Critique My Site please

You have about 40 sub-forums, so that creates 40 links to those plus 40 more "new post" links for each forum.

Some members are stripping off the new post links for "guests only" to eliminate links on the homepage. You could consider that.

I have tried to remove the new post links, and the sub-forums are not showed yet the situation is improved but still i have again 132 urls and i think the community doesn't look good like before it seems a bit too empty, what you think?

I understand what you mean. When we get used to this vBulletin feature (new post links) it does give a feeling of lesser activity when it is removed, even if it does have SEO advantages.

I think there are still solutions.

In fact, I think it would be great if someone could develop a really good graphical indicator of activity within a forum so that we do not have to include a last post link in order to make it look like it has changing activity. I know that some have tried this before. I'm not sure what is currently available, but I think someone will eventually figure it out.

For now, here are some possible follow-up suggestions for your site that will require a little work:

• I think your ads at the top (especially) and bottom are *very* distracting. I think it is primarily a layout issue. You have them stacked one on top of the other, taking up too much vertical space. This is a big no-no at the top, where you are forcing users to do extra scrolling every time they visit a page to start getting to your content. I would love to see you integrate them better into the right column navigation, or find alternative placements for your ads. A lot of discussion about ad placement for AdSense has occurred here. Even if you do not have AdSense you could follow some of those placement suggestions. Please do a search for adsense optimization here to check it out.
• I think your welcome and general chat blocks of sub-forums should be moved away from the top. I just can't imagine someone search for football graphics and then wanting to immediately jump into chat. I think you'll do better by highlighting your more important content.
• The space between each sub-forum is large. This expands the vertical length of your page and requires users to do more scrolling to read each of your sub-forums. I think you should experiment with strategies to bring them closer together. Whitespace is great, but it's also good to let the eyes focus on a bunch of category content together without requiring too much scrolling. I would love to see multiple columns. However, even something as simple as reducing the whitespace around each sub-forum link may help prevent it from looking so sprawling.
• If the category links on the right are duplicates of the sub-forum links on your forum homepage, then maybe you could get rid of those category links just on that page to reduce the overall link count. Also - move up your navigation and links above your forum stats. More valuable content should be first in line.

Originally Posted by Joe Ward

I would like to see you get rid of all those member links on your homepage (for guests only). Who is online, and members in last 24 hours, etc.

Please could you explain how you do this. Looking in AdminCP these facilities seem to be either off or on.

Thanks.

check out on forum home page options in your AdminCP

Originally Posted by Joe Ward

I understand what you mean. When we get used to this vBulletin feature (new post links) it does give a feeling of lesser activity when it is removed, even if it does have SEO advantages.

I think there are still solutions.

In fact, I think it would be great if someone could develop a really good graphical indicator of activity within a forum so that we do not have to include a last post link in order to make it look like it has changing activity. I know that some have tried this before. I'm not sure what is currently available, but I think someone will eventually figure it out.

For now, here are some possible follow-up suggestions for your site that will require a little work:

• I think your ads at the top (especially) and bottom are *very* distracting. I think it is primarily a layout issue. You have them stacked one on top of the other, taking up too much vertical space. This is a big no-no at the top, where you are forcing users to do extra scrolling every time they visit a page to start getting to your content. I would love to see you integrate them better into the right column navigation, or find alternative placements for your ads. A lot of discussion about ad placement for AdSense has occurred here. Even if you do not have AdSense you could follow some of those placement suggestions. Please do a search for adsense optimization here to check it out.
• I think your welcome and general chat blocks of sub-forums should be moved away from the top. I just can't imagine someone search for football graphics and then wanting to immediately jump into chat. I think you'll do better by highlighting your more important content.
• The space between each sub-forum is large. This expands the vertical length of your page and requires users to do more scrolling to read each of your sub-forums. I think you should experiment with strategies to bring them closer together. Whitespace is great, but it's also good to let the eyes focus on a bunch of category content together without requiring too much scrolling. I would love to see multiple columns. However, even something as simple as reducing the whitespace around each sub-forum link may help prevent it from looking so sprawling.
• If the category links on the right are duplicates of the sub-forum links on your forum homepage, then maybe you could get rid of those category links just on that page to reduce the overall link count. Also - move up your navigation and links above your forum stats. More valuable content should be first in line.

Thanks alot for your suggestions Joe, really appreciated, what i have done actually on my site is the best that i can, but i'll consider your tips for a future new design, now i'll try to improve also the ads part, I know that Brian is a expert and maybe he have some suggestions about it.

*Great tool "Rate my Support"

Wow... nice homepage and forum.. well done!

Originally Posted by chellakuttie

Wow... nice homepage and forum.. well done!

Thanks^^

Good news about the ads, i have tried to show differents banners for guests and members and my earn is improved +2$ -3 a day.

Originally Posted by meonet

Thanks^^

Good news about the ads, i have tried to show differents banners for guests and members and my earn is improved +2$ -3 a day.

Glad to hear that. What specific changes did you make to your ad display?

I have used a template conditionals to show different banners for guests and registered members.

I have made a box for advertisement under the navbar

for guests i use 2 banners size 336x280

for registered members size 728x90

I have read this thread: Any good tips for uping the revenue?

i use google adsense with direct media exchange

There is something more that could be improved?

Originally Posted by meonet

There is something more that could be improved?

What's your forum URL Alex ?

Alex please create new critique thread with this title "Re-critique" So we will discuss your site a bit more in the new thread