Need advice on my forum + I need a better layout.

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Jerison

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I need advice on making my forum better. ANY ADVICE! EVEN IF IT IS HARSH.

People have told me my layout isn't any good, I feel the same way...my forum is just messy layout wise...please help?


Forum Link; http://thetalkingseed.com
 
Your link is incomplete. I used your signature one instead.

I would suggest less cursing, or abbreviating the cursing like t***. That can put off potential members, and make other sites reluctant to affiliate with you. Most ad networks also won't allow excessive profanity.

The red theme is a little glaring, and the text is a little small, in my opinion. Perhaps changing the theme to make it easier to read, and using the red as accents would be better.

I also don't think that the red really goes with the name of your forum. When I think seed, I think green. Remember that your forum is a brand, just like Coca-Cola, Target, or Samsung. You need colors and a logo that complement it. That brings me to my next suggestion, a logo.

Remember that these are just suggestions. It is your forum, so if you are happy with it, then it is perfect. 🙂
 
Scribbler397 said:
Your link is incomplete. I used your signature one instead.

I would suggest less cursing, or abbreviating the cursing like t***. That can put off potential members, and make other sites reluctant to affiliate with you. Most ad networks also won't allow excessive profanity.

The red theme is a little glaring, and the text is a little small, in my opinion. Perhaps changing the theme to make it easier to read, and using the red as accents would be better.

I also don't think that the red really goes with the name of your forum. When I think seed, I think green. Remember that your forum is a brand, just like Coca-Cola, Target, or Samsung. You need colors and a logo that complement it. That brings me to my next suggestion, a logo.

Remember that these are just suggestions. It is your forum, so if you are happy with it, then it is perfect. 🙂
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply, do you know anyone that can make me a free logo? I can't afford one as of now.
 
If you're looking for a logo, try FP's graphic shop section. They might be able to help you out.

In terms of your site though...

I think having more content visible to guests would probably be a good start. I mean right now you have 8 forums. 6 of them are marked "protected". Meaning guests can see these forums exist, but can't see anything inside them.
The only sections that are visible are the introduction and suggestion sections.

And not to be rude, but most guests aren't going to care about introductions or suggestions. So you're not showing them things they want, nor are you giving them any sort of reason to stick around.
If anything, I'd make both those section you have currently visible to guests, visible to members only because there's no real reason guests need to see them. Guests probably aren't going to care about making suggestions to your forum and it's possible that a suggestion section (especially with a long list of suggestion topics) may actually cause them to leave thinking your forum either needs a ton of work and/or you're really slow implementing suggestions.


Also, what type of site are you running? Since it seems like you're more of a gaming site than anything (since you have 2 forums for console games and then another forum for forum games).

If you are mainly a gaming site then you probably will want to add a section for Nintendo. This way you're at least covering the big 3. Then later down the road, after you get more activity, you can expand with a section for PC gaming too.

But if you're not a game site you may want to combine the Xbox and Playstation game sections into one forum (maybe just call it "Videogames"?) And then use the leftover forum to become a TV/Movie section.


For the theme, I agree with Scribbler397 here that when I hear the name Talking Seed I expect a green theme. And I think that it would be so much nicer to have a darker green theme rather than a red theme for your site. (Possibly a theme using #395D33 or #2F4F2F as the main green colour?)

I don't know who handles themes for IPB on FP, but it'd be worth asking about in a topic in FP's graphic section also (if/when you go to ask for a logo).
 
Jerison said:
Scribbler397 said:
Your link is incomplete. I used your signature one instead.

I would suggest less cursing, or abbreviating the cursing like t***. That can put off potential members, and make other sites reluctant to affiliate with you. Most ad networks also won't allow excessive profanity.

The red theme is a little glaring, and the text is a little small, in my opinion. Perhaps changing the theme to make it easier to read, and using the red as accents would be better.

I also don't think that the red really goes with the name of your forum. When I think seed, I think green. Remember that your forum is a brand, just like Coca-Cola, Target, or Samsung. You need colors and a logo that complement it. That brings me to my next suggestion, a logo.

Remember that these are just suggestions. It is your forum, so if you are happy with it, then it is perfect. 🙂
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply, do you know anyone that can make me a free logo? I can't afford one as of now.
Click to expand...

Like VirusZero said, posting in the Graphics shop is probably your best bet. I am sure someone would be willing to create a logo for some fp. 🙂
 
VirusZero said:
If you're looking for a logo, try FP's graphic shop section. They might be able to help you out.

In terms of your site though...

I think having more content visible to guests would probably be a good start. I mean right now you have 8 forums. 6 of them are marked "protected". Meaning guests can see these forums exist, but can't see anything inside them.
The only sections that are visible are the introduction and suggestion sections.

And not to be rude, but most guests aren't going to care about introductions or suggestions. So you're not showing them things they want, nor are you giving them any sort of reason to stick around.
If anything, I'd make both those section you have currently visible to guests, visible to members only because there's no real reason guests need to see them. Guests probably aren't going to care about making suggestions to your forum and it's possible that a suggestion section (especially with a long list of suggestion topics) may actually cause them to leave thinking your forum either needs a ton of work and/or you're really slow implementing suggestions.


Also, what type of site are you running? Since it seems like you're more of a gaming site than anything (since you have 2 forums for console games and then another forum for forum games).

If you are mainly a gaming site then you probably will want to add a section for Nintendo. This way you're at least covering the big 3. Then later down the road, after you get more activity, you can expand with a section for PC gaming too.

But if you're not a game site you may want to combine the Xbox and Playstation game sections into one forum (maybe just call it "Videogames"?) And then use the leftover forum to become a TV/Movie section.


For the theme, I agree with Scribbler397 here that when I hear the name Talking Seed I expect a green theme. And I think that it would be so much nicer to have a darker green theme rather than a red theme for your site. (Possibly a theme using #395D33 or #2F4F2F as the main green colour?)

I don't know who handles themes for IPB on FP, but it'd be worth asking about in a topic in FP's graphic section also (if/when you go to ask for a logo).
Click to expand...
About the hidden forums, that was an error. I fixed it though, thanks for pointing that out! 😛
 
Hi I agree with the others about colour red is an 'angry' colour and the orange 'clashes' with it, also i'm confused as to what your forum is for The Talking Seed - Small Seed Big Tree, Talking about what??? I saw a games section but I'm not sure what else is in there how about putting a different write up in the top explaining what the forum is about

Example: Hi and welcome to The Talking Seed come in and join us for all manner of discussion (list some of your categories here)
Don't give them the perks until they join give them a reason to come in, pique their interest, you can update the categories in that bit regularly to keep it fresh.

AlsoIi'd move the shoutbox (perhaps to the bottom) it is imo too 'in your face' and draws the eye away from the important bit, your forum.


I hope this helps you and I wish you every success
 
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