Name of Site: post2vps Site URL:http://post2vps.info/ Type of Review ( Pre-Launch/Basic/Sectional/In-Depth ): Basic Review If SectionalSection: Demo Account for Reviewer (Forums Only): n/a Opening Date: 27-11-11 Additional Notes:
-- 18 Aug 2012, 00:05 --
all areas of the forum are visible to the guest
so no need for an account
more info:
linkbacks
google webmaster tools: 4,876
alexa: 38 Sites Linking In
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Site Name:post2vps Site Type:Post to Host Age:9 months
Appearance
Upon first visit the first thing that I notice is the blue banner between your header and the forum list. It sticks out like a sore thumb against the white and green and is overall not ascetically pleasing to look at. When clicking on the banner the URL that is associated with it leads to a "Page not found" error. I would suggest removing this banner or replacing it with one that flows better with your forum theme.
The header layout is overall very nice and there are only a few suggestions that I can make to improve it. The banner was designed pretty well. The only thing that looks out of place in it is the "VPS". The outer glow/shadow does not fit with the flow of the forum. Either lower the glow/shadow to 1px or remove it completely. The next thing that I notice that needs improved upon is the location of the search bar. Where it sits now it overlaps the "Register" button slightly. Two possible solutions would to move the Login/Register box to the left about 8 pixels or to shrink the Search bar and fit it inside the blank space next to the register button.
Layout
The layout of your forums could use some work to make things look better and easily accessible. I have enclosed a purposed layout in the spoiler tag below. I also noticed that you have a {myshoutbox_abcd} code showing above your board stats. I would suggest looking into fixing the shout box or removing completely.
Category - Forum - Subforum
Post2VPS
-News & Products
--Reviews
-Feedback & Suggestions
-Service Announcements
(Remove the "Bans" and "Recovered Posts" boards. If you want to keep the recovered posts then move them to the board where they fit the best. Having a board just for recovered posts is not needed. Also the "Bans" board is not necessary. If you insist on keeping a public list of who has been banned then you can do so in one thread in the New & Products board.)
Anything Else
-Other VPS'
--Paid
--Free
-Everything & Nothing
--Introductions
--Forum Games & Games
-World News
-Website SEO
(Merge the "Pets" board into the "Everything & Nothing" board. It would be a better fit for it on your forum since you are a Post to Host forum and not a pets or animals forum. Also, the "spam forums" board is not a needed board. Anything that you can "spam" about can be posted in the "Everything & Nothing" or "Forum Games & Games" boards.)
Statistics and Activity
For being open for almost a year your forum is very quiet. I would think that everyone would be jumping at the chance to get a free VPS for just posting on a forum. I would suggest looking for advertising opportunities on potential websites and forums where you could have the highest chance of getting new members and activity. Check some of the advertisers in our Advertising Marketplace for good websites and forums to advertise on. You should also promote on as many promotion forums that you can. If you are a member on any other forums you should also put a link and banner in your signature to increase exposure to your forum and service.
Content
After reading some of the posts on your forum I noticed that almost nobody uses proper grammar or spelling. This is very off putting toward people who may be interested in the free VPS that you offer. I would suggest putting posting guidelines in place to make your forum look a little more professional.
Your board descriptions could use a little work as well. For example, For the News & Products board you could use "News & product offers from Post2VPS." For the Reviews board, something like "Review your Post2VPS server and get 10 posts off your next months requirement!" If you give your members incentives to post a review then they will be more inclined to give you feedback on their server.
Organisation and SEO
The organization of your forum could use some improvement. I covered this in the Layout section above so I won't go into details about it.
Your SEO could use some work. You currently have a Google PageRank of 1 and an Alexa rank of 1,021,716, which is not very good for a forum that has been opened for almost year. At this point, your forum should have at least a Google PageRank of 3 and an Alexa rank of 800,000 or lower (the lower the better). You only have 38 sites linking in. You should have at least 150 sites linking into your forum at this stage. I would suggest adding your forum to directories, promotion forums, buying ads on other forums, putting you link in your signature on as many forums as possible.
Words from the Reviewer
Overall, there is some work that needs to be done. The biggest things would be the board layout and the grammar and board descriptions. Please take my suggestions with a grain of salt. I'm sure that you may disagree with some or most of what I had to say.
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