vBulletin Community Forum - Managing your Community

vBulletin Community Forum - Managing your Community http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/ This forum is for vBulletin Admins to discuss all aspects of managing and building their online communities. en Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:16:33 GMT vBulletin 5 http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/images/misc/rss.png vBulletin Community Forum - Managing your Community http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/ how can I revive this forum? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361556-how-can-I-revive-this-forum&goto=newpost Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:25:43 GMT Hi all, I hope someone can help with this one. A forum that I manage for a friend, http://www.perfectpictures.co.za has died down quite a lot. It used to be rather active, but not anymore. ... Hi all,

I hope someone can help with this one. A forum that I manage for a friend, http://www.perfectpictures.co.za has died down quite a lot. It used to be rather active, but not anymore.

The main purpose of the forum is photography, but it seems like another one has taken all the action. Does anyone have some suggestions for me to revive this forum a bit? ]]> Managing your Community SoftDux http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361556-how-can-I-revive-this-forum What does google like more when advertising your domain? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361451-What-does-google-like-more-when-advertising-your-domain&goto=newpost Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:52:35 GMT When you advertise your domain, what does google and other engines like more: domain.com or www.domain.com (http://www.domain.com) not sure if it is true, but I have heard google likes... When you advertise your domain, what does google and other
engines like more:

domain.com or

www.domain.com

not sure if it is true, but I have heard google likes it one way
rather then the other, and if you advertise it one way, then
stay with that...so I want to advertise what google likes better...

no www or www

Thanks ]]> Managing your Community dsimms http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361451-What-does-google-like-more-when-advertising-your-domain Guide to check how often use your users your search pages http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361264-Guide-to-check-how-often-use-your-users-your-search-pages&goto=newpost Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:56:35 GMT Content > Top Content > below enter Filter Page:search.php 2. above the statistics, click on Pageviews>Graph mode: Compare to site Now when you click on any date point in...]]> 1. Google Analytics > Content > Top Content > below enter Filter Page:search.php
2. above the statistics, click on Pageviews>Graph mode: Compare to site

Now when you click on any date point in the graph, you see a % statistic. Enlarge your time frame and group it by months.

2008: Around 0.7 %
2009: Around 0.6 %
2010: Until vb4 migration I had 0.6 % After migration 0.1 %. Currently it's around 0.3 % rising to 0.4 % ]]> Managing your Community ThorstenA http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361264-Guide-to-check-how-often-use-your-users-your-search-pages What are the everyday management habits of large forums owners? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361263-What-are-the-everyday-management-habits-of-large-forums-owners&goto=newpost Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:46:06 GMT For the really big forums & the people who run the site

Im wondering what their management habits are?

As far as keeping things running smoothly & safely....? ]]> Managing your Community cp4 http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361263-What-are-the-everyday-management-habits-of-large-forums-owners <![CDATA[Culling 'bot' members]]> http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361219-Culling-bot-members&goto=newpost Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:12:52 GMT Hi, Since upgrading security over the last few years I get very little spam or bots signing up as members. But a lot of my member list is probably from the early days, and there will be lots... Hi,

Since upgrading security over the last few years I get very little spam or bots signing up as members.

But a lot of my member list is probably from the early days, and there will be lots of bot members rather than real human members. Any tips on how to cull those from the member list?

I have listed all the members with no posts and who registered before a given date, but how can I tell if they are real, or bots ? ]]> Managing your Community toplink http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361219-Culling-bot-members avatars: bigger size make server slow? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361135-avatars-bigger-size-make-server-slow&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:04:34 GMT hi,

if i let my users (they are 100.000) have their avatars bigger: 120 px width (now it's 90px) but the maximum size is still the same (25 kb max) will the page load bwe slower?

and what about bandwidth and server usage? will it be touch if i change the avatar's size?

thanks ]]> Managing your Community hollyboy http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361135-avatars-bigger-size-make-server-slow Do your users like visitor messages? Here you can check it out http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361095-Do-your-users-like-visitor-messages-Here-you-can-check-it-out&goto=newpost Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:40:44 GMT maintenance>run sql query* Code:...]]> Do your users like Visitor Messages? My don't. They rarely use them as I noticed with this query. This gives you the list of visitor messages per day: admincp>maintenance>run sql query

Code:

SELECT count( * ) , DATE_FORMAT( from_unixtime( dateline ) , '%d %m %Y' ) AS formatted_date

FROM visitormessage

GROUP BY formatted_date

ORDER BY dateline DESC

Who posts the most? On my board, female members post more than twice than male members

Code:

SELECT username, count( * ) AS number_messages

FROM user, visitormessage

WHERE user.userid = visitormessage.postuserid

GROUP BY user.username

ORDER BY number_messages DESC

Whoms wall is filled with most posts?

