Need some ideas for my forum guys

[Hostnetric]

I almost had my forum setup as far as categories until I found this one and really liked everyone. I was going to do a webmasters forum, but did a 180 thanks to you guys.

I have decided to go into another area that I love doing and that is hosting. I am going to fight it out with WHT. Ok I am going to try and pick up some people from them, but still.

At any rate I have the forums categories setup now and need some input on changes to those atm. I know I need to finish my template look, etc, but could use some suggestions on plugins and other mods to help make it a great place.

I also am looking for a forum template either free or paid that will look professional and allow for me to have advertising spots for hosts on the sides as seen at wht.

You can view the forum at www.hostnetric.com/forums

Any advice you guys can give will be helpful as I am an old time user of IPB, SMF and a few others, but this is my first license purchase from VB.

I know one thing I am trying to figure out is the reputation thing. I have it setup in the backend right at least I think, but I do not see any graphic showing on the forums when I make a test post.

So input will help.

Thanks,

Kevin

[manik]

Kevin, I think you have to enable the reputation from the User Group. May for admins, moderators, and registered users would do.

[Hostnetric]

Kevin, I think you have to enable the reputation from the User Group. May for admins, moderators, and registered users would do.

I may have missed that. I will take a look thanks for the input.

[manik]

You may wanna change some colors so it does not look like default vb skin, just my 2 cents

[Hostnetric]

You may wanna change some colors so it does not look like default vb skin, just my 2 cents

Oh no if you read my post I put in there that I am simply working on technical details atm. I am looking for a theme for it now that allows for ads down the right side of the forums. Trying to find a good place for some help on that atm. I do not have much experience yet with VB so still feeling my way around. The forum is actually not even linked on my site yet. I just want to get some help from you guys since I know you have a bit more knowledge of the system then I do atm.

[manik]

Oh no if you read my post I put in there that I am simply working on technical details atm. I am looking for a theme for it now that allows for ads down the right side of the forums. Trying to find a good place for some help on that atm. I do not have much experience yet with VB so still feeling my way around. The forum is actually not even linked on my site yet. I just want to get some help from you guys since I know you have a bit more knowledge of the system then I do atm.

Sure, let know if you need us review anything

[Hostnetric]

Sure, let know if you need us review anything

Any suggestions on a good place to find a forum skin would be helpful. I am not having a huge amount of luck for what I want.

[manik]

Any suggestions on a good place to find a forum skin would be helpful. I am not having a huge amount of luck for what I want.

Honestly I don't know, I have done one myself. But I think if you would search on vBulletin.org you may find some good resources.

Here is the Google search, you may check these sites http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

[Groundup]

Any suggestions on a good place to find a forum skin would be helpful. I am not having a huge amount of luck for what I want.

Some times bothering with a skin is more trouble than it is worth, you might be better off just working the colors like manik did (great colors by the way manik) Get a good logo, see if there are some older abandoned hosting forums that you could buy and import the data base? setup some ad campaigns, and some contests. and good luck.

[Hostnetric]

Yea problem with reworking the default skin is that I need a certain type of setup to attract the hosts to advertise later. I will check on vbulletin.org as well. I am going to have my mainsites logo reworked a bit and get it setup for the forum too. I doubt I will do that all till I have the plugins all setup and everything working smoothly.