vBulletin

vBSEO – You Can Now Forget SEO

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In a SEO post I made a while back I recommended a plug-in for vBulletin called VBSEO.  VBSEO handles all the SEO for your vBulletin forum when installed.  It is proven to dramatically increase your search engine traffic and is regarded as a truly world class product but the bad thing is it comes in at $149. Now, I am going to tell you why I chose this product.

Keyword Friendly URL’s

Keywords in the URL is proven to enhance your chances of ranking better in major search engines and this is supported by VBSEO. Search engines are supposed to read keyword URL’s better. A keyword URL looks like this http://successfulforum.com/this-is-a-keyword-url.html compared to your usual forum structure of a URL, http://successfulforum.com/showthread.php?t=154373.

Custom 404 Page Support

Custom 404′s always add a nice touch to the website. You can always add links to your most popular threads or forums or even create a search engine top help your users find what they are looking for after clicking a broken link. This will dramatically decrease the bounce rate and you will not see as much user’s leaving your forum after hitting a 404.

Basic Segmentation Tracking

One of my favourite features of VBSEO is the basic Segmentation. This allows you too add more functionality to your Google Analytics. Basic Segmentation divides your guests and members into individual groups and allows you to track their activity on Google Analytics. This will help you keep your forum at it’s up most activity and also let you find weakness on your forum which you can build upon.

Full Pingback/Trackback/Refback System

Like WordPress, the blog software I am using just now, VBSEO will add a full pingback/Trackback system to your forum. This means when someone links to your forum, the forum is pinged and you are notified that they are linking to you. This could be could because if you see a lot of links coming from the one site you could optimize and maybe put banner advertisement on that persons site or focus on generating more traffic from that site because the users coming from that site like your content.

More Features of the VBSEO plug-in can be found here.

What’s Your Say?

Do you use this plug-in? Do You like it? Do you think it’s a load of crap? What’s you opinion? I would love to hear it.

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Forum Software Review – vBulletin

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vBulletin, regarded as the best forum software available.  Coming in at $195 dollars which is a very big hole to burn in your pocket.  Is it worth it?  Yes, every single penny.  vBulletin is indescribable and comes with a lot of great features already pre prepared.

Installation Score 7/10

Installing vBulletin is little bit trickier than other forum software.  When you have downloaded the software you are required to alter the config files.  Not something I would recommend to anyone who does not have any codling knowledge.  Luckily, they have a knowledge base which has step by step instructions to installing the software.  Having to edit the config files really let me down.

User Friendliness Score: 9/10

The user friendliness side of vBulletin is really good.  It was very easy to edit your profile on your forum which includes adding an avatar and creating a signature.  The admin cp link was right in front of you when you log in.  Very easy to use.

How Intimidating is the Admin Panel Score: 9 /10

The admin panel is really juicy, something which I like.  Saying that,  I am not sure a person who has never handled a forum before would feel the same.  Could be intimidating for a novice but I hardly think you would go out and buy a vBulletin license if this was your first forum.  Speaking from an experienced admin point of view vBulletin lets you tweak every little setting in the forum, it has a tonne of settings.  Very nice, very nice indeed.

How Efficient is Moderation Score: 10/10

vBulletin hands down has the best moderation system.  I usually have a great system set up for vBulletin moderation.  When a post is reported it is sent to a specific forum where we can discuss what action to take.  Same goes with infractions/warnings.  Everything is logged which makes it easier if people want to appeal their ban.  The infractions and warnings are great way to keep your users in shape.

Layout Score: 7/10

I don’t know if it’s just me but the default vBulletin theme can be seen in most forums making it very boring the more and more I look at it.  They have spiced it up recently when they released V4.0.  Nice rounded edges giving it a nice web 2.0 look.

Customer Support Score: 8/10

VBulletin has great support. You get access to a forum which has constant support and a great knowledge base where the installation instructions can be found. You can get support via a phone or the ticket system for an extra $80 a year. In my opinion that should be free if you are willing to buy their product.

Overall Overall Score: 9/10

You can now see why vBulletin is regarded as the most powerful forum software in the world.  From their great moderation system to their excellent admin panel vBulletin is a great all round software.  Definitely worth $195.

P.s Are you a vBulletin owner?  Check out this great plug-in which dramatically improves your SEO and the quality and the amount of traffic you get to your forum.

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