Code:

SELECT username, count( * ) AS number_messages

FROM user, visitormessage

WHERE user.userid = visitormessage.userid

GROUP BY user.username

ORDER BY number_messages DESC

What about your users? ]]> Managing your Community ThorstenA http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?361095-Do-your-users-like-visitor-messages-Here-you-can-check-it-out Keeping China Out of My Forums http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?360892-Keeping-China-Out-of-My-Forums&goto=newpost Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:14:56 GMT Greetings!

I've check some of the other threads about keeping the Chinese spam bots off our forums, but have not found a specific answer to this question: Can I add an .htaaccess file to the root directory of the vBulletin software - so they cannot even pull up the page at all?

I have most of their IPs blocked within the UserBanning Controls - so they cannot register - but I want them to not even be able to pull up the page (I've got like 50 of them on my site all the time now....).

Thanks,
Sean ]]> Managing your Community SeanE http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?360892-Keeping-China-Out-of-My-Forums Unusual number of people registering http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?360852-Unusual-number-of-people-registering&goto=newpost Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:34:41 GMT I'm currently running version 3.7.3 (I know, I know, I need to upgrade).

Over the last week or so, I've had a huge number of people "Registering" on my board, typically between 20-30 at any given time, according to the Current Active Users list.

These people never actually complete the registration process, they only start it. No account is actually made. Also, there is no apparent pattern to their IP addresses (though I don't write them all down or anything).

Prior to this, I typically had two or three registrations a week. It's a bit of a niche board, nothing that would warrent 20-30 registrations in any given 15 minute period, for sure.

Am I under some form of attack here? Is there something I should know about? ]]> Managing your Community RonHiler http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?360852-Unusual-number-of-people-registering <![CDATA[Edit comments and become liable for other people's defamatory posts]]> http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?360569-Edit-comments-and-become-liable-for-other-people-s-defamatory-posts&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:36:51 GMT This is a bit worrying: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/08/user_comments_ruling/ In spite of any disclaimer, it seems that if you edit comments on a forum or blog, you are liable for... This is a bit worrying:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04...mments_ruling/

In spite of any disclaimer, it seems that if you edit comments on a forum or blog, you are liable for publishing what anyone posts.

I wonder how many people are aware of this. ]]> Managing your Community Mermaid http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?360569-Edit-comments-and-become-liable-for-other-people-s-defamatory-posts My New Forum - Thoughts? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?360453-My-New-Forum-Thoughts&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:24:19 GMT http://www.zonexbox.com/forums/forum.php

This is my new website. I'd love to get your thoughts on it so we can further improve :D

Thanks ]]> Managing your Community Coherentism http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?360453-My-New-Forum-Thoughts Can A RSS feed be made to use a single thread and a few other RSS questions http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359929-Can-A-RSS-feed-be-made-to-use-a-single-thread-and-a-few-other-RSS-questions&goto=newpost Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:12:42 GMT I would like to make at least one of my rss feeds post each time into a single thread. I have a people of walmart rss that me and my mods combine twice a day It has been good to keep them... I would like to make at least one of my rss feeds post each time into a single thread.
I have a people of walmart rss that me and my mods combine twice a day It has been good to keep them active with moving and merging threads , but its getting a little old.

While peopleofwalmart is not a very high priority Weather feeds are and would flood the board with post in short order.

I realize it is a feature request but It would also be nice if I could have some feeds come only once a day.

On the same subject but in a different area is it possible to have the RSS widgets give a few lines of the article ? ]]> Managing your Community rootsxrocks http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359929-Can-A-RSS-feed-be-made-to-use-a-single-thread-and-a-few-other-RSS-questions Inactive forums with active third-party widgets http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359917-Inactive-forums-with-active-third-party-widgets&goto=newpost Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:11:27 GMT (I accidentely posted this in the wrong board, please delete this) (I accidentely posted this in the wrong board, please delete this) ]]> Managing your Community Aquazelf http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359917-Inactive-forums-with-active-third-party-widgets <![CDATA[IP-banning ISP's or Nations?]]> http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359858-IP-banning-ISP-s-or-Nations&goto=newpost Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:02:36 GMT I don't know where is the best place to ask about this, but due to spammers, I'm considering IP-banning certain ISP's and even certain nations.

