Your Forum Review
First Impressions & Appearance - (Out of 20)
When I first click the link onto your apple forum, I am absolutely amazed.
The skin is so sleek and magnificent, and I really love how everything is so glossy.. I am a sucker for glossy boards myself, as are many other people.. you'd draw me in right away if I were a guest.
I also love that apple behind the whole actual forum.. in the background, it fits great.
There's absolutely nothing wrong in this category. The appearance is absolutely stunning and the forum is just great as a whole in terms of appearance.
(Scored 20/20)
Site Layout - (Out of 20)
First think I have to suggest here is that you need Announcements board. These should be placed in your first category, right above introductions. I also think you need a suggestions category, which would go above Introductions, but be below Announcements. So it [ The first category ] should look like this:
Category Title ( Needs a better title than " The Forum ", anything works, " Apple Discussion HQ " etc.
--Board: Announcements
--Board: Suggestions/Feedback
--Board: Introductions
--Board: Please vote for the apple discussion forum
That fixes the layout problems at the top of the board.
As we scroll down, the Hardware category is in good order.. good work there...
The software area also looks to be in good shape.
The " other " area also fits well.
You've done a great job with all of your genre boards. They are all in perfect order and not in anyway overdone.
As for off topic, I do have a few suggestions to tweak it:
- I suggest you go ahead and make Graphics a subforum of Off Topic. There's really no need for an entire board for graphics on a forum dedicated to apple software.
- I am never really a fan of advertise your website boards.. I suggest you make this a subforum of general chat.. frankly, I'd personally just delete it... honestly, all those boards do is draw people to register, and make one post with their site name ( or if you have a requirement, 5-10 spam posts, then make their post with their site ) then never come back again.
The rest of the off topic area seems fine. The market place is also in good working order.
(Scored 18/20)
Statistics and Activity - (Out of 20)
If the board was founded in May 2009, you now have 6,000 posts. That's pretty good. You also have 165~ members, which is even better.. but it's not perfect.
I have to say though, I have never seen your site really around the forum... it looks like I have an account from doing an exchange with you, but I wasn't that impressed because I don't believe the site was as good looking then.. You need to step up promotion and advertising.. take advantage of the FP services, involve your site in contests to get it more exposure.. if more people saw how amazing your site looked, they'd be all over it.
(Scored 18/20)
Staff Moderation - (Out of 20)
You didn't provide me with an account so I wouldn't be able to review this area, but lucky for you I already have one from an exchange, so I can still review it, next time, provide an account, because it may not be me doing the review
🙂
Anyway, I see two administrators. One of them is you, with 675~ posts.. that's great and shows dedication.
Your other administrator ( for some reason he has the position of " developer " ) seems to have about 300~ posts, which is alright, but he should step it up a bit.
Then, as for your Global Moderator, he has a post count in the 700's, which is totally amazing. That's great you have such dedicated staff. The other moderators have moderately high post counts but are very active on the site which is good.
One thing I suggest is you get rid of that ' Developer ' rank as it is pretty useless and isn't doing anything for anybody. Just give your developer the Administrator position, as he is already in that group, just not as his main display. It cuts down on clutter to have less staff ranks.
Overall, your staff is very active and I applaud that. I did take a point off for the " Developer " group.
(Scored 19/20)
Spelling/Grammar & Professionalism - (Out of 20)
Absolutely no issues at all here.. great job with spelling, grammar, and the professionalism is top notch.
I did have that one problem earlier, your first category is just called " The Forum ".. I suggest renaming it something like " Apple Discussion Front Desk " or just " Front Desk " or even " Welcome " works.
(Scored 19/20)
Total Score - 94 (Out of 100)
Final Remarks:
Your board is really in great shape. The name is great and catchy.. as is the domain easy to remember.
The entire skin is really what would convince me to register, all you really need to do is have a little more of a top category for announcements and site feedback, and you'll be golden!
Good luck with your forum
🙂
What was most liked about the website/forums:
The entire appearance, the dedication of the staff, and the banner.
What was disliked most about the website/forums:
The lack of suggestions board and an announcements board; the " Developer " usergroup.
How could I get you (The Reviewer) to join my website?
I already am a member but just from an exchange. I personally am going to bump up my activity as I have seen how great the board looks now.
However, if I were a nitpicky guests, I would be a little annoyed with the lack of an announcements board and a feedback section.
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