What draws you to a forum?

[Martyn Dale]

What draws you to a forum?

Aside from a well developed community, with many members, what is it that draws you to a forum? Which of those things are the most important to you?

Is it purely the colors? Perhaps the use of simple gradients? Or is it more than that.

Is it possible to draw someone in with just the use of simple colors, and basic gradients, or does it have to be something really flashy.

In addition, is there anything about the ProBoards "default" look (not colors) which could help improve the first impressions?

Again, please dont discuss member counts, or subjects, as those are obvious. This is with regards to the look, with the subject aside.

[Ben]

The genre of the forum topics and the organization of the forum. Graphics have somewhat small importance to me when it comes to favorite forums, I’ll happily post at a forum that has standard colors, and even one without any sort of design as long as the topics are well presented and the forum is organized.

[Gamoc]

Well, yes, as most people, the genre of the forum is definetely first. The next thing I look at is to see if the admin took some time to make a skin that well matches the theme to the forum. If the colors, gradients, and images all blend together to go well with a theme that I particularly like.

I like pokemon, so let me give an example with this; If someone named their forum "Crobats dungeon", I would not want to see a whole lot of chikoritas playing in a happy meadow if I did decide to join, I would want to see darker colors and basing it around Crobat. I would want it to resemble a dungeon, not a meadow.

If people can match out their colors with their theme, and it seems to be doing pretty good, then I will be more likely to join.

[kelendria]

For me I would say:

*The subject of a forum - Does it interest me? (I don't for example usually join RPGs or Harry Potter type forums)
*The layout - comfortable to the eyes & at least attractive
*Activity - are there at least daily posts & new topics?
*Interactivity - Do the Staff & Members get along or is there constant arguing or flaming.
Also do they welcome new members or is it more of a clique (it's good to have friends but sometimes you can feel like an outsider & guilty for joining because you feel like you've interrupted something)

Those are the few things that attract me personally but I'm not fussed over the latest graphics & designs & the latest codes, but how well the forum is run & am I going to be the only one there at the end of the day?

I would also add that loading time can make a difference, if it's taking too long to show it all I usually switch off

[BluAngel]

For me, I'm more likely to take a longer look around if the forum is using "gentle colors", as in gentle to the eyes. If it is a flashy neon color, I'm gone. If it is too "busy" in the look of the forum I'm gone. There are several Skin sites, that use darker colors, blacks/gold, Deep greens/Gold, that work very well together, are very cohesive and actually, suprisingly for someone who has problems seeing well, I can see more easily on their boards, because they took the time to make sure the text colors went well with the other colours they used.

If the overall topic of the board is something I'm interested in, I'll stay longer, and maybe join. If the orginazation of the forum makes sense, that is something that may keep me. If there are 60 forum boards, and only 10 being posted in at all, well, I don't bother. I know for me, I'm constantly having to see which areas on my board are being used and which are not. I have only one forum board that is totally inactive and stays, and that's because it was designed to be a read only (Website links for people to find more information on specific topics--Only admins can add to this section for security reasons on our forum). For me, it just doesn't make sense to have 60 forum boards and have 50 not even used. It shows that the Admin isn't keeping up with their board well. Add those areas as they are needed, don't keep them in anticipation, and don't have them set where you have to scroll from a populated area, through all the empty one's to get to the next one that is actually active.

Hope I answered somewhere on topic. I was trying to!!

[«¤†Braden†¤»]

What tends to draw me to a forum is:

1. A good layout with colors that are not to dark and colors that do not blind you.

2. Not too many members

3. Good staff

[bluefiredevil]

The first thing that usually draws me to a site is the subject of it and a good skin that matches well and is easy on the eyes, a good banner that matches with the site as well as new/old icons that match with the theme and skin of the site, and of course you can't forget the background.

If a skin is a bunch of random colors that hurt your eyes then I'm gone, but even if the skin doesn't hurt my eyes and is still a bunch of random colors that don't match 9/10 I'm not sticking around to look at the rest of the site. When highlighting the board it shouldn't be too bright, nor too dark, it has to be just right for me some times, unless it's a site that "really" interest me, I would be able to overlook that.

