So I'd like to share this project I'm working on, but I don't wanna spam.

[surviva316]

Have a landing page that isn't the forum.

I'm going to look more into how to do this effectively and strongly consider doing this. For now, I'm working with what I've got.

Don't make people log in to learn about what the hell your site does.

You don't need to log in to do anything. You don't even need to necessarily log in to post. But if the site makes you think that you have to, then I suppose that's the exact same as them having to (perception is everything, etc). I'll definitely keep that in consideration.

Spend a few bucks to buy a template online so your site doesn't look so plain.

Okay, so I might lose you here, but I'm trying to make the site as community-run as possible. If I'm going to change the template, I'd like to throw it out to the community in the form of a contest so that the community itself decides the look and feel and so that the community itself reaps the profits, the credit, the thing to put on their resume, etc. I posted a contest to build a template for the site, but then deleted it because I thought it was too optimistic for the site in its current state.

Anyway, thanks a ton for the feedback, even if it seems all I did was defend myself. I'll definitely discuss all of this stuff with all of my cohorts and see if I can't implement, if not the ideas themselves, alternative solutions to the problems addressed.

[Galapogos]

You don't need to log in to do anything. You don't even need to necessarily log in to post. But if the site makes you think that you have to, then I suppose that's the exact same as them having to (perception is everything, etc). I'll definitely keep that in consideration.

Very true. Your goal is to make the experience as simple as possible for the user they may be smart, but they don't come to a site expecting to be challenged by it's UI. For instance, went to your site, couldn't figure out what it was, clicked on How It Works, and was told I had to log in. At that point I said fuck it and left. I went there with the intention of finding out what your site was all about. Imagine how much less patience someone who stumbled across your site would have.

Also, you said you don't need to log in, but I have no idea how someone gets to these pages that pop up the login alerts.

Okay, so I might lose you here, but I'm trying to make the site as community-run as possible. If I'm going to change the template, I'd like to throw it out to the community in the form of a contest so that the community itself decides the look and feel and so that the community itself reaps the profits, the credit, the thing to put on their resume, etc. I posted a contest to build a template for the site, but then deleted it because I thought it was too optimistic for the site in its current state.

Imo anyone who is half decent at this kind of thing is going to want to get paid. A worthwhile design is more than a couple hours in Photoshop like a lot of people think. Even those bargain bin template sites will be much better than something a volunteer will come up with. Hopefully one of your users will be able to pull it off though.

[eugmac]

For instance, went to your site, couldn't figure out what it was, clicked on How It Works, and was told I had to log in. At that point I said fuck it and left.

Agree, this is exactly what I did too the first time I visited your site. Every website has about 10 seconds to make clear to a new visitor what the site is about, otherwise he will lose interest and leave.

[surviva316]

Also, you said you don't need to log in, but I have no idea how someone gets to these pages that pop up the though.

Just tested it out and what in the bloody fuck? You can get to those threads from ANYwhere else without needing to log in; why the hell is it set up that you need to log in to click the menu bar links?

I'll for sure get on changing that if at all possible.

[surviva316]

Just tested it out and what in the bloody fuck? You can get to those threads from ANYwhere else without needing to log in; why the hell is it set up that you need to log in to click the menu bar links?

I'll for sure get on changing that if at all possible.

Issue resolved. Feedback very very very much appreciated. I may literally have spent 10xs as much time and effort on the how it works, etc up until this point (writing them, figuring out which links and where and all). Obviously that menu bar was to get people to feel comfortable not to tell them they're not welcome until they give us their email, etc

[surviva316]

Imo anyone who is half decent at this kind of thing is going to want to get paid. A worthwhile design is more than a couple hours in Photoshop like a lot of people think. Even those bargain bin template sites will be much better than something a volunteer will come up with. Hopefully one of your users will be able to pull it off though.

it wouldn't be volunteered at all, which is one of the snags that made me delete the Contest thread. As an example the Make Us a Logo contest has a reward of $100 because I talked to someone who employs a professional graphic designer and he said he paid him 75 $/hr, then I talked to a graphic designer and he said a simple logo should take no more than an hour to design, so I rounded up 33% and settled on the prize. I also have a query that offers royalties for coming up with a small (relatively in the grand scheme of novel-writing) idea.

Anyway, yeah I treat that type of stuff seriously and would offer a legit prize to someone who designed a template for the entire website. It's just that for now, that seems a bit ambitious/expensive.