Whats gone wrong?

[Didzi]

I have changed to vBulletin from SMF, however I seem to have lost my members and they no longer seem intrested in the forum. What have I done wrong? is it the layout of the forum or something obvious that I have done, thats stopping people from visiting the forum?

With vBulletin and the new skin I think the forum looks 100% times better than previous setup, which was just a basic SMF install with the default theme/skin.

I have installed a addon that emails users to please re-visit the site but months have passed and no joy

Could someone please tell me if the site is easy to navigate

forum can be found at http://www.nextlevelgaming.co.uk/forum
and homepage can be found here http://www.nextlevelgaming.co.uk/

[C.Birch]

They have all been returned to mircosoft for repair due to over heating but dont worry they will return soon, but on to things i can spot 1 prob for a new forum, that being how many forums you have.

I personaly don't like there being loads of forums on a small site as you make it look like no one is active because some forums will have no new topics and you might have about 10 with 1-2 new topics but if you grouped them in to a smaller forum set up you have like 1 with no new topics and like 2 with 10 odd new topics what gives the view of your forum being more active.

[C.Birch]

This is the kinda set up i would have.

News and Announcements
-----Next Level Gaming Announcements
-----Next Level Gaming news and announcements

General
-----The Lounge (pin a topic for Introductions and For sale or make them sub forums as it will still show The Lounge to be more active)
-----Sport

Gaming
-----Xbox 360 General Discussion
-----Xbox 360 Games Discussion (pin topics for the main games)
-----Xbox 360 Hardware Discussion
-----PC General Discussion

Thats all your subjects, grouped alot nicer to make for more active forums.

[Bober42]

^^agree. Its a nice looking forum but way to many categories. 6 or 7 like above is much better and looks busier.

[Didzi]

Thanks guys, I really do appreciate the help and advice.

I think I was trying to think too big and thought the forum would be filled quickly and need more categories, when in fact I should have started small and hopefully one day the forum will grow.

Its time for me to start making the necessary changes.


Just one more quick question, do you think I should loose the homepage and just use forum for the main page? This question as been annoying me all week

Once again, Many Thanks

[---MAD---]

Very nice skin! Who made that?

[TTG]

Very nice skin! Who made that?

eXaltic Skins

[Zachery]

If I had a 360 I'd join.

[Didzi]

eXaltic Skins

Yep

Hopefully once I have finished re-arranging the fourm as advised I will start adding new content and fingers crossed

[Wayne Luke]

One key thing is to remember to include your members in a community based site. Ask them why they haven't been posting or visiting.