Feedback - What would you suggest?

[DreadsUK]

So we are reshaping the forum with the vision of making it more interactive for new users and drive more people to create accounts.

This is what we are going for, for the home page

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2014/06/61.png

The idea behind it is that it's as plain and clear as possible. It seems to me that forums as the home page seems cluttered. Well, ours is anyway.

What you guys think?

[Paul M]

Moved to reviews forum.

[BBNZowner]

I'd get rid of/change the green text. To me that negates having a cleaner look, I'd change the font and reevaluate the colour.

The rest may work quite well if you can find someone to code and design it for you. Maybe consider having a 'recent posts' widget as well though - people do like to see activity is taking place. And on your forum it seems a nice little community is coming together so I'd try advertise that.

[DreadsUK]

I'd get rid of/change the green text. To me that negates having a cleaner look, I'd change the font and reevaluate the colour.
Do you mean under the buttons for tutorial/shop/articles/dreadlocks

I agree. I had someone comment saying they dint know where those buttons would take them so i added the extra wording. But yea, its looking like that bit could use a tidy.

How about ''The Community Network' under the logo? I think that works.

The rest may work quite well if you can find someone to code and design it for you. Maybe consider having a 'recent posts' widget as well though - people do like to see activity is taking place. And on your forum it seems a nice little community is coming together so I'd try advertise that.

That could be an idea. Might have a look at where that might fit

[Zachery]

The white image in the find your dreadlocks journey looks like someone with MS paint created it.

Either use regular old html/text or at least center align some text on an image, with a transparent background via a png or something.

[webmastersun]

Beautiful but may be not friendly with search engines :)

[DreadsUK]

Beautiful but may be not friendly with search engines :)

oh? how come?

[Zachery]

oh? how come?
Images are bad mojo for search engines, they don't translate your buttons. Even with alt/title text they still arnt that good.

You should opt for real text whenever you can.

[DreadsUK]

Images are bad mojo for search engines, they don't translate your buttons. Even with alt/title text they still arnt that good.

You should opt for real text whenever you can.

Do you mean the

'Tutorials Shop Articles Dreadlocks' ones?

[BBNZowner]

Any you can really, although menu ones like that are probably the most important if its going to be the landing page and will be crawled. This is even an issue I'll be working on with my forum

[DreadsUK]

Any you can really, although menu ones like that are probably the most important if its going to be the landing page and will be crawled. This is even an issue I'll be working on with my forum

Sorry, whats the issue?

[BBNZowner]

I opted to use images for my nav bar buttons, and in doing so removed the real text. While Google is still picking up on them okay I'd prefer to add the text back in; however it may mean another redesign.

[Princeton]

Replace the logo. Font choice too thin. Select a thicker font. Dreads are thick. Logo font should also be thick? Also, there should be more contrast. A logo should stand out.

Replace the tagline, 'The Community Network'. This means nothing. Why even have a tagline??

What's your focus? To sell products or is it the forum??
I'm assuming it's the forum since you are calling it 'The Community Network'.

If this is the main page you are shooting yourself in the foot. The main page should grab attention. What are you trying to sell - a Journey Plan?? Really?? (Nothing wrong with it but you need more. This alone will not convert your readers.)

Get some content on the main page!!!! Convert your visitors into readers/members. Give everyone a reason to register. A 'Journey Plan' is not enough.

Main Page Goals:

- Get people to visit internal pages
- Increase SEO
- Get people to register (participate)


Make sure you have Google Analytics installed and keep an eye out on your stats. If your main page has a bounce rate higher than 15% than your design is a BIG FAIL.