Please review my site cT: chewingText :)

[Jokerbites]

I just created this website on Thursday, June 4th, but I put a lot of work into it, and I hope you like? What do you think?

It is my FIRST website layout to work, ever, and although I am going to add a lot more, I just need to get users, if anyone has opinions on that too

www.chewingtext.com

Thank you!

[Sugoi na]

Originally Posted by Jokerbites

I just created this website on Thursday, June 4th, but I put a lot of work into it, and I hope you like? What do you think?

It is my FIRST website layout to work, ever, and although I am going to add a lot more, I just need to get users, if anyone has opinions on that too

www.chewingtext.com

Thank you!

At first glance, this site is very bright. I would lose the glow around the text.

Also, the drop shadows around the banner do not fit properly. You have no true light source showing on this page so it wouldn't make sense to do this.

As for the opening, I would lose the rules at the start. I am sorry but if I ever joined a site & was told right off the bat that I would be banned if I used it as a dating service I would probably just say "power hungry".

State the rules in the forums. The rules are fine I just wouldn't out & say those specific ones right away. Maybe even add them to the forums TOS.

Laslty, you should maybe think about ways of drawing more attention to your website I.E. images, scrolling banners, etc.

People are lazy. They want to see what your all about without the need to read a brick of text

Well I hope I was able to help a bit. Please reply here if you make any changes & I will gladly make another pass.

[jward]

I actually like your colors. Interesting selection. I would agree on losing the yellow glow on the text. Also you should have some padding around the text on your homepage.

Inside the forum, you should make the header graphic extend all away across the page to match up with the fluid template.

You might even check out some shadowed/gradient backgrounds that are common on Web 2.0 sights, such as this site that was also reviewed here today:
http://www.manlystuff.com/forum/ (Notice the background gadients blue/black).

[Jokerbites]

Thank you guys! I appreciate it and will do changes Do you know how to change the rules on the forum?

[Sugoi na]

Originally Posted by Jokerbites

Thank you guys! I appreciate it and will do changes Do you know how to change the rules on the forum?

Login to Admin CP -
Languages and Phrases -
Search In Phrases for "forum_rules_description"
Insert the information you want the user to agree to in there.

(Hint: Copy the above TOS & simply insert your TOS where you see fit)

[BlackJacket]

I didnt read any of the other reviews, so if i get repetitive, im sorry.

I noticed your using images for just about everything. Your header (which is ok as an image) Your Slogan "Your place for comm..." is an image. This should be a div so you can input text there. Your menu (all 1 image) needs to be fixed. You should use text for your menu links which you could include a bg so they have some color. Footer is also a single image. Change these as soon as possible.

I would also get rid of the huge drop shadow in your header logo. Bring it to a distance of 2 (3 at most), lower opacity and increase size just a bit to give a nice, subtle look.

At the bottom of the index page, you have a white bar going the width of the site.

What is all this for in your source -

<tr>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="15" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="122" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="13" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="121" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="21" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="208" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="245" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="114" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="152" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td>
          <img src="Images/images/spacer.gif" width="13" height="1" alt=""></td>
        <td></td>
      </tr>

I also noticed your code is weird. Are you using a premade template?

Fixing these things will not only help your page look good, but also allow your site to be SEO friendly.