Or would it be better to install some add-on that queries stopforumspam.com and similar sites about new registrants? ]]> Managing your Community lpetrich http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359858-IP-banning-ISP-s-or-Nations My Forum http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359824-My-Forum&goto=newpost Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:05:40 GMT www.vigilante-crew.com It needs a lot of work. I need more of a selection when it comes to template styles. Also the tabs up the top go over each other if you minimize the page.... I really... www.vigilante-crew.com

It needs a lot of work. I need more of a selection when it comes to template styles. Also the tabs up the top go over each other if you minimize the page....

I really need help with my site. I am willing to pay.

Reach me at schmitty@vigilante-crew.com ]]> Managing your Community Schmitty http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359824-My-Forum Build a Navigation on left side ? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359560-Build-a-Navigation-on-left-side&goto=newpost Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:40:28 GMT Hi I would really need to build my main navigation on the left side of website. I am using vbSuite 4.0.5. I found the sections widget, where it lists you all the sections. What i would need,... Hi
I would really need to build my main navigation on the left side of website.
I am using vbSuite 4.0.5.
I found the sections widget, where it lists you all the sections.
What i would need, aditonally, is to link from this menu to some of my installed mods.

So what i really would need is something similar to the setions widget which allows you to input additional links into it.
Is there something similar out there ?
Thanks for your help ]]> Managing your Community Tahooma http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359560-Build-a-Navigation-on-left-side Alternative Password reset options? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359530-Alternative-Password-reset-options&goto=newpost Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:52:41 GMT Hello, I am an administrator from a very large forum (250k+ members, 10k+ active members.) But anyways, as you might guess, there tends to be a large amount of password reset e-mails going. Because... Hello, I am an administrator from a very large forum (250k+ members, 10k+ active members.) But anyways, as you might guess, there tends to be a large amount of password reset e-mails going. Because of this, some e-mail providers have blocked us. So people can't reset their passwords, and it gets very annoying having them make a new account to ask us to reset their old password. So basically, I am looking for an alternative way to reset passwords for users. Maybe preferably a secret question and answer? Or if you have any suggestions/ways I could implicate a new system. I have ideas, but what I really need is the know how as to how to do it. Or maybe is there even a secret question/answer mod that I am just missing? Thanks for the help!

-Carling ]]> Managing your Community NP Carling26 http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359530-Alternative-Password-reset-options Quick Registration to improve visitor conversions http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359420-Quick-Registration-to-improve-visitor-conversions&goto=newpost Sun, 08 Aug 2010 10:07:07 GMT Is there a way to use the Human Verify and some of the registration fields on a page other than register.php on vB 3.8.6? I'd like to devise a easy registration (name, password, email, required profile fields and human verify) and put it on a page that gets way more traffic than it should just to let it throw away potential members - the standard error page.

There's a mod that is supposed to do this (there's a lite and a paid version), but it doesn't really work. I want something that works. Anyone have any ideas? I have created a template and it should look like this: http://www.thefloorpro.com/images/su...rator1280w.jpg but it doesn't parse all the phrases (the confirm password and confirm email) and the human verify (Q&A nor reCaptcha) show up on the page.

I've asked the author of the mod I mentioned for support, but he seems unwilling to even support the mod I paid for.

Thanks for any guidance or suggestions you might have.

Jim ]]> Managing your Community eJM http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359420-Quick-Registration-to-improve-visitor-conversions My cache post option does not give me any speed improvement http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359358-My-cache-post-option-does-not-give-me-any-speed-improvement&goto=newpost Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:24:56 GMT cache posts for 20 days, there is no difference compared to when I disable it by setting it to 0 days. In vbulletin debug mode the "Time to parse the...]]> What about your forum? When I activate admincp>cache posts for 20 days, there is no difference compared to when I disable it by setting it to 0 days.

