ProBoard Promotion

[lots0]

I know I have a lot of work to do but I would love to get some opinions on my new forum. ProBoard Promotion helps people promote their ProBoards message board or find a new online community to call home. We're using a pre-made theme created by elli! Thanks!

[lots0]

bump

[argilesox]

To me the theme just looks a bit plane. I would try adding some colors or a nice background to it.
While the purpose of your forum is nice, I honesty don't see why someone would join because they can promote their forum here where there is bigger audience. In my opinion you should offer something that isn't available anywhere else. I also find that enabling the shoutbox is beneficial.

[lots0]

Oct 24, 2019 12:47:52 GMT -8 argilesox said:

To me the theme just looks a bit plane. I would try adding some colors or a nice background to it.
While the purpose of your forum is nice, I honesty don't see why someone would join because they can promote their forum here where there is bigger audience. In my option you should offer something that isn't available anywhere else.

I understand what you're saying. I wanted to keep the theme a little more plain just so it's not overwhelming. I know I don't currently have a huge audience but I'm hoping that will change. I appreciate your opinion but I also believe that's like saying why would someone join a graphics forum when they could just come to the support board to request graphics or find codes.. It's hard to find things that no other forum offers but I don't believe people shouldn't make forums or try to have a successful board because of it.  

[lots0]

bump

[Retread]

Oct 24, 2019 12:57:04 GMT -8 lots0 said:

I wanted to keep the theme a little more plain just so it's not overwhelming.

Simple is good, imho. But the average brightness isn't far from white so it's not easy on the eyes. At least not my eyes.

This is what I see as a guest:

SPOILER: Click to show

Dialing back the white and light grey areas just a bit seems better to me.

SPOILER: Click to show

But I think also darkening the dead space in the wrapper is even better.

SPOILER: Click to show

YMMV.

[lots0]

Oct 28, 2019 13:09:39 GMT -8 Retread said:

Oct 24, 2019 12:57:04 GMT -8 lots0 said:

I wanted to keep the theme a little more plain just so it's not overwhelming.

Simple is good, imho. But the average brightness isn't far from white so it's not easy on the eyes. At least not my eyes.

This is what I see as a guest:

SPOILER: Click to show

Dialing back the white and light grey areas just a bit seems better to me.

SPOILER: Click to show

But I think also darkening the dead space in the wrapper is even better.

SPOILER: Click to show

YMMV.

I've thought about a few of those. Thanks for your suggestions! I'll work on it today!

[lots0]

bump

[lots0]

bump

[Former Member]

Hi friend! 

I wanted to give you some constructive, honest feedback. With this type of feedback, I don't mean any harm. I never do. Please be assured that I am just trying to help. Sometimes there are critiques that will take me two hours. Some will take me thirty minutes or less. Each critique that I do give though I put my full heart into it. If you have any questions, please pm me! 

First Impressions:
There is way too much white. I had to squint my eyes when I opened the page. All I saw was white. I do like the designs of the circle icons to the left of each board, but they were also hard to see. The font size is way too small. I had to CTRL + in order to see it clearly. 

I always highly encourage designers to delete the word, "General" from their vocabulary. Please rename these categories to something else. I was very impressed when I saw that the first category was named, "Bulletin", but when I scrolled down I was disappointed when I saw, "General". General should never go at the bottom. It should always go up top.

Honestly, the website reminds me of an office area. Try and be more creative with naming the categories and the boards. They do not have to have general titles. Don't be afraid to be creative and have some fun!


Content:
Here are a few suggestions on how I would organize this website:


1. First category: "Bulletin" (also known as the General category)

Some of the boards that are in the "General" category can be combined and moved into the first category. These types of boards should always go first. Here's how it should look like: 

A. Directory: This is where members can find out more information about the website. What are the uses of the website, the history of the website, and how to navigate around the website. 

Sub-boards: Guidelines, History of the website (how old is the website, when did the website start, why did you want to create the website, ect), Navigation, ect.  

B. Marketplace: Advertise your website, get opinions, ect. 

Sub-boards: Advertise, Opinions, ect. 

C. News Center (or memo):  This board can be for important events about the website. 

Sub-boards: Administration, Announcements, Leave of Absence, Rules, ect. 

D. Water Cooler (name your discussion board something else such as office item to go with the setting of the website). You can always describe what is in the description. You could put something like: Here members can discuss many different topics and topics that aren't related to the website. 

Sub-boards: Creativity, Entertainment, ect. 

2. The Second category could be about different types of technology and proboards activity. 

Honestly, the website here is to promote proboards so make sure that you post the news just as much as they do (I'm not saying to copy whatsoever, just make sure that you are keeping up with all the changes). 

