Hello Lithia.
Here is your review.
Your server appears to be more of a casual server for friends, than a public multiplayer one. This is nothing to be worried about, and can be solved very easily. Server layout and purpose is your top priority here. You need to be a little more organised with your spawn point, and how you want your server to function. I understand that you are going with the idea of once a week clan battles, this would work if you had the player base at hand, but unfortunately you dont. You need to build up your numbers before you go into events like that.
I have broken it down into some steps, I suggest you follow them accordingly.
Step 1: Out with the old, in with the new.
Your map is two years old! New players want a NEW map to explore on, new places to build, not dull, previously explored scenery. Save your current map, create a private world for only the staff to visit with that world, and create a brand new one. This would increase the server image, and would make players want to stay more.
Step 2: Focus on one playstyle, not several.
Your server has a creative world, survival world, and god knows what other world, this doesn't really make sense to me. Once again you dont have enough players to be indulging in all these worlds, they are useless to a small community. If a player joins a server with not a lot of players online, and has to further separate themself from the rest of the community, they are not going to want to stay. Stick to survival, or creative, and have two worlds TOPS. One would be better, as then player interaction would be increased.
Step 3: Advertise!
I recommend making more professional looking advertisements on several other website, you are an Australian server, so advertise that as well.
I suggest the following websites,
www.minecraft.net.au,
www.minecraftforum.net as well as this one.
Step 4: You need a plugin which will engage players. A plugin which does this, I like to call 'server consuming' plugins. Examples of these are factions, mcmmo, towny etc.
It gives the players something to do.
Step 5: Create a new spawn for your new map. Make it simple, simplicity is the key. You dont want to confuse players. The spawns I like to see are ones with rules boards, info boards, and an exit. You walk out, and its pure wilderness. That is what you need.
In conclusion. Your server does not look very professional at this point in time, but with impressive ping as well as some definite room for improvement, you can surely be grabbing some bigger numbers, and some better ratings.
You can contact me on this site, and I look forward to seeing some improvements.
Thankyou,
Lew.
