Your Forum Review
First Impressions & Appearance - (Out of 20)
Hmmmm. I'm going to go ahead and apologize ahead of time. I'm not hear to bash, or de-rate your forum. I spent about 3-4 hours on it throughout the day; and have gotten around most sections, and see some very disturbing problems. This is going to be a very long one.
Well, the banner does look nice; with a great catchy design. Though the colors seem to be offset from the forum skin, itself. It would actually look better, if the purple in the banner, matched the violet on the forum skin, background.
The best feature of the whole look is the category bars. They really are amazing looking, even if they are simply grey; the extra 3 dots of colors to the left, really help it stand out.
The skin's look is "ok"; but really feels boring with the Board background color, being white all the way from left to right. And I don't understand the New/Old Post board icons. Those are default, and really generic. I woulda figured to see something more unique, you've got so many options. Most obvious, Old Post being a blank monitor screen; and New Posts, being a monitor screen with the Apple logo on it.
You really got to get creative, if you think this is going to work out for you.
(15 /20)
Site Layout - (Out of 20)
I'm sorry, but everything just seems wrong. You need to visit forums, I'm sure you do; but you need to pay attention to their layouts; and how Boards are presented, especially the very first categories of almost any forum. I'm going to go staright to your "community" section. What's the most important thing about your forum? Yup! The community; and what they need to know about ... the forum.
Haul community, ALL the way up top. Don't worry, they'll still find the iMac/iPod sections, just below. Now, arrange them, in this order ... Forum News / Feedback & Suggestions / Donations / Introductions. Presto! Your 3, forum related sections; right where new/returning members need to see; and, look; your new members board, will be the next thing they see.
I'd make a different category, at the very bottom, "Off-Topic" or whatever you want to call it. Put the Off Topic board in there, make something else worth getting more members involved, like media discussions; and whatever else you can think of.
Now ... Let's make an arcade Board in the Off-Topic section, pull ALL those 395 Arcade game topics from your forum news ... and move them in there. Seriously, people want to see what the latest news; but, they're ambushed by arcade games, giving off the wrong vibe from your forum.
And, you'll have to explain the difference between and iPod, and an iPod Touch? Both are still iPods. One may have different feature; but they're still pretty much the same; especially when up for discussions.
(6 /20)
Statistics and Activity - (Out of 20)
Ok. I'm gonna do a little math. I'm going to honestly point out your actual post count. Considering you've made a seprate topic, for every single arcade game added; that noone on the forum seems to care for ... you're forum really only has about 200 total discussion posts. Why on earth would you give even more reason to get members to get out of the forum, and play arcade games?
Even with those 395 Arcade annoucements, and 200 posts; things still aren't heading in the right direction.
I don't think you're putting much effort, outside your forum. Sure, you're advertising, getting post packages; but are you trying post exchanges? Are you actively posting on bigger Apple/Mac forums out there; while wearing your sig?
(8 /20)
Staff Moderation - (Out of 20)
Well, as long as you're the only admin on staff, and no other staff members, you're doing great; cause there's really not much going on. But, you do have yourself to blame for that. You don't welcome every new member; your members do better at welcoming than you ... and, in the feddback; you don't show any attention to member's suggestions, and feedback. Thank anyone for comments, and make note that their suggestions are appreciated.
Exactly what are you expecting to gain, by simply making a skin, and boards; and not kissing serious "tail" with your communtiy. Are you sure you're cut out for adminship? It pains me to see soemthing like this; coming from an admin.
(10 /20)
Spelling/Grammar & Professionalism - (Out of 20)
You have an off-set button, (arcade) on the homepage. Looks really out of place; I didn't even know there was an arcade on the forum; until i got curious as to see why your Forum News board had almost 400 posts.
And, using your Forum News as an alert for added arcade games, is absolutely the wrong way to go about it. This feels like an arcade forum; i had to go all the way to the 8th page of your News board; just to see something that actually was about the forum.
I do like your Board descriptions. One of the more pleasing aspects of your forum. Glad it was well thought put as you labeled each; and typed those out.
(12 /20)
51 - (Out of 100)
Final Remarks:
I spent alot of time, trying to see what i can do to help; and i really hope I didn't waste my time, or you take offense to this. I just feel someone has to break it down; and be honest with you about this. Plus, you knew something wasn't working our right, and I'm just trying to point out everything i see working or not; from my experience on forums.
What was most liked about the website/forums:
The skin, to a certain degree, was fairly noce, best feature about it was the category bars.
What was disliked most about the website/forums:
The forum layout, and how unorganized it was. and, The fact that 395 topics in the forum News, was about the arcade game additions.
How could I get you (The Reviewer) to join my website?
It's just not my thing; and I'll be honest, Mac users will most likely find a much more active, helpful, and more organized forum; especially their own support forum. I just honestly think you need to switch gears, keep the forum; pay $5 a month to removed tha ads, and find something more "globally" accessible, to get more members. Sorry, but this forum's not gonna make it, unless you "make" it happen, or turn it into something completely different.
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