SimpleMachines also has a great bridge that allows you to easily integrate it into Mambo, (another of my new favorite applications!), and LunaByte is expected to release a full front end portal for SMF within next few weeks. But honestly, you might not even NEED Mambo or LunaByte to create your own protal. SMF provides very easy to use SSI functionality so you can create your OWN customized front end portal for it. In addition it already has a built in calendar, (a feature about 3/4 of our website design customers ask for).

The incredible list of features being built in to SimpleMachines is too lengthy to list here. If you are interested you can see feature list on AlphaOne Technology Web Hosting & Design or on SimpleMachines Website. Even if you are not currently in market for a community forum and MORE software, keep an eye on SMF - its developers are definitely forward thinking and have worked hard to develop streamlined code that doesn't tax your system resources way many similar, (but lesser!), applications do.

AlphaOne Technology will install and configure SimpleMachines FREE of charge with purchase of any web hosting plan.

What's secret? There are three of them - target your links directory to your marketplace, organize your links directory and publicize it as you would your main website.

First, target your links directory. It shouldn't be a free-for-all directory. There are plenty of those. In case of Security Resources, their directory only contains categories and links to sites related to security. As link directory grows, it will eventually become a very comprehensive directory of great value to anyone who is interested in security resources, websites, publications, etc.

Second, organizing your links based on categories not only helps each outgoing link have more value, (because of less links per page), but it becomes a value add for visitors who are looking for links and information on your targeted topic because they can find what they are looking for. Take time to alphabetize your links, and if you find yourself with over 100 links in a certain category, split category.

Third, publicize your links directory. Have it as a sub-domain of your main site, or even have its own domain name. Submit it to as many web directories and search engines as you do for your main website.

Dramatic results? No, not hardly, but content is king and if you make your links directory into a valuable component of your website, with ever changing content, you will have a better chance of return visitors.