Thread: Trying to get a theme...

Okay, I have posted this site a few times, but I am in need of some ideas to continue my theme on www.electronics4dummies.com . If anyone has any ideas, please help. I appreciate it. And thanks voda, for making everything so simple. :)

Are you considering a change? How about dropping the dark grey background for something more in tune with your page. Look at the templates, there are some good ones in there. Or make you own related to electronics.

MS/IBM "blue" works well for computers & electronics, dove grey is good for "tech," and charcoal (borders/boxes/highlights) is good for a "store enviornment"....

As far as a theme? You should visit other similar sites to note the simple layouts, how they feature, means of emphasis, and then list all the "items" you wish to include in your site.......usually, the scope and type of content "force" a format, and choosing colors and details is a personal choice. Most people don't get this far though - they don't have either a real business or website plan to refer structural development to, let alone be able to accomodate variation or refinements "based on a theme"....

personal opinion, of course!

what is the #000000 thing for ms/ibm blue? by the way... is that a compliment? I sort of took it as one, but I am not sure...

Wait, I want the rgb, not the hex...

(yes)
in BV: h:140, s:240, l:176, r:119, g:187, b:255.........

thanks.. my temporary page (the one I am testing) is here www.electronics4dummies.com/temp.htm

so, does anyone like the temp page?

Looks much better. Play with it.
-Place the Google adsense bar on the right of the screen, it is stealing your page.
-Aardvak to the bottom of the page.
-Give your text messages inside the boxes a bit more left/right margins so they don't crowd the edges.
-Leave the chip design where it is or smack in the center above your header "Electronics...."

alright, here is what it looks like now... *looks ashamed" http://www.electronics4dummies.com/temp.htm

hmmmm....i'm not sure what I think. It is great that you want to put a "theme" to your pages...I think that is very important!

But I really liked the way you had it before...although it was a little bit "chrom-y".....but then, that's what I think about electronics. Before, it looked like a site where someone was really an "electronic expert" ....very professional and crisp. But it did need a little "splash" of color somewhere.

But when I looked at the "new"colorful page....i just wasn't sure what it was about. I LOVE lots of color ordinarily..and I can see why you want to add some color to your site....but this new style just doesn't seem "right" for some reason. The colors are "tropical" but the style of the menu bar and your logo picture don't fit those colors.
It doesn't look as "professional" to me...which is what I would NEED cause I'm an electronic dummy!!! LOL

Have you thought about going back to the "grey" style you had before with maybe a very "steel" shade of green for a background? A light green, but not a pastel. That would blend so nicely with your grey buttons. You could still do the "gradient" of colors, but stay in shades of green, or shades of "steel blue"...dark to light...

i just think too many colors make it confusing.

Then, if you want, put in a bar of red or burgundy here and there for your columns, etc. for just a splash of color....Just a suggestion......

You are doing great and i love your menu bar!

(Don't be ashamed....every bit of work you put in demonstrates your quest for perfection, something VodaHost makes possible for each of us!)

I think the suggestion of reverting back to the "techno" diamond plate/steel look would be fine....IF it is kept at 800 wide, with a dove grey background. Just try to keep it from being so "dark" overall. *Wherever you have text on your "page" (like in your manuals), it would be best if they had a white background - better for copy/paste or download/print by visitors.

And, honestly, your use of the table smack dab in the center of your Home page needs to be re-thought......right now, it is simply too big across the page, and is not "special" enough to either attract the attention it deserves, or is written succiently to convey an 'invitation'(?) to enter/link with.... Maybe a simplified "list" or series of smaller "boxed ads" would be better? Think of it as your "Categories" of Content and maybe my perspective might make more sense.

Which...leads into the relationship to your Menu and links setup. Having your most important links as buttons across the top is fine, if they are of relational value: I can see them being "Home" "About Us" "Contact Us" "Our Forum" etc. Then to the left, I would then list vertically links such as "Product Reviews" "User Guides" "Tips & Tweaks" etc.....this gives you an "L" shaped links header "frame"....
This gives a visitor a better understanding of what you are and what they can find of interest...hence, your "theme"
And...back to the center "table/links"....then this section can be where you can post your mini-highlights (newest review?), hot topics (maybe as found in your Forum?), current issues (to be found in "News"), etc.

