Just got done updating our site to VB3.6.4, and updated our Portal (VBa CMPS).

http://www.christianmom.com/forums/
http://www.christianmom.com

Still tweaking some little things here and there. Let me know some other suggestions.

Initial Impression
Looking at the portal page, I'm not a fan...vBAdvanced is a nice piece of software, but I really don't like portal pages in general. They seem cluttered most of the time and don't really serve a purpose besides what they suggest, a 'portal' to your forums.

But enough about the home page...on to the forums. I'm glad that you've edited the default vBulletin welcome message to give your users a real reason to join besides they can post, PM, etc.

I also notice that you have a google adsense block. I just wanted to say that its very well blended with your content. The only thing I would change about it is the link color. The industry standard #0000FF is what I'd like to see.

Organization & Feel
I think you could reduce the number of forums you have... I see a few forums with very few posts, and even one with zero posts. For example, I see you have software reviews with one post in it. Don't make new forums if there isn't a need for it, and don't try to make there a need... When a need arises for that kind of forum then you can always add it later.

Another thing I think should be changed around is the introductions forum... Personally I feel this should be the first forum users see. You have announcements and feedback as the first couple of forums. As a new user or a guest user, they aren't really going to care about what the latest forum news is... they want to see the content. So I would suggest moving the first category to the bottom of your forums, and moving the Introductions forum to the top.

Skin & Modifications
I like the skin pretty well, it's easy on the eyes and fits very well with your niche. Nothing I would change about it.

As for modifications, the first thing I notice you have is a link directory. Probably a good resource for your users.

For your review section, I would personally recommend using GARS, which stands for Geek Article & Review system, available from thevbgeek.com. Its what AF uses here for their reviews, and it's great for organizing them and showing the most read, and featured reviews. Not a must have but it would be nice to differentiate the review section from the other forums.

The other thing I see you have is a flash chat. This is fine as long as you don't feel that it creates less activity in the forums. Sometimes users spend more time in the chat room than they do in the forums themselves and it results in less forum activity.

Oh, and get a favicon - it adds a nice personalized touch to your forums.

Guidelines and Staff
I did not see any forum rules or guidelines... I suppose with your type of community you don't need a strict set of rules but I think you need some kind of posting guidelines. You never know what could happen. And if you have rules and I just couldn't find them, then you need to make them more visible.

I'm also not a fan of the admin having the username 'admin', and I also notice that admin is not very active... I suppose if you have very dedicated members this is not a problem but generally I encourage the admins to be among the most active members of the community.

Recommended Changes

• Move introductions forum to the top, announcements to the bottom
• combine some of the forums
• make a set of posting guidelines
• make home page more useful
• Review mod?
• get a favicon

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Great domain name! That one should be pretty profitable if you handle it correctly. :yup:

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Thanks for the suggestions... All great ideas... Will be updating in the next days...

Love the domain

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I agree with what everyone else has said; the domain is fantastic!

Chris

Thanks for all of the suggestions... Having incorporated most of them, but still some more work to do...

One of the forums with 2 posts is actually my test transfer to GARS.... Still trying to figure out to integrate Amazon affiliate integration into GARS...

And yes, admin is not the actual admin (christianmom is). Admin is my mod/code person...

Glad to see some changes made. I like the favicon and glad you made a rules set as well as the rearrangement. Nice work.

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