Your Forum Review
First Impressions & Appearance - (Out of 20)
First thing I noticed was the big space under the banner and before the content.
Shown in this picture:
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/512/ss ... 122916.png
Another thing I noticed was that it says Submit Query next to the search bar... Try and get this to be a button. It would look more professional. You can hardly see the words Submit Query anyways.
You should also change index.php's title to Unleashed Powersports or UnleashedPowersports.com . The title is what is shown at the top of the browser (what the name of the window is called). For example, for this reply FP's title is Forum Promotion - Post a reply - Mozilla Firefox.
Also, that picture of the guy on the ATV should be removed. It is too big and makes your site look pretty amateur. Sure it may look cool to have a picture, but it is a giant picture. The only images you should have on your forum index is banner(s), and forum icons. You shouldn't embed images.
(Scored 17/20)
Site Layout - (Out of 20)
'Unleashed Powersports News & Announcements' and 'UnleashedPowersports Tech Support - Features' should be changed to 'News & Announcements' and 'Tech Support - Features'. It is pretty self explanatory that the announcements are for your site, and that the support area is for your site as well. There is no need to include your site's name.
You could have your site's name in the forum description, but not in the forum name. Forum names should be short and simple. They should not be sentences or long phrases.
All of your forum categories are Forum so this is going to be hard. Your second category (the one with the new member centre) should be moved down to the bottom. Your site is about powersports... So put the powersport forum first. It will encourage people to post in the stuff that your site is about.
New users may not even see all of your content because they are posting in your 'general' category.
You should also alphabetize all of your categories. Each category should be alphabetical because it will make it look more organized. You have a lot of forum and that will help a lot.
(Scored 18/20)
Statistics and Activity - (Out of 20)
Total posts 909 | Total topics 187 | Total members 36
It is decent. You opened in June 2009. I have seen forums much bigger than yours in less time, but your forum still has good stats. You have enough content. People will always be able to find stuff to post about. You only have 187 topics. Try adding 40-50 new topics. You will rack in a lot of new replies.
Make sure the topics you add are discussion material. Make posts that want opinions, ideas, facts, etc. It will really help.
One negative about your forum is that your general discussion area has the most posts. You should encourage people to post in the other forums by offering prizes and rewards. Even if you don't offer rewards that cost real time cash, you could offer forum rewards.
(Scored 19/20)
Staff Moderation - (Out of 20)
You currently have two admins and two moderators. It may be a bit too much, but it's ok for now. Definitely don't hire anymore people until your board gets really big. I don't see any stray topics or inappropriate ones which is really good. I hate this part of the review because it is really hard to comment on staff moderation unless I have been at the forum for a little.
I am going to say that your staff is doing a great job because I don't see anything that shouldn't be there.
(Scored 20/20)
Spelling/Grammar & Professionalism - (Out of 20)
Central - Canadain - That should be:
Canadian, not Canadain.
All the other mistakes were usernames or company names. Good job though!
(Scored 19/20)
Total Score - 93 (Out of 100)
Final Remarks:
I am not much a fan of powersports, but your site doesn't look that bad. I would just change up some of the stuff I said and it should look much better. You should definitely add a LOT of new topics though. It will increase discussion and your overall activity.
What was most liked about the website/forums:
I have done an exchange with you before and the best thing about your forums are your users. They are very helpful. I just looked at some of the content again and it is very useful.
What was disliked most about the website/forums:
I did not like that some of the posts I made on your forum were still listed as recent in your forum portal. I made those posts a LONG time ago and kind of expected to see some new ones. I didn't even remember I had done some posts on your forum until I saw the portal. You need some more activity and some more new topics!
How could I get you (The Reviewer) to join my website?
I already am a member there (dent). I don't have time to stay active on anymore sites. I already have enough obligations and my own site to run.
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-sshare
