Critique please

Hi, I already tried to realize many things I found here (and in other places ;-)). However I couldn't reach my personal SEO targets with my site so far (difficult niche, difficult keywords, difficult environment) which is why I would like to receive some critique and advice on how to improve.

The link: CURECONNECTIONS - The Ultimate International The Cure Forum

Thanks a lot in advance.

Hello,

I am really sorry for the delay, I was super busy ....

I reviewed your website , you have a beautiful skin but please note that one of the most important factors in SEO is Speed. I noticed that you used lots of big images in your forums , like the header logo / background etc.
I know that these items make your website so beautiful but if you really wanna have great results , you should remove them, at least for guests, cause google bots visit your website as guests so our main focus is on guests and what is visible for them. Thats even better to remove avatars / signs / useless tables like forum rules and icon keys for guests too, it will make your forum and thread pages faster.

ok, here is my suggestions :

• Try to re-write yourwebsite.com/forum.php to yourwebsite.com/ ,
• Try to disable new-posts for guests in vbseo settings.
• Try to use a CDN service (like MaxCDN.com) using vbseo CDN feature.
• Try to include only Showthread / forumdisplay / blogs and CMS pages into vBSEO sitemap
• Try to submit your website in Directories like DMOZ.
• Try to validate all of your Pages (especially Forums and threads) : [Invalid] Markup Validation of http://www.cureconnections.com/forum.php - W3C Markup Validator

- Always try to improve your pagespeed and website performances , you can check your website's performances here : WebPagetest - Website Performance and Optimization Test


Goodluck
Ali.Ch.

Hi Ceho,

Here's just something to think about. The above screenshot shows how a typical thread page of your site appears on my laptop in a maximized window of my browser. Notice that for me to even start seeing the very first post, I would have to scroll down.

You have a nice looking website, so don't make any quick changes without thinking about it for a while. But I'd suggest you to consider removing the entire "Welcome block", and reducing the height of your logo area.

Hi Ali, hi Marvin, thank you very much for your feedback. That's much appreciated.

I have to admit that I am aware of the graphical heaviness and it's impact on my site. Especially these days it's very much due to that little "Christmas look". I am discussing the matter with my staff since a long time, because I really want a leaner design that doesn't lose our "identity" at the same time. Two of the things I will change early next year are the background graphic and the general header graphic and height. That's already on the list. And probably the size of the welcome message as well. However this look is what our members love and that makes my site unique, so Marvin is right, I need to give it a good thought how to improve in the best way. But my plan is to re-create the style when vB 4.1.10 become available.

Try to re-write yourwebsite.com/forum.php to yourwebsite.com/

What is the best way to do this, via vBSEO CP or htaccess (and what would I have to add? I attach my htaccess to this post just in case).

Try to disable new-posts for guests in vbseo settings.

That's already done.

Try to use a CDN service (like MaxCDN.com) using vbseo CDN feature.

Here I am a little bit surprised because I am using MaxCDN via vSBEO since a long time. It's working well but as you suggested for me to use it I need to ask you if something might be wrong with the set up as you maybe didn't recognize it?

Try to include only Showthread / forumdisplay / blogs and CMS pages into vBSEO sitemap

Yep, that's set like this. I once found a thread here at vbseo.com with recommended settings and followed them. And the results are OK.

Try to submit your website in Directories like DMOZ.

I tried that several times but they never approved my site, no idea why. I will give it another try though.

Try to validate all of your Pages (especially Forums and threads) : [Invalid] Markup Validation of CURECONNECTIONS - The Ultimate International The Cure Forum - W3C Markup Validator

More of a challenge for me ;-). I will try my best.

Always try to improve your pagespeed and website performances , you can check your website's performances here : WebPagetest - Website Performance and Optimization Test

I am using that test a lot and of course I am never happy. Some things I cannot do because of the fact that I use a managed server which gives me limited options. But I couldn't administrate a server myself, so I have to live with the compromises. Normally the first load of my site is 6-7 seconds which isn't even that bad regarding all the graphics, is it? And still faster than our "competition"... ;-). Nevertheless, my target is ~ 5secs or less. Should be possible.

It would be great if you could help me with the two questions above (redirect and CDN).

Your critique and support at the same times helps me a lot! Really. And I am glad that you kinda like the site. I do all this as a hobbyist without any help and that's sometimes not so easy.

Thank you very much guys!

Its my pleasure ,

What is the best way to do this, via vBSEO CP or htaccess (and what would I have to add? I attach my htaccess to this post just in case).

Well I would chose the easier way, if you do not use the vb CMS, just rename the forum.php to index.php and it will be done (dont forget to enter the name of the forum index file in vbulletin settings)

Here I am a little bit surprised because I am using MaxCDN via vSBEO since a long time. It's working well but as you suggested for me to use it I need to ask you if something might be wrong with the set up as you maybe didn't recognize it?

Well vbseo CDN plugin is in the first stage, so there is some issues which are being solved by vBSEO team (for example some files are not being pushed in the CDN), so meanwhile I suggest you to use "Relevant Replacements" and vBSEO together ...

I tried that several times but they never approved my site, no idea why. I will give it another try though.

You should do it once , cause if you do it more than one time , they won't approve it. try to submit it in another related section ...

More of a challenge for me ;-). I will try my best.

I know its a time killing job but it worth it

I am using that test a lot and of course I am never happy. Some things I cannot do because of the fact that I use a managed server which gives me limited options. But I couldn't administrate a server myself, so I have to live with the compromises. Normally the first load of my site is 6-7 seconds which isn't even that bad regarding all the graphics, is it? And still faster than our "competition"... ;-). Nevertheless, my target is ~ 5secs or less. Should be possible.

It would be great if you could help me with the two questions above (redirect and CDN).

Your critique and support at the same times helps me a lot! Really. And I am glad that you kinda like the site. I do all this as a hobbyist without any help and that's sometimes not so easy.

Thank you very much guys!

Well , if you need a Server Administrator , we can suggest you some good options, but it depends on how much you wanna put on this and also it depends on your needs.

Please feel free to ask your questions,

Good Luck ...