RMFTC FACE LIFT

[BluOval]

Matt,
It's time. This is just my constructive criticism but the web site needs a face lift. A patterned background would look nice. Maybe a scrolling banner of Distributors(this would include myself of course) you could generate a little $$$ by having distributors pay for their ads. (Not including me because this is my idea, lol) More emoticons. A photo gallery page. Don't take this as a negative, It's just that when I visit the site it's like being in a hospital, white and clean. Let's make this club pop!

[mattadams]

Appreciate the feedback.
If you are interested in changing your layout, I've actual set up many different "skins" you can run. To change that, you can go to your profile and choose a different "board style". Last I checked, there were 5 or 6. So if your tired of the blue and white, that might be an option.
As far as distributors, etc. this point I must disagree with you on. I don't want to make money off the site, nor do I want to have any site sponsors. Any companies wishing to get publicity on the site can do so simply by offering good deals to the members and if it works out, it works out. There are too many sites where people are trying to make money off things, and they turn out to be very non-user friendly and it gets into issue of sponsor conflicts, etc. that I'd just rather avoid.
I'm always open to ideas though, but the sponsors is one thing I'd liek to avoid if at all possible. I hate seeing ads on sites I visit, I dont want them on the site I run. If you have a good idea for some background images, etc. I'm open tot hat as well, I personally find the blue on white very soothing, and find other websites to be too "busy", and it freaks me out. LOL.
As far as the photo gallery, I've thought of doing this but been trying to find an application that allows it. haven't been able to find one I like well enough yet, not to mention that would drive up the costs of the site (hard drive space and bandwidth) but its something to think more about.
Anyone else? Comments? Suggestions? I'm always willing to try new things.

[Glass]

Blu, if you want banner ad's, scrolling messages, popups, stingy and out of control administrators, and all the problems that come with 'sponsors' aka, i pay, i have a say....check out www.ford-trucks.com . They have it all, and have a very inactive colorado chapter. I think the sites fine how it is, and is alot better being a club, and not a pinup for companies, or a business, plus, if we can get discounts without having to advertise..i dont see a point really. Thats just me though. ohh, and all the Businesses get free advertising on Matts truck, and with as much as that thing is gonna be on the road :roll: theyll get pleanty of publicity. I would rather buy something that was recommended to me by a fellow member than something i see an ad for, but im wierd, and 'out there' ..there were a few other descriptive words used from my appearance on COPS, but i think i got the idea thru :o

--John

I love quoting myself i guess, 2nd time ive done it today **doh

[cory]

OH MY GOOD MATT ......... the different screen settings are she shiznet sweet damn job

[BluOval]

sorry if I offended you, it was just a thought.

[mattadams]

naw I dont find it offensive, I just wanted to make sure you and everyone else knew where I stood on banner ads and so forth. i don't have any control over what other sites use for pop-ups, but I do on here :).
It's a club, not a business, and I don't think its right to profit from a club that should be the best for all the members, which is why I run it the way I do. You're getting free advertising though man! :)

[crazy rob]

Matt, didn't already come to you a while back about doing a change??

[mattadams]

yeah I remember you had sent me some new logos, but the problem with changing the whole logo of the site is, I've already paid for stickers, shirts, lanyards, etc. with the logo on them... that doesn't mean I'm strictly opposed to changing it or anything, but it would make a lot of the money I've spent on "product" (the one way I can even break-even on the site) "obsolete" because they wouldn't be good anymore.

[Glass]

Then theyd be collectors items...nostalgic, that would bring in more money for them :roll:

[cory]

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[mattadams]

about $500 worth of "collectable" RMFTC logo items, just what I want! LOL!
I hate how business works, gotta buy everything in quantity, especially custom items, ahh well, such is life.

[crazy rob]

we don't have to change the logo. I was just giving ideas about a new logo. We can use the existing logo in a new web design.

[mattadams]

I'm always up fo rideas. I thought the last time it was just a logo change or something... work something up and I'm willing to try it out, or make suggestions and as I have time I'll test it out...

[Tray]

Isn't the Profiles area another version of a gallery? With the ability to link offsite to anywhere, you have the option right there. There are plenty of places to host pictures, that you can link to, and make it as fancy as you want it to be.

As for the ads, please, please, please, please don't do that. I personally hate seeing ads on any site, and never click them, no matter what the ad is for. If I am recommended a good site from another member, I'll always check it out, but never just an ad.

I like our close-knit community here, that hasn't turned into one of the hated for-profit sites that we all used to frequent (some still do).

As for the background - I don't care. I am here to read and converse in the forum. I don't look at the background, nor do I think I ever will.

[cntrycowgirl]

I'd have to say that I agree. This site is much easier to follow and more calming than all the busy adds and excessive tabs that none of the actual members really used often. Matt, great job on the site.

[cntrycowgirl]

one feature I did happen to find helpful was the Active Topics feature. I'm just curious if anyone else liked that feature as well.

[crazy rob]

To tell you the truth all i think that needs to be done is some cosmetic work on the non forum pages. No ad's no boring stuff that isn't need. keep it simple like it already is just sort of a face lift. by what I know of the industry standards for website design espeically wed design companies is to have a site that is updated every 6 months or so.

Matt, I was just coming up with ideas before about the logo that I thought they would of looked good. I wish I was part of the design before you made this site but that is in the past, no big deal. I'm not saying that we need to change everything about the site, far from it. Im sorry if it has come out that way.

[Glass]

My favorite feature of the site is still the icon for a 'sticky' thread. Check it out, its at the bottom of the sub forum pages.

--John

[mattadams]

Alright, well I might tinker when I have time, or if you guys have any suggestions, that'd be cool too. I'll do what I can. This isn't my club, it is everyones club. I'm just the administrator. If you guys have any ideas or different ideas for fonts, colors, etc. please let me know!

[Walking Eagle]

one feature I did happen to find helpful was the Active Topics feature. I'm just curious if anyone else liked that feature as well.

Jen, something similar on this site is located on the main forums page. Above the bar across the top that says Forums, Topics, Posts, and Last Post, on the right side there is a link to "View posts since last visit". I use this link everytime I enter the forums to see what has posted since the last time I was on.

[Walking Eagle]

I like the way it is set up. It's easy to find what I'm looking for, easy to read, nice and simple. Other home pages for sites such as FTE, FTW, and F150online are all cluttered. They are loaded with articles about different trucks and accessories, banners, some ads, the latest industry news, etc. I don't come here to read articles, I come here to make fun of everyone, post a question or two, try to act brilliant by answering a quetion, and then leave.

[MMPC]

Regarding the forums, don't change anything on my behalf either - I like things just the way they are! :wink: In fact, compared to some of the other forums I visit, coming to RMFTC is a welcome refuge! Nice and calm, well organized and simple to navigate... :) As for some of the other areas of the site, they could use some polish but it's nothing vital right now.

[clavos]

If it aint broke, don't fix it!

[Glass]

Im broke..how do i fix that? :lol:

--John

[BluOval]

sorry, didn't know there were options for veiwing style. My bad :oops:

[cntrycowgirl]

I like the different bullets on tehe left hand side. It helps a lot. If they were there before, I never noticed them.