SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THIS FORUM

[ash]

Okay, i know we've got several threads going but i thought i start one in the correct place!

So these are my thoughts:

1) Homepage: - www.davidcastle.org - RSS feed for latest SEO / Webdesign posts from the forum.
- Articles relating to SEO / Adsense / Web design etc by forum members that can (providing the article is satidfactory) link back to their website.
- Redesign

2) Forum - Merge some topics and improve descriptions and titles etc.
- Exclude 'off-topic'' pages from being indexed by the search engines.
- Move to PHPBB3 or pay for Vbulletin
- Build some links! - Possibly look at ways of monetising the site again with a view to reinvesting any income into link building etc. (POSSIBLY having a sponsors page or area on the homepage and / or on the forum where people could donate to us and in return get a link to their site....

[MuNKy]

I would have moved them but I cant  

[gid]

Why Vbulletin?  I am getting ready to start a forum in my niche and was going to go with phpbb3 rc1.

[ash]

Vbulletin has many more features than PHPBB, (i've not looked at the RC for PHPBB 3 but i think they are on RC2 now.)

The main disadvantage PHPBB has is alot of the mods are manual 'hacks', vbulletin and SMF forums allow plugins much like wordpress.

[yourweb]

Isn't vbulletion also you have to buy the software? I have looked to see if they have a using copy one can use but have not found one.

As for the new php software. I got a copy that I am setting up. From the old version to this new version there is quit a difference on how things work. You run the demo and see if you want.

[gabs]

VB all the way imho..

I hate looking after phpbb vs VB...

U get what you pay for!

I'm new so the rest of the stuff seems great so far..

[ash]

Yes i agree Vbulletin is much better in terms of maintenance and standard features.

Its something we may have to look at, the problem being time, since this forum relies on volunteers and does'nt (currently) generate any income it slips down the todo list on occasion.

[MuNKy]

I think we should stick to phpbb untill we get bigger, there's just no need for it at the moment.

I'll work on a unique skin for the blog and forum and a shinier logo  

[ash]

Vbulletin is ~$100 for the licence so thats not too much of a consideration.

The problem comes when do we decide that the forum needs to upgrade? The more members the more posts, the more difficult the upgrade.

Also because the forum here is modified its not simply a case of dropping in a new skin, any new skin will need hacking...

[MuNKy]

I see, so can we import the phpbb forum into vb then without hicups?

[ash]

Yes, but a move to PHPBB3 might be the best and cheapest option, i think we'd want to wait for the full release though.

[MuNKy]

OK, so if i design a new template for phpbb2 will it work with phpbb3?

[ash]

Don't think so PHPBB3 is tabless, or so i believe....

If you design one (and its not easy the PHPBB templates are pretty complex), design one based on the PHPBB 3 latest RC (release candidate)

[yourweb]

You want to find out more about php3 than take a look and see on my forums.

http://www.shopping-mall-deals.info/phpBB3/

[MuNKy]

Wow! That is much better! I think we shuld definitely upgrade to phpbb3. That will far more easy to customise. I could come up with an awesome template for that!