My site - Never Alone

[Becca]

We've recently given the site and forums a new look, as the old style looked rather boring and depressing. The site is basically a place for people to go and chat, make friends, and get support if they're going through any difficult times. Alongside the advice and support sections we have discussion on computer games, films, music, artwork, writing, photography, sport, debates etc.

The site is at http://www.never-alone.org
The forum is at http://www.never-alone.org/forums

It would be really good if you could let me know what you think.

[Kiwi76]

First impression is that the default style needs work. Purple, Yellow, Green, and pale light Blue don't work. I'd use no more than a maximum of three colors (neutrals don't count and multiple shades of the same color don't count as different colors). If it was your old style, Style1 looks a bit more alright IMO, at least better than the Purple one, but it's too bit plain as well. I'd use different colors for the page background and the overall background around that (if you know what I mean) becuase it seems less plain that way.

Speaking of plain, add descriptions to your forums. Seeing descriptionless forums makes it seem too bare. The number of forums also furthers that. Cut back on forums, possibly merge some together. There's too many for such a small site. I'd recommend between ten and fifteen on the high side.

They say you have ten to fifteen seconds to get your visitor's attention, and while the top rule is that content is king, your look and feel play an important first impression, just like in real life. If you're not a big huge site with loads of content, that is especially true. Things that aren't so flashy can still be good, but not many stick around to figure that out if it doesn't look good.

Personal advise is to work on the skins, cut back on the number of forums and add descriptions to them, and maybe also look at adding the User Online Today MOD. It's great for smaller boards that have activity but are commonly low on users online to show they aren't dead. I'd also probably hide the active members part myself.

[Xtrato]

hmm , well as Kiwi said....

its very , unattractive , color wise , gives me a feeling of depression , ( thats just me ) , something vivid would be very interesting to see on your site. The colors really dont work for me ,( thats me ) , i think you can do much better , with the content you have.

I Read your forum description , with more sense you should put vivid colors ... Attract a good vive and things like that.

I hope you take this into consideration and look for something or work on something attractive.

Regards!

[XFSImperial]

I think the style should receive an update. It is a little bland as pointed out above. I also think that the logo could be improved upon as a rounded rectangle in the background is very plain. Perhaps adding forum descriptions could also make the forum feels more populated and less depressing. First thing that struck me, besides the style, is the lack of description for each forum. The buttons also don't seem to match the style, same applies to the user ranks.

[deezelpope]

I think the logo is fine, but I would definitely add some forum descriptions like XFSImperial mentioned. And get rid of the purple and gray...just depressing. Just a suggestion here, but replace that purple with a shade of green, like in the word 'Never' lettering in your logo. And maybe replace that gray with a nice baby-blue...perk the place right up!

[Rickeo]

I like it Becca

The forums purpose is great but yea have to say style and design :S

But ur a great person with a huge heart

[Roxie]

Great site. Not fond of the colors. What do your members say? When I first started I asked my members what kind of look they wanted. Color suggestions, etc.