Keywords / site indexing etc

**magz** · 07-26-2008, 07:20 AM

Hi

My site although running latest VBSEO, seems to be struggling with getting unique visitors.

I am sure my site is not optimised enough with keywords and relevent content, and maybe missing some needed vbseo tweaks.

What sort of services could you offer in terms of helping me with this?

the site address is: The Hunting Ground

Regards

**MaestroX** · 07-26-2008, 01:11 PM

Hello,

There's a couple of things I could point out for you.

- No H1,H2 tags etc - These are important for letting Google know which words are important.
- The way your skin is coded, isn't particulary great. There are a great many table elements where there needn't be. A css coded navbar could be much better and cleaner aswell as recoding the tcat bars.
- In general when I first went onto your site I didn't know what it was about. If I didn't, lets assume Google didn't either.

What keywords are you targetting?

Hope this is helpfull for you.

**magz** · 07-28-2008, 04:27 PM

Hi and thanks for replying.

You are right in terms of "What the site is about". It started its life as a site for friends and family, and slowly gained extra members. I guess the arcade is the biggest feature, and yes, i know, there are millions of other arcade sites out there that i have no hope in competing with.

I guess the site is really a fun site, lots of humour, gallery, with some serious Topical discussions as well.

While i persoanlly believe i may never get lots of traffic, due to the site being "non specific", i also believe the site could do better than it does.

Re the Theme i am using, its a custom theme i purchased, and other than adding a few mods, and doing the templates edits needed for them, i am clueless about your reference to extra table elements, css coded nav bar and tcat bars, or even how i could better optimise them.

Ive considered starting from scratch, including domain name change ect. But if im honest, the site holds a lot of sentiment to me, and id be reluctnat to do so.

The domain name came about not due to anything to with hunting, but rather "hunting round the net" looking for things, My site seems to hold a lot of the stuff i myself found fun and interesting. ( hope that makes sense )

So in summary, armed with what you now know, what do you feel would be the best course of action to help gain more hits, an dmore importantly, what cost would be incurred

regards

**MaestroX** · 07-29-2008, 04:58 PM

Overall I think it can be put down to these points (all my own opinion of course)

The brand of your forum is not strong enough. It should be more direct and the user should know what you're site is about from the name, at the moment it's unclear.

Quote:

I guess the site is really a fun site, lots of humour, gallery, with some serious Topical discussions as well.[...]The domain name came about not due to anything to with hunting, but rather "hunting round the net" looking for things, My site seems to hold a lot of the stuff i myself found fun and interesting

Focussing on the fun and humour side of your site and making it more clear is the key here. Although you're reluctant to rename, re-domain etc it may be your best bet to get more members and grow a community.

Quote:

Re the Theme i am using, its a custom theme i purchased, and other than adding a few mods, and doing the templates edits needed for them, i am clueless about your reference to extra table elements, css coded nav bar and tcat bars, or even how i could better optimise them.

At the moment I think for the style of your site is too heavy for your ideal fun, humour loving forum user. The style goes hand in hand with the rebranding.

Quote:

Ive considered starting from scratch, including domain name change ect. But if im honest, the site holds a lot of sentiment to me, and id be reluctnat to do so.

If you hold alot of emotional weight for the site, my above comments will probably not be applicable. Though to get the most out of what you have already, it will take time, effort and investment.

Hope this is usefull for you.

**magz** · 08-14-2008, 04:52 PM

HI there, and thanks for the reply.

sorry its taken a while to get back to you, but ive been busy chnaging domain name etc...

The site is now called www.chatanplay.com

I am desperately searching a new style, but so far am having little luck finding one i like.

I noticed Brandons lates blog, and i have been in touch with dave re the possibilty of getting some seo work done. ( funds are a little low right now )

I have purchased a couple of new styles, but...they simply dont look right on my site.

Any recommendations for a site such as mine, with generic content.

regards

**magz** · 08-15-2008, 10:34 AM

HI dave,

Must admit im quite partial to blues, and based on most peoples advice, need to go lighter.

Problem is, most skins ive seen, are too common and are everywhere. I guess im gunna struggle getting a unique look.

I do like the current style im using, so something along similar lines really i guess.