What about the look and feel

[HostFrog]

I understand that in this day and age, brand is the best thing to focus on when attracting new customers. What about visitors and chatty guests? How important is it to make the look and feel of your forum to your website design (if indeed there is a website associated) HostFrog has made every attempt to make the feel of our community the most relaxing and inviting as possible. However, there only seems to be a few or no actual people on the forum at a given time. Don't get me wrong, we do have an active forum, but its active in sperts not consistant. Is this a direct effect of our "look" part? What are your experiences in this field?

[Scott]

I don't think so. Looks can only account for so much and it's usually dark backgrounds that would put people off. Your forum skin isn't the type which would prevent people from posting in my opinion. One suggestion I do have for your skin is the make it wider, but thats just personal feeling.

There seems to be a suggestion for an arcade, I think thats worth a try, it can keep brining members back.

[SoftWareRevue]

... What are your experiences in this field?I gave up on a forum for my clients after five years.

Although a lot can be said about "target client base," and their needs for the interaction of forum based support, you can probably lay it clearly at the feet of administration.

If you keep the things they need there, it should keep them coming back and utilizing those tools.

Hopefully, Bob will be around soon to tell us how it's done. :greenthum

For me, it didn't work out. For others, it does.

It just wasn't my goal or focus. But, if you enjoy that interaction with customers, feed them.

[HostFrog]

I have given a considerable amount of thought into our "look and feel" part of the HostFrog community. We have come to the conclusion with the help from ForumUniversity, that we will supply a Fun & Games section only accessable to memebers which will include an arcade and "wet bar"...pretty cool huh? Also we are going to promote awareness of the community and it's benefits in a monthly newsletter that is sent out to customers. This section of the newsletter will state all the wonderful benefits that members can enjoy just by signing up on the community.

If there is anything else you guys can suggest, we are always open for the comments and suggestions.

[Scott]

Sounds good, let us know how it goes. :)

[fazel3]

I don't know about you, but I've never found bright orange to be 'relaxing' :)

[HostFrog]

Well we see what your saying about "bright" orange not being relaxing! However, what color is relaxing? We are looking for something that is easy on the eyes, and yellow was out of the picture. We feel that our color matches are perfected to the T. We are talking about the look as in the size of the forum with the header and footer. Also refering to look as the clutterness (if you will) of the sections. Be brief or provide selection? Stay on topic or head off into left field? Not so much bright orange or dark brown.

[fazel3]

I hardly believe there is much to comment on your headers and footer sizes as they look bog standard. However as soon as I visited the forums, I noticed the bright orange on gray background which just looks wrong. If you want to be selective about the feedback you receive I guess there's no point in giving any :S

[HostFrog]

We take all feedback to the heart and we appreicate your comments! Didn't mean for it to sound like that. Orange, Grey and Green our our company colors however, and we have built a brand around that. With that being said, colors are not something that we are willng nor can change. However, as stated before your comments did not go unnoticed and will most certainly be brought to our attention.

[Owen]

Another is that the scope of your community is limited already: It's a user support forum. Unlike, say, WHT, it's not gonna attrack millions.

Also, I found this graphic (http://hostfrog.com/images/powerhosting.jpg) on your homepage to be offputting.

[HostFrog]

That is a very good point Owen, we also feel that the powerhosting image is a bit much aswell. That image will be removed this coming week. As far as attracting millions say as WHT or even ForumUniversity...I am merely speaking in regards to our customers. Getting them to use the forums more, and having new customers sign up on the community.

[Owen]

Actually; It's not so much it draws your attention - Thats good. It's just that it doesn't look refined. For example, the frog is pixelated

I wonder if posting announcements at the forums, and then giving a short summary with a "read more" link for the full story would help bring awareness to the forums?