I'm pretty new to the whole forum thing. I am getting traffic but people are not staying. I am using smf 1.1.2 which I can not upgrade because my host.. who I am paying, doesn't have the minimum server requirements. But I think the biggest problem is that I don't have a custom template for my forum.
My forum sucks
- Thread starter MetsHater
- Start date
Lee Lawson
Seasoned Veteran
This is not forum support or a technical problem, first off custom themes, phaat, you can get free professional themes which you can customize to your standards any day, try Dzigner Studio or Cripz, both great theme makers, your host sucks if it doesn't let you upgrade, change hosts, go to site host's or something thats good reliable and cheap.
el canadiano
Paragon
Software isn't the issue. It's all about how much you put into your forum which makes the difference. SMF theme and mod installation is amongst some of the best amongst any forum software, free or paid, so installing shouldn't be a problem (upload package through ACP and it does the rest for you).
Lawson took the words out of my mouth though. DzinerStudio and Crip are some of SMF's best designers. As for what you can improve, perhaps merge a few forums together. You have a few too many. Also, make lots of unique topics as well.
Lawson took the words out of my mouth though. DzinerStudio and Crip are some of SMF's best designers. As for what you can improve, perhaps merge a few forums together. You have a few too many. Also, make lots of unique topics as well.
I agree that with SMF you don't need a custom theme. Just use one on the SMF site, and get a custom logo.
I think you have a unique concept, so you need to brainstorm on that and think about what your audience would be interested in, and cater to that.
I think you have a unique concept, so you need to brainstorm on that and think about what your audience would be interested in, and cater to that.
Well be positive. If you are yourself writing that your forum sucks then it'll suck forever.
Also, customised theme never matters. I am running a forum for 3 years and have not got a customised theme. Still our alexa ranks, traffic is cool.
Also, customised theme never matters. I am running a forum for 3 years and have not got a customised theme. Still our alexa ranks, traffic is cool.
el canadiano
Paragon
But you should be fine. SMF is the best when it comes to theme install, mod install, and upgrading (gotta love the Package Manager).
netsavy006
Seasoned Veteran
I think a new theme is in order. Make it look more like the niche the forum represents. That will make the forum look more attractive...
Doctor Tech
Resident
As my fellow mates have said, great post content is required to boost forum activity. Also, try to learn a few Search Engine Optimization techniques.
Hope that helps a little.
Hope that helps a little.
Watch Me Sink
Madly Diligent
Any server can handle SMF 1.1.11
1.1.2 is from 2008 or 2007, and is easily hacked.
1.1.2 is from 2008 or 2007, and is easily hacked.
A word of warning about custom themes: They are very labour intensive to set up and have work properly. for my forum I took a ready made theme and basically went to work on it, heavily modifying it until it was a custom theme. In retrospect I'd have probably just gone with a ready made theme that was more suitable, because our forum wound up with tonnes of errors that I am still fixing now. {Mostly done, but that's 3 months later.}
SMF 1x is also what I have, I have 1.1.11 version. There are LOTS of themes available for this software.
SMF 1x is also what I have, I have 1.1.11 version. There are LOTS of themes available for this software.
Watch Me Sink
Madly Diligent
Though the best themes you hav to look for. Tons of the themes on the SMF site are hardly "custom," just some CSS changes. If you need a theme, shoot me a PM.
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