Forums for Sporting Magazine

Ok so I am reaching out to the experience of other administrators, moderators and general forum visitors out there...

This month my website was featured in a new sporting magazine here in Australia called: "Rugby League Player" (website here) - it is a magazine based on Rugby League (Wikipedia Info) and although the desired result hasn't been met eg: More members, my visitor numbers have been up and the ad is going to be running for the next 8 months - it is only a new magazine this was issue number two and so as it continues there should be hopefully more members signing up.

I am asking for your advice as they have contacted me and asked me to create Forums for their magazine, a place where they can post behind the scenes photos/videos from putting the magazine together, and them conducting interviews with players etc.

And also a place for them to provide feedback for the magazine, contact the staff, and provide ideas and suggestions as to what their readers would like to see in future issues.

- Now I have no issue in doing this as instead of a little ad in their magazine they are offering me a full page colored ad for the next 8 months, and also offering to make monthly contributions to my website to ensure we stay alive and continue to grow.

I am looking for advice from you experienced people out there, they say I can have full control over it's creation - and my issue is I don't know whether to by a premium skin for their forums or edit the DEFAULT theme to match the colors etc of their current website.

I would also like to hear your input as to what vb.org mods or other premium mods you believe could be benificial for something like this.

Copies of the Magazine will not be on the internet, however it will be heaps of photos, videos, and general discussions regarding the magazine.

I have attached their logo as well as this plays a key feature in their forums, they just want this as their banner, and so that could play a part in the decision regarding templates etc.

And finally I would like ideas as to what default items to change: eg: Welcome Email, Welcome PM.

Sorry to be such a pain, I do have ideas in my head however this is the first time someone/a company of this magnitude, with so much on the line not only on their side of things but for my website as well is on the line and I am somewhat a little nervous about it all.

Any ideas/Suggestions and/or comments you have would be greatfully appreciated.

 

I think you could start with just editing your template for that section so the colors match their web site. You can always go for that premium skin if it looks like the deal will work out long term.