us a bit about yourself here." It should read like this ... "Are You New? Well, Don't be shy. Introduce yourself and tell us a bit about yourself."
See what I mean, and that's just the first 2 boards. Almost every board description following has bad use of grammar, words missing from sentences, and errors in punctuation. Especially missing periods on the end.
Another one I had to point out, cause it was so small of a sentence, but still needed to be corrected. "
Keep up with Latest bond news , From the Cars up for sale to the Actors news" should be ... "Keep up with
the Latest bond news. From the Cars up for sale, to the
latest Actor's news
(12 /20)
77 - (Out of 100)
Final Remarks:
What was most liked about the website/forums:
The look was good, although there were some issues that need to be worked on to tidy up the look, and make it more professional looking.
What was disliked most about the website/forums:
The bad use of grammar and punctuation across the board index. Also, the excessive amount of unecessary member groups. They just don't work on this forum.
How could I get you (The Reviewer) to join my website?
I'm already registered, and I'm a Bond fan. I'm just not interested in discussing the films, until there is a new film to discuss. I like to stop in every now and then, and reply to a couple of topics that keep my interests. I'm just more into the classic bonds, where the forum seems more interested in the newer bond films.
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