I was reading the "How to spice up participation at the FIB?" thread and came up with some ideas/suggestions that I would like to share. I did not write this to offend or critize, But hopefully to help, or at least maybe trigger someone else to other ideas etc. to better the site and welcome people in and to participate more.
So here it is:
When I come to the F.I.B., or Nocaster.com, the first page that appears is IMHO, just not very attractive, or effective.
It may not seem like it, but this is "THE MOST IMPORTANT PAGE OF THE WHOLE SITE!"
"THE ENTRANCE" or I kinda like:
"THE GATEWAY INTO THE F.I.B."
The number one goal of this entrance page, and the whole site for that matter should be to "WELCOME" the visitor in such a way that it draws interest in order to lead the visitor to go further into the site!
There are numerous little things that can be done that would acheive great results. For example:
Changing the background, adding some related images, using different font styles/colors, positioning things in certain ways, proper contrast with links etc., highlight special interest areas, etc., would also be very effective. This would not only create interest, but move the visitor around the page, making them curious and interested in what's going on inside the F.I.B.!
In a sense, you can determine which way the visitor will react to the F.I.B. by how attractive and effective this first page is. It's that saying: "First Impressions Count"
Now, to create participation, IMO the site must provide opportunities to participate in something. I would imagine that is one reason for polls. It allows the visitor to participate in something. But let's face it, that's not very exciting IMO. I know there were a few threads over on the Bill Lawrence forum about guitar samples, some pro, some con,.....and I don't want to rehash that.....
But anyway, that would be an excellent oportunity for people to participate here. After all, you got everything Fender going on, some "Fender Sounds" would definately be at home here IMO.
Here's three things that came to mind after reading the participation thread:
1.) To draw more people into the site.
2.) To have more participation from the people.
3.) To supply the best information/advice/help possible to the people.
SUGGESTIONS:
1.) CHANGE LAYOUT of the first webpage.
2.) Provide more opportunities to participate.
3.) The info/advice/help is already here, some things just need to be better arranged or sorted out, organized, which I know is already in progress.
So with all that being said, I would like to submit a "rough layout" for the entrance to F.I.B., if allowed.
RVF
So here it is:
When I come to the F.I.B., or Nocaster.com, the first page that appears is IMHO, just not very attractive, or effective.
It may not seem like it, but this is "THE MOST IMPORTANT PAGE OF THE WHOLE SITE!"
"THE ENTRANCE" or I kinda like:
"THE GATEWAY INTO THE F.I.B."
The number one goal of this entrance page, and the whole site for that matter should be to "WELCOME" the visitor in such a way that it draws interest in order to lead the visitor to go further into the site!
There are numerous little things that can be done that would acheive great results. For example:
Changing the background, adding some related images, using different font styles/colors, positioning things in certain ways, proper contrast with links etc., highlight special interest areas, etc., would also be very effective. This would not only create interest, but move the visitor around the page, making them curious and interested in what's going on inside the F.I.B.!
In a sense, you can determine which way the visitor will react to the F.I.B. by how attractive and effective this first page is. It's that saying: "First Impressions Count"
Now, to create participation, IMO the site must provide opportunities to participate in something. I would imagine that is one reason for polls. It allows the visitor to participate in something. But let's face it, that's not very exciting IMO. I know there were a few threads over on the Bill Lawrence forum about guitar samples, some pro, some con,.....and I don't want to rehash that.....
But anyway, that would be an excellent oportunity for people to participate here. After all, you got everything Fender going on, some "Fender Sounds" would definately be at home here IMO.
Here's three things that came to mind after reading the participation thread:
1.) To draw more people into the site.
2.) To have more participation from the people.
3.) To supply the best information/advice/help possible to the people.
SUGGESTIONS:
1.) CHANGE LAYOUT of the first webpage.
2.) Provide more opportunities to participate.
3.) The info/advice/help is already here, some things just need to be better arranged or sorted out, organized, which I know is already in progress.
So with all that being said, I would like to submit a "rough layout" for the entrance to F.I.B., if allowed.
RVF