In vbulletin debug mode the "Time to parse the posts" times are also equal! ]]> Managing your Community ThorstenA http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359358-My-cache-post-option-does-not-give-me-any-speed-improvement Your Friend Activity page in vb 4 http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359208-Your-Friend-Activity-page-in-vb-4&goto=newpost Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:17:28 GMT I was thinking of making a cms page just with the Friend Activity widget and some information like: * List of all your friends * Suggest new friends * Suggest writing friends messages etc. ... I was thinking of making a cms page just with the Friend Activity widget and some information like:

List of all your friends
Suggest new friends
Suggest writing friends messages etc.

What do you think? Do you have any ideas, what could be more on this page? ]]> Managing your Community ThorstenA http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359208-Your-Friend-Activity-page-in-vb-4 Forum slowing down in Google Webmaster Tools. Is it because of Facebook? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359124-Forum-slowing-down-in-Google-Webmaster-Tools.-Is-it-because-of-Facebook&goto=newpost Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:32:36 GMT Google Labs > Website Performance https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/labs-site-performance-1?hl=de&siteUrl=http://*www.forum.com* ...]]> My forum is slowing down in Google Webmaster Tools > Google Labs > Website Performance

https://www.google.com/webmasters/to...iteUrl=http://www.forum.com

Is the slower performance because I activated Facebook? I have not seen an increase of user traffic, instead my forum is slowly getting less and less visitors. My server settings did not change, too.

Post your Google Website Performance charts, too :D ]]> Managing your Community ThorstenA http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359124-Forum-slowing-down-in-Google-Webmaster-Tools.-Is-it-because-of-Facebook Test Forum http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359062-Test-Forum&goto=newpost Wed, 04 Aug 2010 06:03:54 GMT I know that a vBulletin license allows us to run a test forum, so long as we keep it private. Are you allowed to keep your test forum in an area away from your main forum? I keep my test forum in my... I know that a vBulletin license allows us to run a test forum, so long as we keep it private. Are you allowed to keep your test forum in an area away from your main forum? I keep my test forum in my forum directory. But, tonight when I was upgrading my test forum to 4.0.5, somehow it ran the script on the main forum, which is currently running on 3.8.5. Suffice it to say all heck broke loose. I guess I must have just somehow ended up in my main forum directory without realizing it, but after tonight, having lost some of my members' well-written posts they work hard on to develop their characters, in the database restoration, I would prefer to keep the two boards separate from each other so this has less of a chance of happening again. Would I violate my agreement to vBulletin if I took the test forum out of my main forum directory and gave it its own directory? ]]> Managing your Community Joseph Witchard http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?359062-Test-Forum Follow us on twitter?? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358793-Follow-us-on-twitter&goto=newpost Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:09:48 GMT Not sure if this is the right place I'm posting.

I want to add a follow us on twitter button to our forum like where the facebook connect button is on this forum. Can I do this. If so then how?

thanks :p ]]> Managing your Community MishyMashy http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358793-Follow-us-on-twitter Weird spammer on many forums http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358656-Weird-spammer-on-many-forums&goto=newpost Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:47:23 GMT The weirdest thing is happening today. We had a new member join a couple of days ago. The email address looked odd so I put her under moderation. She posted once, then the 2nd time she tried to post... The weirdest thing is happening today.
We had a new member join a couple of days ago. The email address looked odd so I put her under moderation. She posted once, then the 2nd time she tried to post a URL to a business in her signature- which I removed. But this is her 3rd post:

"Do You Feel Like A Part Of The Forum Yet?
What I mean by that is do you feel most people around the forums who use it on a daily/weekly basis recognize your username, Avatar posts and have generally have a personality pegged to your online identity? If you don't feel this way, are you bothered by this? Or do you generally not have any interest/care about people giving your posts more thought/attention than just a first time poster/unknown poster?

For me I feel I've been here for a while and built up a large enough post count full of unforgettable humour and amazing advice (ok I'm stretching that part quite a lot :P), and I feel I've gotten to know quite a few individuals on here where I'd be a lil sad when/if (I'll probably be posting here for another 50 years) I stop posting. I guess you can call me sad, but I enjoy having an online identity in this forum, and I also appreciate the characters and great people who make this site work."

One of our members was suspicious and googled the heading and found this long list of various forums where the same question has been posted today. The list is growing rapidly by the minute.

