Sparkle Hosting Support Forums - Critique Please
 

I needed to re-vamp my hosting company's site.

I decided to use vB for as much of it as possible. ;)

http://www.sparklehosting.com

vB Helpdesk - cinq's vBArticles (as a Knowledgebase) - vBACMPS Homepage.

As it is just a premade style, I have a low opinion. Nothing personal, of course, but using premade styles gives me the impression that the administrator didn't care to spend the time to design a unique style for his site, nor even hire a designer to make one if he is technically unable to do so himself.

If everyone felt that way no one would visit any forums. I have seen huge forums using stock vbulletin installs not even changing the stock logo. People still visit them and visit them by the millions. To bad you put so much importance on the look of a community. Yu really are missing out on some fine communities.

I like it. I always liked that style.

I'm not saying the style is not good-looking, but in my opinion it implies a low level of interest on the part of the administrator. Some agree with me, some disagree. Each to his own.

I completely agree, and would hate to be thought of as an administrator that has no interest in his site because I didn't build my own theme or templates, that's for sure. I love my site and put tons of hours of time into it as I am sure most of us here do as well, I use Zachery's styles on my site and proud to say I do. However, I've never wanted to post it in here because reactions are always based on your style, not content.

*nods*

I understand what you are saying. My other site has had the aforementioned tons of custom work put into it, and I am immensely proud of it.

Currently, this site is there to provide information on the packages available, and support the customers. It's not meant to be like one of those 'wonderful', yet oh-so-common 'we have a flash header and some generic images' hosting sites.

It used to *be* one of those...I just don't think having a flash header and pretty graphics is what makes a good host. :)

(And...if it's the fact that I am using Floris' style...well, there's quite a few very sucessful communities out there that use it. As said: Each to his own.)

I prefer a nice light weight style, a theme loaded with graphics seems to slow sites down, even if it's on a good server. Not to put them down though, there are some fantastic looking themes out there and I can only imagine the time it takes to customize something like that.

I have to say for a hosting site your general look and feel doesn't scream professionalism to me. I'm a big fan of that style but I think you definately need to get a quality designer to make you a better logo ;)

I disagree I paid for a style that other people use, just because I cannot afford to pay money for an orginal desgin nor do I have the skills to build anything better. So why have a crappy style just because I don't want to use a premade one.

It all depends really.. but I would never ask for people's opinion of my site based on looks since for the most part, designing it I didn't really do.

IMO that is.

There are plenty of sites out there that do quite well with stock styles, here is a great example http://www.satelliteguys.us They just changed a couple of on/off images but other than that it's the standard style and they have tons of users. I know that when I am after something that's on a forum it's content that drives me there, it's great to have an aesthetically pleasing site but it's just icing on the cake IMO.

Kall, I don't mean to stray your thread off topic, this has turned into an interesting topic with everyone's views though. :)

is asmallorange.com any good?..

Hey, that is pretty cool Pheonix! Very creative stuff, I particularly like the the page jump javascript prompt. Nice layout and design.

99% of the users on the internet think like you and I that content is king. Then you have the other 1% and some of them are here and some of them are also designers that look past the content if the style isn't flashy.
Each to his own.

Of course content is king and in the end that's what it all boils down to. However in the hosting trade an aesthetically-pleasing site can convey professionalism and trust to the user. Design should not be overlooked in the main schema of things as it often can be the difference between a sale and a user going away and looking for someone else.

LOL.. tell me I didn't have that coming ;) I have just decided to start using the Admin Silver template, I have developers working on a new logo and hopefully by tomorrow it will be ready.

This isn't really my 2 cents worth, more like 1 cent, but has anybody considered that those who post here are board admins, all with differing experience and skill levels? The layperson who visits our boards typically doesn't know what makes a board good or not. Community is a separate entity from the board that hosts it. Just a comment to keep in mind.

:)

Alrighty.

You are all very correct in saying that a non-custom looking site isn't as good as a custom one.

How does this look? http://www.sparklehosting.com/?styleid=25

I agree with what everyone has said thus far ...
- Content is King
- Redo Logo
- Site design lacks professionalism

It is true that the majority of people go to a site for content ... this is usually true for users who have been to your site before or users that are redirected to a page via search engines (who are looking for something specific).

For new users ... or, users who just comes across your site .. you need to grab them in the first 1-3 seconds.

The way to grab attention is to:

1. use a good design
2. use proper heading/style to bring focus
3. use the AIDA principles when writing your content....
   • ATTENTION - Grab the users attention right away.
   • INTEREST - Interest customers on benefits not on features. Tell the user how they can better their life with your service.
   • DESIRE - Make your offer irrisistable.
   • ACTION - Make it easy for the customer to contact you -- place all necessary information up front and visible.

FYI
The upper half of your site is the most important area ... use this area to grab the user.