[GreenSquid]

Not sure which is the best place to put this...


In my spare time I run a forum. Not business related just general discussion etc etc. Because of it's general nature I find it tricky to promote it and get new members as we don't have a specific niche.

Can anyone suggest ways of:

a) Improving conversions
b) Improving the site
c) Getting it more known?

www.generalchat.co.uk

Many thanks,

Adam

[sally]

Hi Adam

Some interesting topics on there but I wouldn't join because it's too generalised. I either want serious discussions with a small area for fun stuff or lots of fun with the occasional serious topic thrown in not just a mishmash of everything (that's just me though).

I am a member of a few forums (religious, political, rural and business) and each of them I came across when googling a specific subject (eg one of the rural ones was when I googled hawthorn hedgerow care and found the forum really interesting so joined).

I would try to narrow the subjects down a bit, it says it's for the UK but the first thread I clicked was whether Clinton should quit. Maybe that would be better as a thread about how the US election is/will effect the UK?

Keep an eye on the news and post every day about UK issues, things people will be googling about at that time, then your threads should rank and gets clicks.

Just my opinion as a forum user.

[GreenSquid]

Thanks Sally some good points - we are trying to move to serious topics with some fun stuff and it's been a long slog!

[sally]

I think one issue is that it looks more like a blog than a forum and being a total thicky it took me a minute to find the actual forum button, I was just about to give up when I saw it (I know it's a huge button at the top ) and could see what my mind expected to see.

It is hard work I know, I find one trick is to regularly resurrect old topics that have died away, as new people join they add to old discussions and it's sometimes easier than starting new topics all the time. But to get my interest you would need a few threads on a topic I enjoy waffling about.

[Indizine]

If youre a regular forum user, this layout throws you out. I too wouldnt have guessed it was a forum - thought it was a blog at first sight.

I also wouldnt have those adverts taking up valuable space above the fold, which do nothing at all to draw in the punters, and thus are more likely to drive them away. And then because of this, your most important part - the threads - are hidden below the fold. At least swop them about.

I think most folk know what a forum is once they can instantly see its a forum, so I also wouldnt waste the text space telling them. You could use a button to direct them to a page on How to Use This Forum or whatever. Use the space above the fold to draw in the users and to keep them ther with your interesting information - threads & posts.

[GreenSquid]

Yes hadn't thought about that portal page looking like a blog but it does !

[sally]

Sorry just had another thought. Most of the things I google and then think oh I shall join this forum have titles I can respond to or issues I want to rant about.

The best example would be from religion (sorry I know a taboo subject) but if I google "Quran+women+oppression" I may be researching but will come across all kinds of wild accusations or Muslims saying stupid things and I just have to join to put my 10p worth in.

So some controvercial posts might help.

[Greg Findley]

I'm not a big fan of vBAdvanced, if your site is a forum lead the visitors to the forum homepage, don't add an extra step where you can potentially lose or confuse the visitors (as mentioned above)

If you need to include a 2nd ad spot, and things like the current poll then add a sidebar to the main forum area, with a fluid width you could accommodate that quite easily.

Hope that helps!
Greg

[GreenSquid]

Originally Posted by sally

Sorry just had another thought. Most of the things I google and then think oh I shall join this forum have titles I can respond to or issues I want to rant about.

The best example would be from religion (sorry I know a taboo subject) but if I google "Quran+women+oppression" I may be researching but will come across all kinds of wild accusations or Muslims saying stupid things and I just have to join to put my 10p worth in.

So some controvercial posts might help.

Oh we've had those - we need more of them though you are giht!

Originally Posted by Greg Findley

I'm not a big fan of vBAdvanced, if your site is a forum lead the visitors to the forum homepage, don't add an extra step where you can potentially lose or confuse the visitors (as mentioned above)

If you need to include a 2nd ad spot, and things like the current poll then add a sidebar to the main forum area, with a fluid width you could accommodate that quite easily.

Hope that helps!
Greg

Thanks Greg - good point re side bar.

[GreenSquid]

Originally Posted by Greg Findley

If you need to include a 2nd ad spot, and things like the current poll then add a sidebar to the main forum area, with a fluid width you could accommodate that quite easily.

I'm going to be following Greg's suggestion so thanks for that