I have just started a new RP site and wondered what it is that actually lures people in. What makes you want to join a site? And, in comparison, what puts you off?

This'll apply for any site, but being the top search for Google will help and be your greatest asset. This can be achieved by using metatags and title tags, although sometimes you may need to pay to improve your search rank.

Once you get visitors you have about 10 seconds to get them hooked on your site and want to join. No I'm not making that up, you have to understand that viewers want the relevant info as fast as possible. This can come down to visuals, layout, organisation of links and pages; the easier it is for people to find what they want the faster you will have them join the site.

Why is Google more popular than Yahoo, why is Facebook more popular than MySpace, what makes a brand preference to Apple or Microsoft. These are questions you have to understand and by doing so you can understand how people (consumers) will act. Copying the competition isn't always the best as well and sometimes you may need to change things up to gather more interest. That is what Mahz, the guild's site owner, has been trying to achieve. He's worked hard on creating a custom, unique experience that matches consumer's desires. It's a hard road but it has paid out well so far.

Thanks so much for your reply! I don't suppose you could take a look at my site and give me some honest critique could you?

For it not to suck.

@beccaday02
Feel free for us to see in this thread, I say.

@beccaday02 I am looking at this on my tablet so things may be a bit different on a computer. Mobile gives a generic, non-styled look.

• Text is hard to read, both the colour and font. This can be seen especially in headers like "Welcome to no rest for the dead" and "characters and plotting"
• Top banner is honestly a waste of space. It's a visual element that offers no info or real purpose.
• While the theme is very post apocalyptic, it does feel somewhat generic with things like the biohazard symbol and burning fire.
• That side bar is still visually seen in a thread, so on my tablet it takes up half the page. (Suggestion, move user profiles above post or remove that side element)
• Don't understand what is the point of the biohazard symbols under usernames, especially with the admin's 25. If it's a rank then there are cleaner ways to organise this.
• A lot of sub forums, not a lot of content. If you can condense this up it'll make the site look busier rather than having sections like "questions and concerns" empty.
• Advert board is a terrible idea in my opinion. It's a place for spam and can take people away from your site. Sounds good for sharing sites and members, but people don't work like that. Catering for regulars is more important than the one who stops by. Ask any big business that and they'll say their regulars are who spread the word and keep returning.

This is all just personal opinion too, so take it how you will. However the site feels very 2000'ish in its design.

@NuttsnBolts Brilliant thank you so much! I will take this on board and make some changes :)

Try going for a minimalist layout. Don't just throw in flashy things just because they look pretty.

I was never in charge of a site, but I remember hopping through different roleplay sites (which I shall not name) because they overloaded my brain with all the unnecessary content. That's the main reason why I like it here - it's just...simple.

Personally, the guild's dark background has always been a nice touch. The white text pops out nicely and I don't have to strain to read anything usually. I've spent many hours writing in the middle of the night. It's nice when my eyes have already adjusted to the dark and the computer screen isn't blindingly white or some other super-bright color. An ergonomic color scheme may seem insignificant, but it has heavily influenced how often I come back to this site.
Like Krot said, "it's simple". I've been to other sites which assault your eyes with flashy banners and animations, and it often ends up being more of an annoyance after the novelty wears off.

I know "intuitive interface" seems like some marketing buzzword (it really is), but it has its place. I'm much more willing to stick around a site if the pages are organized and easy to navigate, compared to a maze of links and subforums. The less I have to think about navigating to the content I want, the better.

All fab tips, thanks guys!

@beccaday02
I'm looking at it and I personally find the text is a little too dark to read without squinting. I think brightening up the text would help it look better. I might just be blind as shit tho.