Building a theme is more than colors and shapes...it is the overall impression and organization of what your site is all about. Your Main page should represent the functionality of an "Index" to your site with the demonstrated continuity to inspire the visitor to drill in deeper.

Again...in my opinion...

Vasili wrote: "Building a theme is more than colors and shapes...it is the overall impression and organization of what your site is all about. Your Main page should represent the functionality of an "Index" to your site with the demonstrated continuity to inspire the visitor to drill in deeper."

Absolutley and well said!! But, I still think that VISUAL IMPACT out-trumps organization......color sets the mood and tone and "feeling" of the site, shapes are the visual impact that makes it flow...or not! Of course, being an "art" person, I would take well done visual impact over content any day! If a person can't "look" at your site, then they probably won't stay long enough to read the content. Remember, websites are 99.9 percent VISUAL (sensory) experiences and if you don't make your "impact" immediately with color and visual elements, chances are, you loose your audience. After all, you wouldn't watch a movie on a blank screen no matter how good the narration is.

You only have a few seconds to make a visual first impression....THEN if the viewer is "pulled in" or the mood is set...they will stay to read the rest of your theme....so tweaking the organization is very important.

Just a thought! Keep up the good work pemdas! You have a great site!

Not to mince words, but my emphasis was on "overall impression" and "organization"....and I started out with the agreement that a toned down version of his original color shceme would do just that.....
I wholeheartedly agree (and am known for 'hammering the concept in'): The "total picture" needs be crafted with care...the first seconds of a visitor's impressions are critical to maintain "engagement"...and to cut corners on logical purpose/navigation (organization) is to commit online suicide!

sigh.

You just need some color, like I said before the first thing I notice was no color. on the page of websites it NEEDS color. If you just had some video captures small but something from the videos to get attention, notes around th music link, color just some color. I like your site, the videos are great, the german translation makes it even better,and of course the intelligent druggie in jail. Just spice it up. So many colors to try, invent your own use color cop it is a great tool for matching colors etc. Keep it up, getting better each time I see it,if that is of any consequence.

Hate the bright colours - looks like a new-worldy spiritual background. Keep it simple in terms of colour, or maybe look for a background that reflects electronics (like the computer chip on your original page).
That's my two pen'orth. You'll be able to return the favour as soon as I post!

Okay!!! After a few days I have finally come up with something that I think is decent! Please, tell me what you think... I also created another page that is about electronics for dummies and what I do. http://www.electronics4dummies.com please, tell me what you think!!!

Much better. Cleaner. Simple, logical, and finally presents the "compelling" invitation to drill-in (I like the way you have 'announced' your intention to publish a monthly manual, for instance).
Go for it!

Visili! You have no idea how much this means to me!!! I did have this done a few days ago, but right before I saved, my 5 year old laptop that hasn't EVER had an xp reinstall died... :( But thank you soooooo much for the compliment. I am actually going to have an ebay auction for a 468x60 pixel banner ad at the bottom of my homepage. I am thinking $10 for a month. (the site only costs me $15 a year -(minus) google ads)

WOW, when I said color in other posts, I meant a little color, toooooo strong, doesn't say electronics.
Tone it down. You know electronics go well w/white or light gray.

it used to be silver/gray! Everyone hated it! is this feeling shared by all other bluevoda members? *prepares for the worst* so, what does everyone else think? where is lincslady?

I was speaking of something other than the institutional gray used before.

alright, fair enough. Please, any other reviews? I even am selling ad space (468x60) for $9.99! (one month) go to my site, and scroll down... Click on the picture "your ad here". Please, more reviews!!

< Personally, I don't think you want to "clutter" your site with ads. And, more along the concept of your site, I think you would get a better response (and benefit from the "natural" traffic metrics) from the establishment of an advertising section, where your biggest service/draw might be a "classifieds" section - users can selll their used eqpmt. for instance. The lower the Fee, the more action you'll get. Try a Memebership scheme: $99/year for up to 20 listings, $5.95 per listing per month otherwise. The whole idea is thus to elevate your website via the 'opportunity' across the board, right?>

To do THIS, I would simply install a phpBB Forum (the new version in Fantastico! has sub-forums) to super-organize the different categories and sections....not just for classifieds, right? ** You can "lock" each particular thread with a single post in it (the listing - like our "Sticky" posts here), and have many threads within a Forum, which could be, for instance :Classifieds, HD, Software, etc. You'll have a standard description format, with the Seller's email address (they sell directly however they want) and you make money if it sells or not - like eBay.

