vBulletin Hacks & Questions Discuss Why aren't you joining? in the vBulletinSetup Information forums; This is sort of a game thread but it will help everyone to see with "a fresh set of eyes" what downfalls or errors might be causing new members and ...

[Caddyman]

This is sort of a game thread but it will help everyone to see with "a fresh set of eyes" what downfalls or errors might be causing new members and guests to you site to not sign up.

We won't comment on the niche like answering me don't say "Cause i dont live on the east coast" and i wont same about your WOW site "i dont play video games" cause that won't help.....right? right!

so just naanple want to look at to critique.

Talk Pennsylvania Forums is your source for chat, news, and information in Pennsylvania

[ArnyVee]

Chase, other than the fact that I'm not a 'regular talk' fan (it's either about Disney or Sportscards for me), I don't see a reason why not to join.

The colors are inviting...there are features that are pleasing to most...there is news coupled with what looks to be an active forum.

It meets the simple criteria that I look for in a forum.

Sorry that I could help with yours. Maybe someone else can find something that you're missing in their opinion.

[smacklan]

Love the skin

[Caddyman]

lol, thanks arny and smacklan

on WDB, Arny, 2 things

1. the music on the homepage, me personally, it's a turnoff but if it works well that's great
2. the homepage is super wide, remember that i think 800 px wide still what a bulk of people run as far as resolution. i try really hard to make my sites fit this criteria, no scroll at 800 px. it's personal preference though really.


(remember people, this is a game, a impromptu, quick, review of your sites, no offense meant or intended)

Maryland Forums

[ArnyVee]

Thanks Chase!

Quick question.... with regards to # 2 .... how can I make sure to bring it back to 800 px wide?

I don't mind resizing the slideshow a bit (I think it's at 650 now) to get the thing a little more in line with what folks have out there.

[Nick R]

This sounds fun.

I'm ready for a lot of critiquing. I deserve it LOL

www.lineolatedparakeet.net

I just noticed today that the formatting of the homepage and the postbit are screwed up in IE.
When you see what I mean, I would love any help on that matter and anything else you can comment on.

[Caddyman]

Arny it's rather long to explain but ill make a thread about it tonight

Nick, the parakeet site is nice, i like it, only 2 nitpicks (i use FF)

the header is neat, but it doesn't fit well on the white BG
the white BG is very white, i would like to see a little more color on the homepage.

navigation btw, was nice and easy, as it should be.

Talk Delaware Forums is your source for chat, news, and information in Delaware <-- give it to me straight

[Cerberus]

I wouldnt join because the colors hurt my eyes. But I am horridly color blind and a lot of colors hurt my eyes. But also I know nothing about PA. Im from the south. I think that your niche makes it where only people who live in or have interest in PA would join. Seems like you kinda targeted your niche so much that now you have alienated a lot of people who would otherwise join. But that is just my opinion.

If I was you I would hit up every single newspaper in PA. And also you have a ton of colleges. I would make sure the site was in every college newspaper. And then hit all the message boards in college. And also use facebook to promote. College kids love that.

Otherwise it is a very nice site full of content.

Feel free to hammer mine in my signature

[ArnyVee]

Originally Posted by Nick R

This sounds fun.

I'm ready for a lot of critiquing. I deserve it LOL

www.lineolatedparakeet.net

I just noticed today that the formatting of the homepage and the postbit are screwed up in IE.
When you see what I mean, I would love any help on that matter and anything else you can comment on.

I like the forum and it seems like you have some participation going. I'd change a couple of things if I were running it.

With a topic so full of color and life...the background is plain white with mostly plain black text. If it weren't for the beautiful pictures of these beautiful creatures, I would've taken off quickly. So, add some colors with maybe a new skin.

The "Linnie of the Month" is great and presented right up front which must make the folks proud to have their bird win the prize! The only problem is...it's a little too big and out there. If you could change the height of that module's contents, it would help you.

Add a welcome header with some beautiful Linnie Art or something.

Again, those are three quick observations that would help you gain additional members, in my opinion.

[Caddyman]

not joining cause the pardon out dust image is freaking me out, it is creative but i think it is a little much...lol

[Cerberus]

Ok I have made a lot of changes

Why aren't you joining Argue Crazy.

I know at first people were afraid to argue but after adding a small amount of rules things have been very engaging and civil. Though I hated adding the rules.

[Caddyman]

although i love the grey and blue, i really do, it is awful plain, you need some color and some....something to break up the lines a bit.

scrolling latest 10 threads is kind of distracting

i think it would do you well to maybe add the different forum icons hack and get some cool icons for forum markers on your forum home to spice it up a bit.



why arent you joining the Philly Sports Forum?

[Cerberus]

Originally Posted by Caddyman

although i love the grey and blue, i really do, it is awful plain, you need some color and some....something to break up the lines a bit.

scrolling latest 10 threads is kind of distracting

i think it would do you well to maybe add the different forum icons hack and get some cool icons for forum markers on your forum home to spice it up a bit.

Well I had a shrink tell me those colors would create a great environment for arguing without lots of fighting. I was going with the whole mental color thing. But I think your right about the icons but I don't know graphics. I guess I will have to find me a nice graphic person. But thank you for the idea.

Anyone else got any ideas? I am all with the taking criticism.

[Rocket 442]

I think the background gradients are a bit too highly contrasted. I think making the top of the gradient just a bit lighter will actually make them feel more realistic as far as 3d goes.

this one:
http://www.talkphillysports.com/imag...n/misc/alt.gif

I also think thats way wider than it needs to be if you're just repeating it horizontally. could save a bit of loading time if you shrunk that down.

