What is the best forum website?

What could I improve on my new Forum website?

• I launched a new Forum website tonight powered by PHPBB3. I am currently using the prosilver2 styles theme, and have done a little CSS customisation in the header of the website. What could I be improving on my new forum in terms of design, layout, SEO, attracting traffic and users, content and posting, etc? Here's a link to the website: http://www.mcleanwilliam.com

• Answer:

  I checked your website and it is giving me an error. A forum is like any other website or blog you will find in the internet. You need to be different. You need to give value. You need to deliver what you promise. It is simple if we break it down to 3 things. 1. Forum Design 2. Content 3. Value Having a awesome design will give new users the first impression you wanted them to receive. It will attract sign ups with just that. Now, how can you keep them inside? or make them replicate? You need good content that engages and give value. People go to forums to share their interest and get something from it. You go to websites because you want to get information that will help you in your problems right? That is the majority of the people who are inside a forum. They want something. Can you give it to them? Good. They will stay and might even recommend it to their friends. I worked with forum owners to increase their online presence and community  and I always say that the key to having an awesome forum is not SEO. It is the community itself. You will find you threads ranking naturally when you have enough authority and engagement in your community. It will come NATURAL. More power to your business.