SEO Guy's real estate forum

[webmaster]

Hey Guys,
Morgan Carey AKA SEO Guy here - I have a vbulletin that I did quite a long time ago with my good friend Daniweb that caters to our real estate web development company. I am planning to redo the forum and looking around at options. The forum is at Real Estate Forum | Real Estate Agents | Real Estate Websites - powered by vBulletin

It is very successful for its target audience, and has the old rewrite Dani created for me.

Now I would like to upgrade to a newer version of VB (Still using 3.03) but am worried about losing my URL's etc so I am wondering, should I take the time and effort into manually recoding the darn thing and going back and re-applying the old rewrite or is vbSEO right for me?

What are the features and benefits. We are very busy with our own development, does VBSEO have a team I can employ from time to time to install hacks on a contract basis

Any info you can provide would be great, I will likely want a lot more than just a standard edition vbSEO - so if you your staff are up for the work let me know
Cheers

[webmaster]

Oh yeah, might as well do it for the SEO Guy forum to, anyone want a redesign job, I am sick of the old look. Search Engine Optimization Forum: SEO Guy

That one, I am less concerned about the rewrite's etc, might use it as a testing ground for the real estate site. Quotes?

[webmaster]

Holy CRAP! Lol I just realized, this forum automatically parses the pages title as the anchor text for outbound links. SWEET!

[Keith Cohen]

Yes, that's a feature of vBSEO 3.0.0 (But requires vBulletin 3.5.x or 3.6.x.)


Since your old thread URLs have the thread ID in them, you shouldn't have any problems. Custom .htaccess rewrite rules can handle directing those to the new vBSEO URLs.

[webmaster]

Yeah, the mod_rewrite of the old URL's to the new ones is no problem assuming I understand / am provided with the login of how the new URL's that are created by vbSEO

But in terms of the mods I want to the forum (I havent listed them here, as there are to many to list) is there a vbSEO team member available for such programming work? We honestly dont have the time, as we are doing a lot of business right now, and we really havent kept up with the latest versions of vB as we havent modded them in forever, so its likely more efficient to hire out the vB work to someone more attune with the current vB architecture.

So how about it, anyone want a job?

Oh btw on the same note, I am also looking for wicked php programmers full time salary if any board members are intersted, you must be willing to relocate to beautiful Vancouver canada

Anyways, I just jacked my own thread - Keith, let me know if that was cool to post and of course if you can recommend a vbSEO team member to do the work, or present a quote
Thanks

[Keith Cohen]

Try posting on vbulletin.org for service requests of that nature... As far as I know, the development team here is pretty well loaded down.

[Juan Muriente]

Hey Morgan, welcome to vBSEO

Now I would like to upgrade to a newer version of vBulletin (Still using 3.03) but am worried about losing my URL's etc so I am wondering, should I take the time and effort into manually recoding the darn thing and going back and re-applying the old rewrite or is vbSEO right for me?

Applying vBSEO will not be a problem here. You can even revert your current rewrite and continue using vB v.3.0.3/vBSEO with the exact same URLs you currently have by simply defining those via the interface.

Example:
Your thread URLs look like:
thread12345.html

Via the vBSEO CP, define your 'Thread URL Format' with the following:
thread[thread_id].html

However, since you plan on re-doing the site, you might want to implement vBSEO's default URL format (forums as sub-folders and threads as files within subfolders), this will give your site a valuable *virtual* structure. Or you can keep everything in root (as you currently have) but using CRUs (keywords in URLs). We'll provide you a set of rules to 301 redirect individual pages to the new content.

What are the features and benefits.

Hmm.. too many to list here . But IMO, the main benefit of vBSEO is total URL consistency, that helps build *link consensus* towards individual pages. See, with vBSEO, users (nor spiders) will ever be able to reach a thread via an alternative URL. Thus concentrating "juice" from links-in to a single resource location (URL) on each instance (each thread).

Example (with default vB, this thread would be accessible from different URLs)
1) http://www.vbseo.com/showthread.php?t=5996
2) http://www.vbseo.com/showthread.php?t=5651&goto=nextnewest
3) http://www.vbseo.com/showthread.php?t=5997&goto=nextoldest
4) http://www.vbseo.com/showthread.php?p=34880
5) http://www.vbseo.com/showthread.php?p=34881
6...) Same as 4 & 5 up to # of posts per page... (that would be 15 for vbseo.com)

vBSEO consolidates the above URLs in a *single* URL while converting '?p=' type URLs to anchors within the thread (which should not spoil link consensus). In addition, all the previous URLs are automatically 301 redirected to save old incoming links (try visiting #1 to #6 above).

We are very busy with our own development, does VBSEO have a team I can employ from time to time to install hacks on a contract basis

Hmm.. we are loaded with dev stuff, but I'm sure many webmasters here would be able to help, I've PM'd you a couple referrals of awesome coders...

But in terms of the mods I want to the forum (I havent listed them here, as there are to many to list) is there a vbSEO team member available for such programming work?

Since vBSEO is completely non-intrusive (it changes the webserver's output on the fly), it shouldn't have conflicts with any mod. If you encounter any issue we'll be happy to fix it asap.

[webmaster]

Oh believe me, I am sold on vBSEO I have been looking around at the architecture you have created here and you have done a GREAT job.

I will be installing, I just prefer to have someone on hand to implement all the "new" hacks I have on my list at the same time as installing the vBSEO - instead of doing it piece meal when I or my team has time.

I will contact your references, thank you! - I will also check out the vborg site. I have been really spoiled as I always had Daniweb on my team, but she is just so darn busy with daniweb.com lately she doesnt have time for me, and my forums :(

Anyways, thanks again - this place is really a great resource.

[Joe Ward]

Looking forward to bringing you onboard Morgan.

[webmaster]

on "board" lol - nice

[Michael]

Originally Posted by webmaster

Oh believe me, I am sold on vBSEO I have been looking around at the architecture you have created here and you have done a GREAT job.

I will be installing, I just prefer to have someone on hand to implement all the "new" hacks I have on my list at the same time as installing the vBSEO - instead of doing it piece meal when I or my team has time.

I will contact your references, thank you! - I will also check out the vborg site. I have been really spoiled as I always had Daniweb on my team, but she is just so darn busy with daniweb.com lately she doesnt have time for me, and my forums :(

Anyways, thanks again - this place is really a great resource.

vBSEO also has an excellent support system, which means alongside an excellent search engine optimizing inducing product you are also being granted induction into a wonderful support and online community. Who needs Daniweb when you have vBSEO?

[webmaster]

Who needs Daniweb? I do but not because she is the only one that can do it, more because she is a good friend and I miss having her around. Havent seen her sinse SES NYC

Im blue shirt grey stripe, she is closest to the cam (And the only girl at the dinner lol)