NewsTalkForum.com

[jerett]

I am sort of nervous to do this but felt that it might be a good way to bring some awareness to my site. You never know until you try.....right? (tell me I am right. please?)

Well here goes....

My site is NewsTalkForum.com (http://www.newstalkforum.com). It is a forum for general discussion on the latest topics in the News, regardless if it is world or local or even personal. Not everyone sees the same side of a coffee cup sitting on the bar, just as not everyone will have the same take on the news. This alone makes for some very interesting and fun discussions that can make you think twice about your own understandings. Media can paint beautiful pictures but often, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this case, the truth is in the pen of the writer.

So please stop by and critic my site. Be nice but brutal if you want.

[Jan]

You might reduce the number of forums until you grow some :) Your forum skin is kinda dull, but then I guess a lot of news topics are too :P

On a personal note, if I was into news type forums, I would probably overlook yours. Brighten it up some.........not all news is bad right? :D

[jerett]

Thank you Jan. I thought about the number of forums and felt that being a news forum, I wanted to make sure to separate the topics out accordingly upfront instead of later.

On the design we were trying to go for a professional look that would appeal to the news readers. Something that would load fast and not be too distractive from the content being provided through the forum. (please don't over look ours :( )

I will look around for possible other forums skins that might work as well.

Any suggestions on the current skin or names of other skins that you feel would really work well, please let me know.

Thank you all again.

[jerett]

Would you feel this one would work better?
http://www.forummonkeys.com/forums/index.php

[SoftWareRevue]

Thank you Jan. I thought about the number of forums and felt that being a news forum, I wanted to make sure to separate the topics out accordingly upfront instead of later.

There are some things that are better left for later. And this is one of them.
I will look around for possible other forums skins that might work as well.

Any suggestions on the current skin or names of other skins that you feel would really work well, please let me know.I think the one you have is okay. I understand Jan's view though as well. There's nothing that makes that skin pop. Even though you aren't looking for the skin appeal effect, a little tweaking can make the one you're using a lot more interesting. Like infusing a little color here and there. Maybe an orange(ish) lastpost.gif. Changing the lines between forum categories on the home page to something other than white. It makes it look like one big page the way it is. Little things like that. Maybe even changing to a fixed width. Because some of us with large resolutions see a lot of space between Forum and Last Post.

This theme (http://www.forumthemes.com/forums/index.php?styleid=22) is similar to the one you purchased. But you can see that the little bit of color contrast with the lastpost button and the distinction between forum categories, makes it easier to follow.

[jerett]

I see what you mean and will try and add some "pop" to it. I have someone looking into possibly some candy to the header and I will work on the actual theme itself.

On the categories, how would you suggest I start it off? I really wanted to keep the news separated out by topic some that visit might only care to read sports or entertainment. I didn't want to jumble it all together.

Do you think that possibly with a skin touchup - the category list might look cleaner?

[jerett]

Oh: do you like the idea behind the board though SWR?

[D'Godown]

Hi jerett, I feel the theme you are using matches the category of forum, its not much dull neither bright, and both examples SWR and you put look down in front of current theme used.

Maybe you can add as many as themes and regulars can chose whichone they like much. But for now I see it looks pretty fine.

[jerett]

Well - to be honest I am moving forward and growing it into a more specific area of the news that I find interesting and fun to discuss. "Celebrity News"

It might seem wild and crazy - but I think such a forum would be fun and entertaining to see what others think. I am sure there are a few out there, but what is one more? I mean - people still become lawyers, right? :rofl:

So stayed tuned.

And if anyone loves Celebrity news and would like to be apart of this, please contact me.

[jerett]

On a similar note - I have the same skin at FU and wanted to know if you think it would work for a celeb forum? It's not very glam but I am not sure if glam is what I want.

[D'Godown]

For a celeb forum I hope you need a custom skin, you can expect one in range of ~$200, If you are really serious about a celeb skin.

Current skin is very fine, But a speciality skin has to be unique as well as a different theme.

[jerett]

Well that is what im saying - I have this them FU uses or I can mod the one I had up for NewsTalkForum.

Design is not an issue as I can handle that portion. i just want to save some time.

[D'Godown]

I hope you need a theme which have red and black color in it somewhere, A celeb forum theme cant be handled unprofessionally.

If you yourself can design themes, its great, Have you already designed any?

[jerett]

I agree but I would consider this FU theme very professional and easy on the eyes. I think flashy is good but being a forum and the amount of reading that is involved - you could easily overkill a theme. Something nice and comfortable on your eyes works best and this FU theme is probably what I will be using since I have it already.

Thanks though D'Godown