Comments on my teen forums

[blueuniverse]

Basically, I've set these forums up, and they've now been there for about 3 months. Initial growth was pretty good, with about 50 members in the first week, but its slowed a bit since then.

I need a few suggestions as to what to do, and how to attract more members and posts. I am working on google rankings for my key terms, but lets face it, Google isn't behaving particularly well atm.

Anyway, post your opinions and stuff.

Teen Forums (http://www.rouseindahouse.com)

[bondjetta]

I like the style :) it's rather dark, but then again so is being a teen ;) however I do think that cuts your target demographic in half, just my opinion of course...keep in mind i'm 24 now ;)

You've got (at least here in the states) a few different categories of teens. and while the dark (read: goth) mentality is a pervading theme these days (read: pop culture-esque)...u're leaving out bubble-gum pop, Abercrombie (that's a name brand pop), etc. So one suggestion would be multiple styles for your users to select (much like vB.org offers) :)

see if you can swap links with other like-minded sites...that will do a ton to boost google rankings, spiders love reciprocal linking! :)

[blueuniverse]

Thanks for the suggestions. The problem atm with the changing styles, is that the smilies won't look very good if on a light background. So, if you know of any free or cheap collections, like the ones here that won't be affected, it would be great to hear of them. <edit> Or even better, does anybody know where I could find a zip collection of the VB2 smilies.

I am trying to set up a links system that I've had developed by my coder, but I'm having a few problems, in getting it to integrate (function and skinning wise) with the vbulletin software. So any suggestions there. I need to integrate a php script into a page like normal (but without includes).

Thanks again

[blueuniverse]

Also, regarding backlinks, I do already have 1700 showing up in Google, with my appropriate anchor text. I think the google sandbox theory might be correct, because atm I'm showing 16th, and every site ahead of me, has fewer backlinks.

[blueuniverse]

- Also as a sidenote (got quite a few of these lol) the current style is the halloween style. The default style, can be selected by using the style chooser at the bottom.

[Tony G]

I actually like your style, that green header image with the on/off buttons really makes a difference to a normal plain grey style.

[blueuniverse]

Thanks :)

[School-Help]

The style is a change but maybe too much of a change. the illumunious green is kind of attrating seeing as i am a teen, but im not sure if teens would join the site. Its got a gloomy, drugged up feeling about it. Its kind of cool,weird and unattrative very unique but will it attract members? :surprised: .

Its a good site though, very unique.

[blueuniverse]

Well at the moment, with the halloween style, its probably best the way it is. However, the default style is pretty much the same, so I get what you are seeing there. Hopefully, I'll get some time fairly soon, and I'll be able to release a lighter style.