Hey, I am running a webmaster forum and I have a frontpage on it (using vbadvanced) But I don't know if this is adding real value to the forum. What do you prefer?? Having a frontpage or no frontpage and go directly to the forum???? Advise is appreciated!
I don't know if it is really adding value you or not. SEO wise, i'm not sure if this hurts or helps. Regardless, I think it looks nice.
How many DP members have actually been to the frontpage? As long as the forum is the centerpiece of your site, you should lead visitors directly to it.
The front page currently offers nothing, it's just there for the sake of it. If you plan on just keeping it as it is now I would ditch it in a heartbeat. If however, you can think of something that makes this front page useful; i.e it has a purpose and will help the members of your community then yes, of course go with it. You have to think from the user's perspective. Would they want an added extra page that serves no real purpose?
I agree with the others, if you have a frontpage it needs to have something on it that is worth looking at.
The frontpage allows you to communicate with the community in an "official" manner that doesn't get bypassed as easily as an "announcement" forum. Also, a frontpage is a great place to sell ads. Much more attractive to advertisers than some semi-buried forum page.
as long as you have a very visible link to the forum on the frontpage I don't see a problem. what is annoying is when you have to hunt around the site just to get back to the forum after every time you've cleared your browser history bar!
have to agree with most the others here. IF its a forum, go directly to it..much more appealing than just front page for a forum
Have it go directly to the forum, but keep the directory and all of that. Why? My website is located there, that's why.
hehehe, I will keep the directory for sure yeah, But if I add a tools page.. or something like that.. than its good to have a frontpage?