critique

Hi,

I have just had my vBSEO installed thanks to the installation service and now need to know what options I should change to maximise its performance... what should I be doing with the sitemap?

The script has been installed for nearly 3 days, here is what the sitemap reports say: -

0 2008-03-21 11:36 1.92 s 49 - Yes Yes View details | Remove record
1 2008-03-22 06:25 1.55 s 120 +71 Yes Yes View details | Remove record
2 2008-03-23 06:46 1.53 s 182 +62 Yes Yes View details | Remove record

Website is: CraftingForums.co.uk - the UK craft community

I'm writing notes as I go.

First impression. Love the style.
Next up - forums are very thin content wise. Consider putting together a launch team of 10 or so people to get things going.
Edit your titles for single posts.
Your FAQs suffer like mine do. Gotta add content there.
Smooth ad integration
I have to say again, I REALLY like the style that you've thrown together.
It looks like your CSS is included in the pages instead of as a separate file. View source and your content doesn't start appearing until line 1000.
Since your new, you could probably get away with putting member info on the right side of the postbit instead of the left side. I haven't done it, but I think it will do a little towards getting the content closer to the top of the page.
I'm not big on the calendar feature, and I know it is used rarely by most communities. I'd consider taking it down for now so it doesn't detract from the overall theme.
I'd also consider moving the left frame with the ads/login info/etc. over to the right side - making it the last text on the pages instead of the first.

Looks great!
I'd certainly love to hear anything you'd have to say about my forum.

I love the design, and keep on with the marketing, good luck to you.

• I like your simple, yet organized template.
• I think you have done a good job with your forum titles and descriptions. You could review this strategy to see if you can improve it even further:
• Strategy for Optimizing Keywords in Your vBulletin Forum Title and Descriptions
• I think you should write a welcome message that is more of an introduction to your site with related keywords/topics, etc.
• I think you could benefit from trying our Relevant Replacements feature.
• I always recommend replacing the showpost link with permalink (a vBSEO option in vbseocp.php).
• Do you have a directory of craft stores in the UK? That might be a good idea.
• Participating in the eBay affiliate program might also work for you to direct your visitors to suppliers shipping from the UK.