[reviewed] Need advice on website

**soultrader** · 09-13-2006, 03:38 PM

Hello guys,

This is my 5th week since my launch date of my current forum. I would like a review as well as some advice on what I do to improve.

I want to focus on a professional looking website. I would like some advice on how I can make it more appealing to a professional crowd in terms of style.

I am also having some problems attracting members to register as well as participate. Things are still too slow and I would like some advice on what I should do to increase this.

Finally, any critiques about my website will be welcome. I am always looking for improvement. Thank you

URL: Traders Laboratory

**Brandon Sheley** · 09-13-2006, 04:07 PM

I like it, maybe a bit to many graphics for me..

I'll give you a better review when I get some time..

I'll give a full review tomarrow after class

one more thing is, I'd look at making the info in the welcome header, an image..
cuz this text will show on all pages, and its better to have the bots work on your forums and post text.

okay, now that I have a little more time, I'll give some more suggestions to help with SEO

work on your w3valadation

Result for http://www.traderslaboratory.com/ - W3C Markup Validator

Failed validation, 79 errors

and on the forum page
Failed validation, 80 errors

and 80 on the post pages too..

okay, I mentioned something about the welcome header..

here is more info

[HOW-TO] Make your Welcome Headers an image!

also, please check out the Relevant Replacements,,
this is what they are about
http://forum.vbulletinsetup.com/142-post2.html
and this is what we're using
http://forum.vbulletinsetup.com/144-post3.html

Also, I'd change your threads from [thread_id]-[thread_title] to [thread_title]-[thread_id] this will put the words closer to the root, thus giving more importance, over the #'s, which is what your after with the cRUL's

I'll let ya soak this in, and continue when you've implemented this...

**soultrader** · 09-14-2006, 04:13 PM

ahhh w3valadation.. my ultimate fear. This is because I do not know how to fix it

I think I spent hours trying to figure it out and could not. Also turning the header into a picture.... I have no adobe skills. I need to learn this software as well.

With regards to [thread_id]-[thread_title] to [thread_title]-[thread_id], I feel like this is something I can fix? Is this a function in vbseo?

**Brandon Sheley** · 09-14-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soultrader

With regards to [thread_id]-[thread_title] to [thread_title]-[thread_id], I feel like this is something I can fix? Is this a function in vbseo?

yup..

and the adobe skills, I can help you on this.. I need to redo the one we have here, I just threw this one up ( as you can tell ).. but I can mimick what you have now with no problem.

**soultrader** · 09-14-2006, 05:29 PM

I hate sounding like a super newbie but... I do not see this option in vbseo. Could you point me where to look?

Also I will highly appreciate the adobe help

**Brandon Sheley** · 09-14-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soultrader

I hate sounding like a super newbie but... I do not see this option in vbseo. Could you point me where to look?

Also I will highly appreciate the adobe help

not a problem at all, that's what we're here for

1.jpg

click this, and you'll find all your settings related to the thread url's

**soultrader** · 09-14-2006, 05:41 PM

Thanks Brandon.. but I have trouble viewing the picture. Can you check with this?

**test** · 09-15-2006, 10:32 PM

hmm,, you can't see the image ? this id is in the same group and I can see it

**soultrader** · 09-20-2006, 10:34 PM

Hello Brandon,

I would like to make my welcome header an image. Do I take a snapshot of my current welcome header and fix it with dreamweaver?

Or do I need to type it up using adobe? Thank you

**Brandon Sheley** · 09-21-2006, 04:28 AM

ya, I can do this, but I'm heading to class right now... I'll get it this afternoon

unless I fall asleep.. I only had 4 hrs of sleep last night, and 5 the night b4

just remind me if it looks like I forgot

**soultrader** · 09-21-2006, 07:08 AM

Okay.... I also want to make slight adjustments on my welcome header so I will get back to you in a few hours. Thank you Brandon.

**Brandon Sheley** · 09-21-2006, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soultrader

Okay.... I also want to make slight adjustments on my welcome header so I will get back to you in a few hours. Thank you Brandon.

okay, what else where you wanting on it ?

**soultrader** · 10-02-2006, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon

not a problem at all, that's what we're here for

Attachment 81

click this, and you'll find all your settings related to the thread url's

Hello Brandon,

How should I change the Thread URL's? I see the option to custom rewrite 8 boxes. Should I change all 8 to:

[thread_title]-[thread_id].html?

Or is it [forum_path]/[/thread_title]-[thread_id].html ?

Thanks