You can always load another Forum to act as your true Forum also...this would also provide some established 'continuity via Community' for you, and give your Users some familiarity with your expanded site......soon to become THE favorite destination?

I would really like to make a forum, and do all of that, but I really don't have the time to maintain it... I am going into my first year of high school in like 2 weeks, and I have all honors and ap classes, so I will be in over my head. Thanks for the ideas though.

Originally Posted by pemdas21

I would really like to make a forum, and do all of that, but I really don't have the time to maintain it... I am going into my first year of high school in like 2 weeks, and I have all honors and ap classes, so I will be in over my head. Thanks for the ideas though.

Your site looks great and better each time I see it....good job.

Good luck with school and don't stress out ...with all those classes...lol.

(Sheesh...could I feel any more stupid after this....bare in high school and he's got more going on...lol...kids these days....)

He's not really a kid.
He's related to Alien, which explains his accelerated web design skills and why he's so full of php!

LOLOL

-Forever too load.
-Who is the Google PR for, you or your visitors?
-Not sure what it is that bothers me, maybe the cutoff between yr site and Google's adsense (I understand the sales pitch behind it, I'm not a big fan of them).
-Looked for the MP3 guide, maybe linking on Guide would be convenient.

Yep, you know me and those aliens. :) The only reason that I hve the google adsense is so that I can pay for the domain and hosting... I am just a kid, and you aren't allowed to have a real jop until you are like 18. So of course, I am going to be in need of money. Once I recieve my check, I am going to rip google ads from my site, and any others that I might have accrued, and do exactly what has been mentioned... Create a whole page for ads from people. Thanks for the compliment too, visili. Yes, computers have been my life since I was about 6. I created my first website using an online website builder when I was about 9. I have greatly improved since then. (woot woot)

Oh, and begud2, there is only one other person that went to my entire middle school (the biggest in my state) that actually knows how to create a website. So no, a lot of kids these days go and create a myspace and call themselves a webmaster. I say bull. I used to get phone calls for help on the pc from friends. (oh the good days) It is not very common these days to actually have a child that is tenacious (for lack of a better word) enough to work incessantly as I do on the computer. I am on here at least like 2-4 hours a day...

LOVE IT!!!!! BRAVO! Go to school knowing you did GREAT!!!! Your site now has a heart and a personality but still looks slick and "electronic", young and "hip" without looking "childish".

I love the gradient of green color at the top. It goes GREAT with your silver buttons. I love the way the buttons turn to white on rollover. your dropdown menus are great (but I already told you that!) And I love the little conversation bubble upper right!

These old eyes do have a little trouble reading red text on the dark green...but nothing so bad I couldn't deal with it.

I love the way you "uncluttered" the pages and I can tell exactly what your purpose is without too much trouble. I will be visiting your site often for answers to my dummy electronics questions for sure!

I will be sending my 13 year old son to your site, too for inspiration! Thanks!

Originally Posted by pemdas21

Oh, and begud2, there is only one other person that went to my entire middle school (the biggest in my state) that actually knows how to create a website. So no, a lot of kids these days go and create a myspace and call themselves a webmaster. I say bull. I used to get phone calls for help on the pc from friends. (oh the good days) It is not very common these days to actually have a child that is tenacious (for lack of a better word) enough to work incessantly as I do on the computer. I am on here at least like 2-4 hours a day...

Good for you and keep it up...But still kids your age do more than when I was going to school...BUT that's technology for you...lol

*looks over shoulder* (thinks "are you talkin' to me?") Um... Wow... I don't know what to say exactly. That is probably the greatest compliment that I have ever recieved upon anything! I really appreciate it. You have no idea what this means to me. It is like a milestone.

Oh, and island crazy... I don't know if you already know this... but if you hold down the "ctrl" (control) button on the key board and use the middle of your mouse to scroll, it will make the text on any page bigger or smaller. Depending upon which way you scroll. JUst in case text looks to small.

Thank you! Great tip...I didn't know that!

Well you are very welcome!