Google takes over - Forum and site traffic

[The Genie]

Yes, my friends, it's sad. Everyone seems to be searching with Google, myself included. Since Cheating Dome is not ranked so high in Google's results, traffic numbers have dropped. Other sites are passing Cheating Dome because they have more content and are more popular. Also, there are more and more cheat sites born every single day. That is hard to compete against. People that arrive through Google also instantly click back to Google when they don't get what they want.

Ofcourse, I am not going to give up. I will work every day on Cheating Dome and hope for the best. Maybe things will pickup in the future, but again, I honestly don't know.

As you might know, when overall site traffic drops, so does the forum traffic drop, and less and less threads are being posted. People are lazy these days, not caring about starting a thread. They rather search at Google or YouTube for their expected results.

To keep the forum active, we need people like you reading this to be active. I will try myself to become more active at the forums, altough I have the task to keep the main site current.

Any ideas, just post them into this thread.

[cHilli]

I've been thinking about this a bit.

• Alter the default thread view for guests to: "Linear Mode"
• When registering, there are too many REQUIRED FIELDS, they are good to have them, but make them OPTIONAL. (^^ these create negative vibes starting off)
• Add more default avatars, Genie - GOOGLE the "tux avatars". (They're pretty cool and add great colour.
• BIG changes to the Forum Index, for me the following would be a good system, but obviously everyone could have a correct evaluation:
  
  --Official CheatingDome.com Business
  +General Board News
  +Introductions
  +Feedback & Support
  +Chit Chat (formerly discussion)
  
  --Game On (formerly Next Gen Systems)
  +Gaming Talk (formerly General Gaming Forum)
  +Xbox 360
  +PlayStation 3
  +Nintendo Wii
  +PC Gaming
  +Sony PSP
  +Nintendo DS
  
  --Evolutional Systems
  +Classic Microsoft
  +Classic Sony
  +Classic Nintendo
  +Legacy Systems (Merge of all of the Legacy Systems forums into one)
  
  --Computing
  +General Computing Discussion
  +Internet
  +Technical Support
  
  --Anime: Either remove or expand
  
  
  ~Remove: Music, Movies & TV (incorporate with Chit Chat)
  ~Remove: Philosophy (^^)
  
  --Et Cetera
  +Graphics Forum (incorporate all the other gfx forums)
  ++Graphics Requests Forum (SUBFORUM^^)
  +Role Playing Realm
  +Trash Talk
  +The Black Hole
  
  ~Remove: Content Submitters
  
  --Keep rest as is.
  

[Flamefist95]

^^Wow this stinks. How can we become more popular on Google? Does it depend on the amount of hits we get?

^Thats a lot of changes but they're all good. I like them. Again I also think the link to the forum should be more attractive and out there rather than just a little thing on the side.

Genie, perhaps you could also add more templates for the forum? Most new people would probably get a little board and like an option. (I know I do but the old style of C/D just brings good memories )

I think the Computing Section should be merged into one forum...
Techincal Support and/or General Computing
Subforums...
Internet
Technical Support (If not main forum)

And Genie, you scared me with the title of the thread. I thought Cheatindome was gonna be done! Lol. All I see is "Google Takes Over..." XD

[GohanX]

What do you mean by expanding the Anime section because deleting it isn't a good idea in my opinion. I suppose I agree with considering the Music, Movies & TV as part of the "Chit Chat" forum idea. However, I think the Discussion forum should keep it's name as is or just simply put "General" in front of it. How about naming the first section "General Cheating Discussion" or something because what is discussed in the "Chit Chat" forum has next to no bearing on "Official Cheatingdome.com business"

Let's think of a more creative and attractive name then " Et Cetera" for the last section

Other than those issues, I like your suggestions.

[Antownee]

In the meantime, I guess we could try to be more active ourselves..IE, posting threads when we come on as well as replying to threads.

I like cHillis idea about the division of forums and such but I agree with Gohan about the anime forum. Im not into it, but many people are, loads of the aul emus.

[Flamefist95]

I agree with Gohan too. A lot of ppl are into that but with just 3 sections doesnt give new anime members a lot to dig in to. It should definatly be expanded maybe...

~General Anime
~You-Gi-Oh (However you spell it )
~DragonBall
~Naruto [Maybe]
~.Hack [Maybe] (Doesnt seem too popular but I thouht the game was great)
~Any other anime forums (I dont know a lot)

I still dont really like the idea of the Computing Section and all. Maybe that can be put in "Et Cetera" or whatever Genie decides to make that section with the subforums that I mentioned earlier or something of the such cause not many people post there and it hasnt been active latly (Although there are a couple threads every once in a while which is why I suggest keeping it but merging it)

[The Genie]

Thanks for your suggestions, keep them coming and I'll start to work on them.

[Redgore]

If you are going to expand the anime section I would suggest any extra forums you add into that category should be for anime with game tie-ins (based on/derived from etc). The computing forum could do with scrapping in my view. Threads about hardware/software needed for games could be posted in their relevant section (i.e. for computing problems etc go into the gaming section). One thing that could be done to improve the google ranking is to have a aggregator for off-site blogs. While the forum based blogs are a good idea they wont generate traffic, whereas outside blogs can bring in new usership. In the same way if you have a blog elsewhere then link to cheatingdome, perhaps doa post about your experiences and so on ?

[[N]eto]

I say with all the changes the members are requesting, it would be wise to pick up additional administrative staff to configure the boards.

[GohanX]

I agree.

I vote Neto and Cid

[cHilli]

I think we need to push General Gaming Discussion alot, it would provide hopefully interesting gaming discussion!

I wouldn't like to see computing removed.

@GohanX - Yeah about 'official CD biz', I'm sure we could find an adequate title

Re:ANIME, I don't know anything about anime, but there's no reason to remove it if we can get posts out of it, WHAT IS POPULAR?

@Neto - Additional Admins are indeed required.

Re:COMPUTING, If a forum is removed the other should indeed be put in an 'Et Cetera' forum.

Oh, and remove all the "popular games", or create an admin to alter them with the trends

[PøinŦ Çataclsym]

^ firshur.

as for expanding anime, why not make it divided by anime AND manga? they are some amazing mangas that haven't been turned into Anime yet.

[GohanX]

I think we should keep the current Anime forum and just put "Manga" in the name. Simply because I don't think a lone Manga forum will generate anymore post then the Anime forum already in place. I like that idea though

@cHilli -Who do you suggest? And I meant to ask you what you had in mind for the Popular game section. I really like your idea for that. We just have to make sure that the person chosen is up-to-date on the popularity of games and that they are active.

[cHilli]

For me it's obvious - Forsaken and Neto!
Neto has sense and Forsaken has madness, we need both!

and CiD if he comes back!

Genie, remember if your removing forums, make them invisible instead of deleting them as it will mess up the forum stats!

[GohanX]

Haha sounds good to me. Now all we need is Big Man to put his two sense on our ideas.