Taken from SCI-india discussion group.
1) Your robots.txt ( located in server root ) is currently blocking all search engine spiders.
User-agent: *
Disallow: /
Is that a deliberate move while the site is under construction?
If it's an accidental oversight,
you will want to change it so that search engine crawlers can access.
To allow all crawlers access modify your /robots.txt to reflect
User-agent: *
Disallow:
2) I notice you already have Google analytics tracking code in place so that's good,
but a sitemap is missing.
You can create XML sitemap using Gsitecrawler
Submit it via Google Webmaster Central account.
It'll give you LOT of useful information on imp metrics.
will write more in detail later.
Gr8 job & keep it up.
Yatin
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@Tony,
i guessed so @ disallowing the root & I did notice the Drupal structure but I have not worked with it yet so didn't know @ sitemap module. Joomla & Wordpress fan here :) and I'm more into search engine optimization than development.
Btw, how robust is the drupal forum module?
Do you expect people to actually login to drupal to build content?
Or is it primarily for forum? If so, why not go for PHPBB which would be much more scalable. I dunno whether there's any drupal-phpbb bridge available but i guess even the best of bridges get buggy as versions upgrade..
Lastly,( personal opinion ) I would like to see the site broaden scope to cover ALL spinal related ailments ( eg: spina bifida, MS, etc ). That would enhance the target demographic.
In either case, best wishes for success!
Best,
Yatin
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Yatin, I expect people to comment on articles and thus improve each of them. Also those who are ready to contribute can be assigned 'author' role so that they themself can put content.
I expect people to write their traveling experiences, reviews on their wheelchairs and other equipments, etc. It should be possible for others to comment on all of those.
One of the main consideration while development was to avoid using different software packages, like (phpbb + gallery + wordpressmu) etc. As integration, updating, backup etc has to be done on each of them, so more maintenance work.
The reason why i chose drupal is because, it contains gallery, forum, blog, poll, all within single package. All these with single login. Updating and backup is easy, (ofcourse updating extra drupal modules is bit work)
Drupal forum is not good as phpBB or SimpleMachines, i will agree. But, bridges are are very big headaches. :(
Although, the main target was people with spinal cord injury, we could include them as well if there is demand.
Thanks
tony
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Few comments as I go through website:
1) Since you are encouraging people to register, have login at the top. Better have Login/ Register link. Or have a horizontal user sign in at the top. I can help in that.
2) On registration page, you have included too many fields. As per my experience with clients and users, they want minimal fields while registering. Users can fill up other fields after they create their account. Users don't like filling in too many fields to register.
3) Instead of one field for "Place" why don't you use location module? It will cover wider regionsof India as well as international..
4) Lets use google map for user locations. It will spice up website.
5) After users login, their profile page should be customized so that they know what all they can do on the website. No one willl know that can go here http://www.sci-india.org/node/add and add content.
6) You not planning users to add in other content like videos/ jobs. etc?
7) The submitted content is going into moderation queue or getting published right away? Are you getting notified about submission of new content?
8) Use captcha on registration as well as content submission forms. We will get lots of spam as we grow.
9) Is your designer friend helping you redesigning this free drupal theme? Atleast get design for left and right sidebar. BTW, favicon is looking really good :-) Are you getting a logo similar to it?
10) Yatin knows SEO, so maybe he can help us in optimizing this website and as we grow do directory submissions.
How is your preparations for exams going on? Let me know if you want my help in maintaining website, while you are preparing for your exams
Imran
Imran please check my repies. Your suggesiont are quoted in italics.
1) Since you are encouraging people to register, have login at the top. Better have Login/ Register link. Or have a horizontal user sign in at the top. I can help in that.
Done! added a register tab and moved the login box to right sidebar top.
2) On registration page, you have included too many fields. As per my experience with clients and users, they want minimal fields while registering. Users can fill up other fields after they create their account. Users don't like filling in too many fields to register.
You are right! even i have not filled it full. But i would like to retain it, There are only 5 additional required fields, let our users fill it at the first time itself.
3) Instead of one field for "Place" why don't you use location module? It will cover wider regionsof India as well as international..
4) Lets use google map for user locations. It will spice up website.
I didnt knew about location module, will check it out.
5) After users login, their profile page should be customized so that they know what all they can do on the website. No one willl know that can go here http://www.sci-india.org/node/add and add content.
6) You not planning users to add in other content like videos/ jobs. etc?
How to customize profile page? I would like members to add all type of content.
7) The submitted content is going into moderation queue or getting published right away? Are you getting notified about submission of new content?
8) Use captcha on registration as well as content submission forms. We will get lots of spam as we grow.
Anonymous comment are into approval queue, all others get published soon. I have installed 'mollom' if we need we can use it.
9) Is your designer friend helping you redesigning this free drupal theme? Atleast get design for left and right sidebar. BTW, favicon is looking really good :-) Are you getting a logo similar to it?
I will be changing the logo, but my friend is not so well now, so we will have to wait.
10) Yatin knows SEO, so maybe he can help us in optimizing this website and as we grow do directory submissions.
That will be great.
How is your preparations for exams going on? Let me know if you want my help in maintaining website, while you are preparing for your exams
Yes imran, i have to get to full swing soon, Lots more lessons to cover :( .
Of course i would like your help. Ill make your new account an administrator.
Those suggestions were of great help. Thanks a lot.
tony