Review - [Directory] SMFoogle.com

Nite, I think you are a little offtopic, but anyway your site needs a lot of improvements. The smfoogle web site is a bad implementation of a very good idea.

Maybe you should post a thread in the reviews section to get some feedback.

Hey, everyone. In light of the above quote, I'm looking to improve the SMFoogle website in any way that I can, and I'm seeking opinions and insights on how to do it. The site is running phpLD v3.10, with a customized theme that I edited even further in order to provide statistics, arranging sites by pagerank, and summarizing the number of links in the submitted site's "link details" page. The directory is focused, and represents the 'niche' of websites running the SMF software.

Recently, we moved to VPS hosting due to anticipating of the number of hits, traffic, and general "stress" on the site. However, I'm personally un-impressed with the traffic that the site has achieved and desire to increase this traffic as well as increase the general "cool" factor of the site.

I've submitted my directory to many, many other directories. I've bought links on "Word Cloud" sites, I've paid for inclusion in a couple of directories, I've paid people to post my article about the directory on their blogging sites, I've sponsored a phpLD theme, and I've made numerous forum posts about the site. Moreover, the site participates with other sites in these of banner link exchanges & I've bought a link on this website that points to the directory.

Now, for the first time, I'm seeking people's opinion regarding how to make the site "better."

Do I need to hire a design company to develop a customized phpLD theme for SMFoogle? Do I need to reword or explain further the concept of the site? To I need to add some flash for "Wow!" factor? Does the site need to be re-arranged from the ground up?

All polite and insightful opinions are welcome.
http://www.smfoogle.com

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It looks like you did a good work regarding promotion, so I guess you are in the good way there

Regarding the design, I think you should have a custom design (that fits for every site actually) and have the same design in the forum and the site. The desing you are using right now looks a little old style. The logo also looks very bad. You should create a new one, or sponsor a contest in our forum to get one

As you are trying to make a site about SMF forums you should have a very cool forum (maybe add some plugins too) and have more SMF related content about that great software. A blog can help with that.

In general your sites "scares" me because as a first time visitor I can't understand what the site is about and there are so many things that make me feel strange. You should have the categories (of the directory) in a smaller area, so you can add more content to your first page, and make it look like a landing page.

Check webdigity. We have several modules (directory, gallery, tutorials, forums, etc) but we have a little from all these goodies in the front page so the visitor can find something to use. A menu is not enough.

That's all for now. Hope this information is valuable for you at this point

Hi ya, I just edited your post to include the URL and I removed the reference to the design company please try not to spam your own post If they want to advertise their services I'm sure they can join the forum and post in our services section.

You might like to have a look at our general tips
http://www.webdigity.com/index.php/topic,6136.0.10+Tips+to+Self+Review.html

Some of which are relevant including use of Alt attribute and tables, also I think you would do well removing the navigation on the left hand side, as its replicating the top navigation, which looks quite nice.

Since adverts are your main income it makes sense to get them right and the adsense in the top sponsored box seems out of place, have you thought about banner based advert in this area.

You also have a lot of categories that are empty, I tend to be put of directories that appear to be empty unless they are very new, so perhaps cutting the number of empty categories down.

Do you sell sponsored or fast track links, if you do make sure the buy your link buttons are very prominent or people won't buy a link. Even if you offer free links along side paid ones make your buy now buttons big and important.

Most directories are just that directories, think about how you can add unique content, some ideas could include allowing members to add articles to your database (beware of duplicate content) or maybe think about running a blog about directories or smf perhaps

Given your lack of page rank, and your low statistics in terms of visitor numbers its probably a good idea to not show either, those who would want these statisitcs are unlikely to ask for them, and those who would be put of seeing such stats will ask for them if they are that bothered.

But your problem is really simple you need to stand out and be different a nice theme is a good start but I guess you need to offer more then just a directory, I get almost no traffic from directories and those that I do get traffic from are specialist directories which offer far more then just links.

Cool.

Food for thought. Thanks.

I hired a designer to redesign the template for the SMFoogle directory. From a designing perspective, I need some feedack for improvement and changes. This include color coordination and general layout. Tell me what you think.

If you have been inspired by a dark template, or know of a website that uses dark templates in a cool way, let me know ! Thanks!

Looks great, and my personal site uses a dark template. Take a look for yourself.

Don't normally have to moderate members with other 20 posts keep it relevant Nathan when posting links plus your site in your signature 

Do you sell sponsored or fast track links, if you do make sure the buy your link buttons are very prominent or people won't buy a link. Even if you offer free links along side paid ones make your buy now buttons big and important.

If your selling links you might want to include it prominently in the design ala buy now button

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I like that design, but I'm missing some color full buttons (like a beta button or a submit now button like Tim suggested)

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The template is great. As the others mentioned you should add some extra stuff. In my opinion you also need to use a smaller area for the directory's categories, and add there information from some other modules as well (eg. latest threads in the forum)

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In my opinion you also need to use a smaller area for the directory's categories, and add there information from some other modules as well (eg. latest threads in the forum)

yes that was the first thing I have noticed too, the page is to long. the visitor need to search and doesn't navigate on your site

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