Mens Online Forum (gadgets, dating, grooming etc) what do you think?

[AM Guvnor]

Hi all here is my site

www.alphamen.co.uk/forum

I'm VERY new to this forum game!

However, I have taught myself pretty much everything up until now (with some excellent advice from here I hasten to add!) including setting up the domain, installing vbulletin and a few plugins/hacks

What do you think of the forum? Its still well into its infancy

Constructive criticism appreciated!

:)

The Guv'

[Tralala]

Looks great! Very pleasing to the eye. Good luck!

[InsaneContender]

I like the color scheme, but it doesn't look like you did more than modify the colors and header image apart from the vBulletin default layout. Try mixing it up a bit and throwing in your own taste.

[AM Guvnor]

Thanks Guys, I'm a little bit timid about messing around with it too much incase I break it...so I'm going in baby steps at the moment

Any ideas?

[Sean S]

consider this the first babystep from me to you then ;)

First: change the dark gray background from #999999 to #FFFFFF

Second: change your header table from this,
<!-- logo -->
<a name="top"></a>
<table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td align="left"><a href="index.php"><img src="images/misc/biggerlogo.gif" border="0" alt="The Alphamen Forum" /></a></td>



&nbsp;
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- /logo -->


to this

<!-- logo -->
<a name="top"></a>
<table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td align="left" width="100%" style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"><a href="index.php"><img src="images/misc/biggerlogo.gif" border="0" alt="The Alphamen Forum" /></a></td>



&nbsp;
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- /logo -->


try it, your forum would looke a lot cleaner and at the same time better ;)

[Freesteyelz]

Consider duplicating your current Style and save it. In Styles & Templates --> Download/Upload Styles upload that style you've just saved. For "Allow User Selection" check "No". Experiment with it as you desire. To view your changes go to vB Options --> Style & Language Settings and set the style to "Default". If for any reason you don't like the changes just switch back your style to the previous one you had in "Style & Language Settings". That way you can run wild on a live board with minimal consequences. :)

Just for your information, you can also set up a testing board for this purpose. It's not to be made public but it's a way for you to test hacks and style changes without affecting your live board. Just a thought. :)

[Sean S]

good points there, also like he said you can setup another test bored in your server, just make sure the directory's folder name is "testvb" as I remember reading somewhere in vbulletin's policy/faq.

[AM Guvnor]

Hey Sean, Free

Thanks for your advice

Sean I did what you said and it looks really well laid out now :) Especially the logo

[Sean S]

hehe no problem bud, glad you like it, and good luck with the site, I might stop by and register later ;).