I could care less about menu buttons, I find them pointless and the text menus usually work just fine for me. And it doesn't always have to be a fancy site with a bunch of coding, it can be basic simple, and a skin that isn't just a template somewhere, a site is some times much better when the admin takes the time to make their own skin, it what I try to do all the time. And I think you can draw someone with just a simple skin if the site is good and all.

[HoudiniDerek]

The thing that has always drawn me to a forum for the most part is the theme of the forum. What is the content? Is it about something I like and do I think that I could have fun and contribute to the forum as a member?

I rarely look at things like colors and graphics and the like. Yes, I look around to see if the forum is active and if they are open to suggestions and such, but it is rare that I do not join for that reason. The few forums I am a member of are all very open to member input and I strive to be a good member on those forums.

I think that if the content is there for you, everything else, including community, will follow.

[🎶Sossity🎶]

What draws me is the topic/subject. I once had a major interest in a particular footballer. There wasn't much written about him in the U.K. When i got a computer, and found my way around, I joined a forum dedicated to him.

There were no graphics and flash coding, just people posting on a black background with white lettering, but, i enjoyed my time there. So, yeah, at the end of the day it was the members who made it worthwhile, not fancy graphics.

Can't really criticise the default look. However, it may help to make it clear to prospective admins that the the url cannot be changed as regards to the forum's name. This 'problem' comes up frequently in support.

[boltonboy06]

For me this would have to be

1) A customized skin that shows the admin as made an effort
2) Graphics Layout and Coding needs to be well presented
3) Active members and staff

[HoudiniDerek]

boltonboy06 said:

For me this would have to be

1) A customized skin that shows the admin as made an effort
2) Graphics Layout and Coding needs to be well presented
3) Active members and staff

So you will join ANY forum as long as it has all of the above? Don't get me wrong: I think those can be important to members and guests, but it would never be the most important to me and I am curious as to why these three things out rank your desire for the content.

[Blind Bandit]

I admit I"m new to the probards scene and I have never been once to care about fancy graphics and codes. As long as its readable and not over top its fine. Whats important to me is.
1. Subject
2. Contnet-If the posts are good and discussion is good I will probably join
3. Staff - As somone who is board member and a staff member I hate it when a staff member gets a big head and an iron fist. I like staff who still remember they are there to serve the best interests of the board, and members not there ego. I also enjoy when staff interacts with everyone I don't like staff is who are only there to fix probelms.
4. members- If there are good people who are respectul of others and can still have a good time then thats a huge plus.
5. General atmosphere- If I feel comfortable on a board then I will join and post.

I think many (I know a lot of people are graphics makers and coders) need to remember back when forums where nothing but black and white text with avatars. I think many people forget that graphics don't matter. Most big boards who pay to use forum software are extremly riestircted in there look and feel becasue of the software and contract. Where pretty lucky here on probards that w have as much freedom as we do.

[macadder]

What draws me here? I stumbled across the site unintentionally and registered but have not got a clue what this is all about.
Would some one please be kind enough to enlighten me what this site is all about.

[HoudiniDerek]

macadder said:

What draws me here? I stumbled across the site unintentionally and registered but have not got a clue what this is all about.
Would some one please be kind enough to enlighten me what this site is all about.

This site is to help you with the forum you might have opened under the Proboards umbrella. You can get help with graphics, codes, regular support problems, etc. You can test out new things or have your forum rated. This is the hub of all the Proboards servers.

[Loucifer]

These are things which draw me to a forum (although it isn't always limited to these):

• Subject matter. If I'm not interested in the subject then I won't join.
  
• Looks. I'm not overly fussy on looks, but as long as I can read it and easily find my way around then I'm happy.
  
• Little or no spam. If there doesn't seem to be much spam then I'm happy.
  
• Good activity. If the forum looks relatively active then that's a plus point.
  
• Staff. If the staff seem friendly then I'll definitely consider joining.