Also, I think you need a bigger "forum" button somewhere. I've always disliked when vbadvanced users have just that one little link in the sidebar to link to the forum. make it the focus, not the homepage.

F-Body Online - Camaro Forums and Firebird Forums

[Cerberus]

Ok as for Philly Sports...I think its same thing. The colors hurt my eyes. Though I am color blind. So I am like color impared LOL. Plus I do not know anything about Phili sports. I was never a big fan of anything from there. Though I am from the south. But I do like the layout and it is well made site. What would be really cool if you had a dynamic sports site that for whatever region you visit from it shows forum for that regions sports team. LOL Though sounds like a lot of work.But would be cool idea.

[Cerberus]

Originally Posted by Rocket 442

I think the background gradients are a bit too highly contrasted. I think making the top of the gradient just a bit lighter will actually make them feel more realistic as far as 3d goes.

F-Body Online - Camaro Forums and Firebird Forums

Hey could you explain what you mean by the gradients?

Ok for Camaro site

2 things. When I go to a site that has big google ads like that it turns me off. It looks like someone is trying hard to make moneys. Even if they dissapear I am lazy to sign up for ads to dissapear. And your side bar its empty as you go down to the bottom. That makes it look funny with the empty space. Though I do like the colors and they dont hurt my color blind eyes. Its nicely laid out. Though I know nothing about cars, so that would stop me with it

[Caddyman]

Originally Posted by Rocket 442

I think the background gradients are a bit too highly contrasted. I think making the top of the gradient just a bit lighter will actually make them feel more realistic as far as 3d goes.

this one:
http://www.talkphillysports.com/imag...n/misc/alt.gif

I also think thats way wider than it needs to be if you're just repeating it horizontally. could save a bit of loading time if you shrunk that down.

good advice, ill get on that.

Also, I think you need a bigger "forum" button somewhere. I've always disliked when vbadvanced users have just that one little link in the sidebar to link to the forum. make it the focus, not the homepage.

i have the one on the main navbar on the left, on top there, its dynamic forum on home and home on forum....im trying to figure out a good way to make that navbar text pop

F-Body Online - Camaro Forums and Firebird Forums

I like it a lot! the cat heads and all are nice, feels though when you get into the sections on forum home there should be maybe a little shading in the alt 1 and 2 spots. also the tag line under the logo is almost too squished, looks a little cramped..

[Noodles]

Originally Posted by Rocket 442

F-Body Online - Camaro Forums and Firebird Forums

It's a nice site, the only thing that would put me off is having the 2 big adsense units above the forum. Although these disappear when you signup, I'm not immediately drawn to the content which is only just above the fold. You can't get that much revenue from them to be worth keeping them on the homepage like that.

Also, I would recommend upgrading vbseo to 3.2

Otherwise, if I were into Camaros, I would join.

Why aren't you joining Cooking Junkies Forums

[Noodles]

Originally Posted by Blake2181

Why aren't you joining Argue Crazy.

There's probably a few too many sections and the activity is spread out. I would be more likely to join if I could see more activity in fewer forums. Once the forum is bigger then branch out.

Site info, site news etc doesn't really need to be at the top of the forum. If a guest comes to your homepage, they'll be more interested in the arguments/discussions than this stuff.

Otherwise, it's a nice skin, and were I into arguing, I would join

[Caddyman]

Originally Posted by Noodles

Why aren't you joining Cooking Junkies Forums

nothing about the skin/look make me think cooking...i would go for a more brown style IMO, that skin Dave released "well, its brown" might be a bit better

welcome message is custom but doesnt stand out

like the logo style and icon cook guy, but it's a little jagged on the edges..


why arent you joining Talk Pennsylvania Forums is your source for chat, news, and information in Pennsylvania

[Cerberus]

Originally Posted by Caddyman

nothing about the skin/look make me think cooking...i would go for a more brown style IMO, that skin Dave released "well, its brown" might be a bit better

welcome message is custom but doesnt stand out

like the logo style and icon cook guy, but it's a little jagged on the edges..


why arent you joining Talk Pennsylvania Forums is your source for chat, news, and information in Pennsylvania

Well when I go to the site I do not see any content when it first loads. I have to scroll down some, and being im lazy I do not like doing that. Plus the big ad kind of turns me away. I do not know if it makes you much money, but if it doesnt I would not use it. Also the nice picture link to threads is very nice. But to see it I had to allow it in my browser. Maybe would be better with a landing page explaining the site. I mean the domain does a good job, but having index like that kind of turns you away.

But it is really nice. If I lived in Pa I might would join it.

Ok now after fixing it up some....Why are you not joing Argue Crazy LOL

Though do not get me wrong I love the layout of your site..And honestly if I knew anything about PA I would prolly join, but being objective those are the things that get me I mean no offense to your site its really nice

[Caddyman]

Originally Posted by Blake2181

Ok now after fixing it up some....Why are you not joing Argue Crazy LOL

Though do not get me wrong I love the layout of your site..And honestly if I knew anything about PA I would prolly join, but being objective those are the things that get me I mean no offense to your site its really nice

all good man, no one is allowed to be offended in this thread, it is here for like mini critiques..

Argue crazy is looking better. the top of the header i think still has lots of blank space bt it is ok overall, the new icons look awesome on the statusicons, maybe a style up image welcome header might do you well to splash some contrast or color in there.

Talk Delaware Online forums is your source for chat, news, and information in Delaware