ChristianForums.com
The world's largest online community for Christians, fostering faith-based discussions since the early 2000s.
Visit ChristianForums.comProject Overview
ChristianForums.com is the largest online community for Christians globally, established in the early 2000s. In 2015, 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At the time of purchase, the site was operating on an outdated vBulletin system, facing reliability issues and security concerns due to its unsupported codebase. A comprehensive migration to XenForo was undertaken to address these challenges.
My Contributions
🔄 Data Migration
Converted over 60GB 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.
Technology Stack
The platform was modernized and optimized using the following technologies: