Content no longer the main factor of a website?

Well if you really come to think about it, content is not really the main factor for a website, we all mention how "content is key" or "content is king" but if you really do think about it, its not.

Maybe back in the day content was everything when websites all had a layouts and designs using just basic html pages and what not, but nowadays its the looks of a website that count. I see myself avoiding forums/websites that don't have an appealing design/layout regardless of content same goes for a nice design but no content (Vice Versa). Im sure its not just me here, and it may be the same for others.

Whats your thoughts?

 

Content is the most important. Appearance comes 2nd.

 

Agreed, if a forum was using the default software theme and had decent tutorials or something, it would'nt stop me from going there and using it, etc.

 

Content is first for me plus if I am made to feel welcome ie admins/ staff reply in my intro topic
i join one nice looking forum a while back and after 2 weeks I left no one replied in my intro even though staff and the admins had been on line I was made to feel un-welcome

 

It is, but my point its just not the main factor anymore.

 

well, you might find it, but most users online search on forums to be feed with knowledge/tutorials etc.

if the whole forum is just trolling each other, and usefull information is nowhere to be found, BUT it has the best theme ever, i still think people would leave.

 

Well yea I agree, I am not saying content is not important as it is, but I am saying it is not the main factor like it used to be.

 

i think the best quality would just be 50% good content, 50% good theme.

 

Well thats my point a nice design is just as important as great content.

 

Yeah indeed, i'd say its even important. But you said in the op that design is more important

 

I think content is first and design is a big second. An ugly yet active forum doesn't sound that appealing, but a beautiful yet empty forum isn't much better.

 

I never said it was more important, feel free to re-read it and understand my point which I am trying to say is design is a big thing to me, and if a forum has good content but not a nice design im not interested, vice versa.

 

New visitors first see design and then they search the website So,design or appearance as you said,is the first thing and content goes second

 

I disagree entirely. Content is certainly the key thing for me. While good looks are always a bonus point, I tend to visit a site more to read the content than gaze at the layout. Sure, if the layout is bad enough to get in the way of the content, then I'll likely close the page. If I can still read the content however, I won't mind.

 

SEO wise, content is king, that's what people mine. Person wise, design is king. Good content will bring you visitors. Good design will turn them into members, basically combined they are king.

 

Nice way to put it steven Both are very much important.

 

Content remains to be king. Why? It is because most webmasters are looking for organic traffic or the traffic that come freely from Google and other search engines and I am sure that these search engines could not yet evaluate whether your site is aesthetically good or not.

However, I think you have a point. It is because there are also some people who are attracted to the beauty of the design rather than the information they can get.

That is why, most webmasters would be interested to put up good content and make their sites presentable.

 

While I also believe that beauty is necessary to catch the attention of a savvy audience, without a good and useful content, then there is a big possibility that visitors would just eventually leave without you getting anything out of the visit. Content and design should be coming together. So why choose just one?

 

Thats my point, content is not the main factor.. its content and design now, both are very much important and not just content by itself or a design/layout of a website.

 

No I agree, these days a website/forum need to have everything to succeed, I look at content and looks. Both are important.