Do you change your header?

... As the seasons and holidays change? Or just for the heck of it?

A few times per year, I change the header on my Linnie Forum with new images and a new style, to "spice" things up. It gets boring seeing the same image all the time.

I've seen some forums that change the header in accordance with the season or holidays.

What about you?

 

What is your definition of a header?

 

The top part of the site that contains the logo. Perhaps I should have used the term "logo" in this case.

Many sites have a large header image though, which I consider to be more than just a logo. :shrug:

 

Did this for Halloween...

http://www.adminaddict.net/forum/graphics-design/halloween-header-4217/

The Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year headers are in the design phase* right now.

*Design Phase = begging a site member that is an incredible artist to create new images.

 

I will add a Christmas style header, and maybe other parts of my skin in the next few weeks

 

I haven't changed mine in years, the only thing i did do different last year, was adding the falling snow effect on my site.

 

Right - I've never heard someone refer to a forum header and mention change. I've heard them specify which part, though.

 

Well - the JPiC Forum logo changes from "Forum For Writers" to "Poetry in Color" on mouseover... So - I made images for Christmas and New Years last year...

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Kinda looked kewl LOL - I have some Halloween edits somewhere - but didn't even bother with it this year... Perhaps next year...? IDK

Anyway - was kinda nice for Members to logon and see the holiday graphics.

Jacquii.

 

I have different Logos depending on the Theme you look at. Right now I don't focus on changing the logos but in the future I will be making it so the Logo changes with each new refresh of the page =]

 

For those of you that change the header, do you ever get feedback from the membership? Also, do you see any change in the number of people that choose to become members of your site during the time that you have these "themed" headers up? Just wondering if the personalization of the site can cause an increase or a decrease in the site membership.

 

Hmmm - Interesting question. I never really paid attention about the registration rates - but I have had awesome feedback from Members about the themed headers. All positive feedback actually; Members were quite happy about the Christmas/New Years headers especially, as I had the snow mod on simultaneously. So it was kinda nice for the season - Everyone told me they loved it.

Jacquii.

 

Thanks Jacquii! Sometimes that's the best measure!

 

Yep, I sure do. I actually seek it because I like to hear what they think about the changes. Here's the thread from the last change to our current logo: Your Opinion: New Logo / Header Image

As you can see by skimming the thread, some users loved it, some weren't sure what to think, and others didn't like it very much because it wasn't as good as the previous one (the previous one had a variety of Linnies all throughout the header while this one just has the single one). Some people just don't like change though, so I attribute much of the members' reluctance to that.

This person though feels the same way I do:

(Post #19 in that thread).

We change our header a couple of times per year. Some people will like some of them and not the others. So it's good to mix it up every once in a while.

 

You could add snow to your logo, or maybe a Santa hat. I have a separate winter-themed skin for the holiday season with the falling snow effect, but I leave the regular skin available for people who don't like it.

 

We do a few seasonal logo decorations, minor, the regular logo still easily recognizable. Only 2 or 3 a year.

We have promotions for the annual forum birthday celebration, and the "birthday logo" helps attract attention to the doings.

 

I'm also in "design phase" for a December logo.


I go a little carefully with seasonally decorated logos ... some member is always ready to be offended! Not that I worry about every single complaint, but it's better not to repeatedly cheese off the same people. Going for the more generic, non-religious non-anything low-key decorations.

 

Well - I just added a Christmas header for WLS Journey Community Forums -- Just playing around in my graphics proggie. I like it anyway

Jacquii.

 

It looks great.

I found this animated snow to add to the background of my page, but the animated gif slowed down my webbrowser for some reason. The animated snow is at the bottom: Mbif's Backgrounds - Forces - Snow Backgrounds #1

 

Thanks! Just wanted to do something a little fun.

The animated snow mods are user-side intensive. Sometimes it can slow the browser because of the high amount of memory needed to show the animation. I ran the animated mod last year but only for Christmas day and New Years day so that it wouldn't unnecessarily burden my forums' users -- I don't think I'll run it this year though.

Jacquii.