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BaptistBoard.com

A vibrant online community with over 16,000 members dedicated to discussions on Baptist beliefs and practices.

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Project Overview

BaptistBoard.com is an online community with over 16,000 members focused on discussions related to Baptist beliefs and practices. In 2017, as the Webmaster and Chief Operating Officer of Group Net, LLC, I negotiated its acquisition to revitalize and modernize the platform.

At the time of purchase, the site was operating on an outdated version of vBulletin, which posed reliability and security challenges. A comprehensive migration to XenForo was undertaken to address these issues and enhance user experience.

My Contributions

🔄 Data Migration

Converted over 8GB of MySQL data from vBulletin to XenForo, meticulously documenting and troubleshooting the migration process.

🛠️ Custom Development

Collaborated with XenForo developers to adapt custom vBulletin plugins for compatibility with the new platform.

🎨 UI/UX Design

Partnered with designers to create a fresh, mobile-first theme, enhancing user experience across devices.

⚙️ Server Optimization

Transitioned the site to a dedicated server powered by CentminMod, optimizing for high PHP and MySQL throughput.

💰 Monetization Strategy

Developed a monetization platform using Google Ad Manager and third-party ad networks, later transitioning to AdThrive, resulting in a near 100% revenue increase.

📈 SEO & Community Engagement

Implemented SEO best practices, engaged with the community for feedback on new features, and collaborated with volunteer administrators and moderators to enhance the platform's safety and friendliness.

🌟 Successfully revitalized BaptistBoard.com, enhancing user experience, security, and revenue, solidifying its position as a premier online community for Baptist discussions.

Technology Stack

The platform was modernized and optimized using the following technologies:

XenForo
PHP
NGINX
CentminMod
MySQL
Google Ad Manager
AdThrive
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