Briansol's Ultimate Guide to vBSEO

How can we add dash (-) and underscore (_) to the regex?

Got it:

Code:

^[a-zA-Z0-9\s\-\_]+$

Letters, numbers, space, -, and _ That was easier than I thought.

Can I also suggest editing the vbphrase usernametaken to make life easier for people trying to register.

It currently says:

HTML Code:

That username is already in use or does not meet the administrator's standards. If you are {1} and you have forgotten your password, click <a href="login.php?{2}do=lostpw">here</a>.

I changed mine to:

HTML Code:

That username is already in use or does not meet the administrator's standards. Only letters, numbers, spaces, - (dash), and _ (underscore) characters are allowed. If you are {1} and you have forgotten your password, click <a href="login.php?{2}do=lostpw">here</a>.

To change go to -> AdminCP -> Languages & Phrases -> Search in Phrases

In the Search for Text enter: usernametaken

Change Search in... to Phrase Variable Name Only and click the find button.

Click on usernametaken and change the text in the provided box.

Hope that helps.

Started a new forum officially as of yesterday. Already seeing Googlebot finding me.
I've already started seeing adsense hits come in

I think I owe Brian a beer or two

Great stuff Brian!

For someone brand new to vBSEO (and only 4 months into running a forum/website ), I appreciate this type of 'guide'.

Now, if I can just find a 'SEO for Dummies' guide somewhere so that I can lookup stuff like 'what does being indexed mean' or 'longtail searches'...I'll be set.

Originally Posted by jw00dy

Got it:

Code:

^[a-zA-Z0-9\s\-\_]+$

Letters, numbers, space, -, and _ That was easier than I thought.

Just wondering if there is a method only to prevent that the members use the ascii code in registration phase? so only letters, numbers and standard symbols are allowed.

You mean you don't want them to use the ASCII equivalent?

blocking % and # and & will pretty much block ascii from working at all.

Originally Posted by jw00dy

You mean you don't want them to use the ASCII equivalent?

yes i want to try to block it

Originally Posted by briansol

blocking % and # and & will pretty much block ascii from working at all.

Code:

^[a-zA-Z0-9\s\-\_\%\#\&]+$

it's correct? ^^

I've just read this thread and I find it very useful. Thanks Brian

@briansol
I'd just like to ask, If you were starting a new forum today, you'll be using non hieratic directory type URLs?
Are they less effective from "Non-hieratic directory type with content relevant threads", regarding SERP or the keywords in the URL does not make any difference?

I'm just asking because I use non hieratic directory type URLs for one year now and I made this thread a couple of days ago, asking for help to change the URLs.

I guess I find your thread just on time

Originally Posted by meonet

yes i want to try to block it

Code:

^[a-zA-Z0-9\s\-\_\%\#\&]+$

it's correct? ^^

no.

the chars in the regex is what is ALLOWED, not blocked.

how it was before blocks the special chars.

what you did just allowed them.

Originally Posted by Zagis

I've just read this thread and I find it very useful. Thanks Brian

@briansol
I'd just like to ask, If you were starting a new forum today, you'll be using non hieratic directory type URLs?
Are they less effective from "Non-hieratic directory type with content relevant threads", regarding SERP or the keywords in the URL does not make any difference?

using id's only vs content relevant is your choice.
I like using ID's because no matter what you change the thread or forum title to, the link won't change.

If you don't anticipate renaming forums or topics, then you can use the content-relvant if you wish.

I've personally seen 0 seo gain by having it in the title over the Id alone.

it's been 2 months and I have 35,000+ pages indexed, is it smart to do all of this? or any of this?

If you're indexed well, and are happy with the results, I would NOT change.

Originally Posted by jw00dy

Got it:

Code:

^[a-zA-Z0-9\s\-\_]+$

Letters, numbers, space, -, and _ That was easier than I thought.

I think that this has a problem, since you allow these usernames: "my name" and "my-name" that will have the same /members/my-name/ home page.

^correct. It's not perfect.

That's why i don't allow _ or - either.