vbulletin template sites

I’ve been looking into using one or more vbulletin templates recently.

On the + side, they can help make a site more attractive - especially good for when trying to attract new members.

On the - side, not only can they make a site slow loading, but editing site templates can mean having to re-edit them every second upgrade.

The latter issue is actually pretty bad - when vbulletin moved from 3.5 to 3.6, they moved a number of variables around, so that even minor template editing required completely redoing.

Which isn’t fun when you run more than 20 vbulletins.

Integrating a vbulletin to work within an existing site template is usually fine and hassle-free, and making them look semi-decent just isn’t a problem.

The problem comes with actual vbulletin style templates, because they don’t simply modify the basic header and footer HTML - the keystones of customising a forum’s appearance - but also various other style templates and the variables built into these.

However…weighing up the options, sometimes vbulletin skins can be an attractive option for helping push a site, so here’s a list of vbulletin template sites I’ve been viewing recently:

1. vbskinworks

These are a very professional-looking set of templates. However, while this is going to amplify the plus benefits in terms of a great looking site, it also likely amplifies the negative with extended graphics use plus major template modifications required. But…some of the best looking out there. Price: $24.95

2. vbextra

These tend to be less about completely new styles as much as basic template work, so implementing them should be easy, with little updating to do with vb upgrades. However, the look of the templates isn’t necessarily all that great and you may be able to do a decent job yourself. On the plus side, though, at least you get a custom-set of icons. Price: Unknown - you have to register at their forums, then have your registration manually approved. Bad move for any ecommerce site.

3. vbstyles

A mixture between basic templates and slightly more advanced templating. Again, as above, you could probably do a similar job yourself with a basic proficiency with HTML and graphics use - but again, you get custom icons, which can sometimes be worth it in itself. Price: $30, which is among the more expensive, especially for what you get.

4. Transversestyles

This is a nice mixture between professional-looking and more basic templates - with added USP of being applicable to vbulletin, IPB, and phpbb as required. That’s a really nice touch and widens their market. Price: $30-40 Again, at the higher price range, but it’s a good set of flexible products.

5. Forumthemes

Another set of decent-looking templates, with the added bonus of providing styles in both fixed-width and fluid. Again, a lot of graphics on some, and being able to apply modifications (such as right/left column) as required may prove a little more difficult, though. Price: $30, which seems pretty standard.

6. vbulletinskinz

Not so much a set of templates to buy, as much as a custom styling company, which is a nice USP. A bonus is that it appears you also get a free PR5 link from their site. :) More seriously, though, expect to have to pay for these, but also expect to get what you what you pay for.
Price: Custom

7. vbulletin.com

These are free forum skins and graphics work submitted to the official vbulletin.com site. They are not officially endorsed, and in some instances at least come across as “happy slappy” - ie, for those with no real clue on how to make a forum look half-decent on their own. That being said, I’ve downloaded a nice button set from here before to use on multiple forums, not least because the default vbulletin buttons can look pretty ugly and out of place on some forum styles. Price: free

8. vbulletin.org

Some more free templates, this time from the vbulletin coding support community at vbulletin.org. Again, some of the work there isn’t necessarily going to be what you want, but you can at least mine the graphics section for new icons and avatars, etc, to help customise a basic forum to look a little more unique. Price: free.

In the meantime, I’ve been asked to moderate at The Admin Zone, and as I need somewhere to escape and relax at present, it seems like a good idea. I have forum SEO and security to moderate.