I am not sure of why she would be posting this- what she is getting out of it. But I thought I would warn other forum owners and ask if you had any idea of why on earth would you bother doing this?

Thanks
Julie-Ann ]]> Managing your Community jamhind http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358656-Weird-spammer-on-many-forums Facebook strategy http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358399-Facebook-strategy&goto=newpost Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:40:19 GMT Hi, facebook is very popular at the moment but I`m not sure which is the best way using it for my community. I created a fb-page and a fb-group and managed to import the RSS feed from my photopost... Hi,

facebook is very popular at the moment but I`m not sure which is the best way using it for my community. I created a fb-page and a fb-group and managed to import the RSS feed from my photopost gallery into the fb-group (failed to do so on the fb-page). This way the facebook users see the pictures of the latest topics and can comment them.

The fb-page has more members than the fb-group and the facebook users start to comment things and start discussions.

I don`t want to create a second community on facebook. Instead I`d rather use facebook as a tool to draw attention to my vBulletin community. So if I publish new threads, blog posts etc. to facebook and someone adds a comment there, the comment should also appear in vBulletin.

What is your facebook strategy? How do you use it for your community? Does it make sense to publish posts from your forum to facebook or will it draw users away?

thank you - all the best,
Sacha ]]> Managing your Community sinucello http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358399-Facebook-strategy How Was I HACKED?...for the 4th time this month http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358053-How-Was-I-HACKED-...for-the-4th-time-this-month&goto=newpost Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:10:23 GMT problem solved. problem solved. ]]> Managing your Community abotavon http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358053-How-Was-I-HACKED-...for-the-4th-time-this-month VBulletin Email Newsletters vs. 3rd Party Email Service Providers http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358051-VBulletin-Email-Newsletters-vs.-3rd-Party-Email-Service-Providers&goto=newpost Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:37:08 GMT Hello All,

We're considering launching a monthly newsletter campaign for our community and I wanted to get some thoughts on people's success emailing directly from VBulletin (via plugin or what have you) with large lists. We have over 70k members and have not really ever sent them anything regularly if at all in the form of email newsletters; therefore, I am concerned about all of sudden emailing out on a monthly basis to all these emails and getting our server back-listed.

Do any of you have experience emailing out to larger lists via VBulletin? If so, what was your success in doing so? Did you use a specific plugin or could recommend one?

Note: We've also looked at 3rd Party Email Service Providers (eg. Mailchimp, Constant Contact, etc.), but they can be very expensive based on the size of our member-base and many have required our member base to be scrubbed prior to importing to their systems.

Thanks for your help! ]]> Managing your Community meandnotyou http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?358051-VBulletin-Email-Newsletters-vs.-3rd-Party-Email-Service-Providers Protection from ip changers http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?357967-Protection-from-ip-changers&goto=newpost Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:14:32 GMT How do you go about protecting your comunity when members can change their ip's? We have a group of members which we belive have signed up under different users. We think they are using something like from this site,
otfans.net/showthread.php?113044-SmygIP-Windows-Linux-ip-changer!-New-Windows-and-Linux-version-v0.06a-with-8.40!

Thanks for any advice. ]]> Managing your Community Tony http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?357967-Protection-from-ip-changers How to find a vBulletin/Server tech service or individual? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?357627-How-to-find-a-vBulletin-Server-tech-service-or-individual&goto=newpost Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:35:19 GMT Can you point me at a place to find someone to hire to help me on an occasional but ongoing term basis. I need someone for vBulletin software upgrades and help in improving my security. I have... Can you point me at a place to find someone to hire to help me on an occasional but ongoing term basis.

I need someone for vBulletin software upgrades and help in improving my security.

I have my first ever trojan exploit going on right now. ]]> Managing your Community Len Backus http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?357627-How-to-find-a-vBulletin-Server-tech-service-or-individual ID verification? http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?357357-ID-verification&goto=newpost Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:44:59 GMT Some my forum members are asking for a "Verified users" sub forum.

This is a hot topic generally at the moment..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/gree...ess-publishing

I wonder if there is a low cost verification procedure? (please add links)

Or if one will emerge soon..?

(Update - found this http://cscoxk.wordpress.com/2010/02/...16th-feb-2010/ )

Lets discuss / brainstorm please..

Thanks ]]> Managing your Community Jah-Hools http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?357357-ID-verification