If you truly desire to keep into one category, then do so! Don't be afraid to make an informative website one category. It does not need a lot of categories or separation because the topics all run together nicely. Just a little creative naming, some color changing, and reorganizing is all this website needs! 

Graphics:
Honestly, what might help with the whiteness of the website is drawing a gray border around the edges. There is just so much white that something needs to give color wise. 

Advertisement Ideas:
(I'll come back to this part)


Last Few Notes: I love this idea. I do think it needs to be more clear at what you are trying to accomplish. Most boards have a description in the "Home" board of what the website is about. Either  I'm not saying that you have to implement my ideas in any way (since I am not an expert). I am just giving some honest feedback. I hope you liked the feedback and I wish you all the success in the world!

[lots0]

Nov 6, 2019 16:48:18 GMT -8 @riversa said:

Hi friend! 

I wanted to give you some constructive, honest feedback. With this type of feedback, I don't mean any harm. I never do. Please be assured that I am just trying to help. Sometimes there are critiques that will take me two hours. Some will take me thirty minutes or less. Each critique that I do give though I put my full heart into it. If you have any questions, please pm me! 

First Impressions:
There is way too much white. I had to squint my eyes when I opened the page. All I saw was white. I do like the designs of the circle icons to the left of each board, but they were also hard to see. The font size is way too small. I had to CTRL + in order to see it clearly. 

I always highly encourage designers to delete the word, "General" from their vocabulary. Please rename these categories to something else. I was very impressed when I saw that the first category was named, "Bulletin", but when I scrolled down I was disappointed when I saw, "General". General should never go at the bottom. It should always go up top.

Honestly, the website reminds me of an office area. Try and be more creative with naming the categories and the boards. They do not have to have general titles. Don't be afraid to be creative and have some fun!


Content:
Here are a few suggestions on how I would organize this website:


1. First category: "Bulletin" (also known as the General category)

Some of the boards that are in the "General" category can be combined and moved into the first category. These types of boards should always go first. Here's how it should look like: 

A. Directory: This is where members can find out more information about the website. What are the uses of the website, the history of the website, and how to navigate around the website. 

Sub-boards: Guidelines, History of the website (how old is the website, when did the website start, why did you want to create the website, ect), Navigation, ect.  

B. Marketplace: Advertise your website, get opinions, ect. 

Sub-boards: Advertise, Opinions, ect. 

C. News Center (or memo):  This board can be for important events about the website. 

Sub-boards: Administration, Announcements, Leave of Absence, Rules, ect. 

D. Water Cooler (name your discussion board something else such as office item to go with the setting of the website). You can always describe what is in the description. You could put something like: Here members can discuss many different topics and topics that aren't related to the website. 

Sub-boards: Creativity, Entertainment, ect. 

2. The Second category could be about different types of technology and proboards activity. 

Honestly, the website here is to promote proboards so make sure that you post the news just as much as they do (I'm not saying to copy whatsoever, just make sure that you are keeping up with all the changes). 

If you truly desire to keep into one category, then do so! Don't be afraid to make an informative website one category. It does not need a lot of categories or separation because the topics all run together nicely. Just a little creative naming, some color changing, and reorganizing is all this website needs! 

Graphics:
Honestly, what might help with the whiteness of the website is drawing a gray border around the edges. There is just so much white that something needs to give color wise. 

Advertisement Ideas:
(I'll come back to this part)


Last Few Notes: I love this idea. I do think it needs to be more clear at what you are trying to accomplish. Most boards have a description in the "Home" board of what the website is about. Either  I'm not saying that you have to implement my ideas in any way (since I am not an expert). I am just giving some honest feedback. I hope you liked the feedback and I wish you all the success in the world!

I've seen your review's on other peoples posts and think you do a really job! It's so nice of you to take the time to give people reviews and constructive feedback. I haven't thought that the theme was too white but I have thought about making the text a little bigger. I like having the boards first that are about announcements and introductions so it's the first thing they see and click. I like the idea of having different board names and taking out 'general' but I have been confused on some peoples forums trying to decipher exactly what the boards meant and where to post stuff so I tried to be a little more generic. The idea of the forum is pretty much advertising. A forum people can add their site to our directory and people can come to it if they're trying to find a new forum they want to join. It's meant more just to be a directory of peoples forums than a site that has a lot of posts or activity. A forum for people to advertise their proboards forum. Thanks for your opinions and feedback. I'll definitely take them into consideration!

[Former Member]

You're welcome dear! And thank you!

I am so grateful that people are liking these critiques. I never want to offend anyone. All I want to do is provide constructive feedback. Thank you!

[lots0]

bump

[argilesox]

I just revisited and it is looking a lot better!

[lots0]

Nov 21, 2019 8:30:13 GMT -8 argilesox said:

I just revisited and it is looking a lot better!

Thanks!