Hey, I am pretty new to the site and I would love to hear what you guys have to say about my pride and joy. This is my first site that I have built and maintained for more then 10-20 users. I am interested in what you guys think I need to add and what I need to take away. What looks professional and what looks childish? Also, please feel free to comment on the skin, I paid $68 for it and I am very pleased with the people that did it for me. I would like to know if I got my monies worth for it. Anyways, without further adieu(or however it is spelled): Forum URL: Peach State Airsoft Board Forum Name: Peach State Airsoft Launch Date: March 2009 Posts/Threads/Members: 4K+/Not Sure/155 Forum Software: IP.Board 3.0.x Description: A community board for Airsoft players in the SouthEast USA, specifically Georgia. Other Info/Points of Interest: First forum for me with more then 20 members. Custom skin. Thanks, and I look forward to your thoughts.
First Impression: Is it gun related? The camouflage patters makes me believe so, if so, the theme is very nice and adequate. Forum Content Quantity of Forums: Seems all fine and dandy to me, actually I like the set up. Content: Your forum seems to be very friendly and informative, I really didn’t know what airsoft was[as you can see in my first impression], but just reading around a bit I got it. Is it like paintball or is it something totally different? Anyways, I find the topic very interesting, and I actually got into some of the posts, plus you guys include your users in it. I find it a ‘refreshing’ topic for those people who like to have fun. Your users seem friendly, plus they won’t complain if you put ads which most would do. Forum Design Favicon: Get rid of the Invision favicon!!!!!! That’s all. On, off icons: I like your status icons very much! Some other icons are default IPB some others have white matte[smileys] around them, which doesn’t look that good Design: Well, your design doesn’t leave much to say about your forum just that it's gun related, for people who know airsoft is, would get it, but I had a bit of time trying to figure out what airsoft was. Now, the skin is does convey what it is, I like the colors and how they all come together, the skin is not dull as most of that scheme would be. It’s simple, but it works for me. I pretty much like the skin a lot, but I’m not a ‘fan’ of it, the only thing I don’t like is that the smileys have white matte on them, only that. Overall Impression: Seems you’re doing quite well, friendly, fun and ‘good-looking’ environment. Would be nice much more advertisements and for you to explain a bit more what airsoft is for noobs like me, I really got interested, maybe people who don’t know and ‘just’ browse the net might get interested too. I wish you luck! And you’re doing great, so it seems. I hope this helps!
Thanks for the comments. I will look into creating or linking to a "What is Airsoft" type thread for new people to understand what it is. For the Favicon, I have tried to change it before, but I have no programs that can export to .ico! I have PS CS4 thanks to my school, but that doesn't have an option for .ico! I would love to hear from some of you other folks. I am sure that there is some way I can improve!
Actually you can make your favicon PNG format. <link rel="shortcut icon" href="link to image" type="image/png" />
