Would someone please critique my site & let me know what I should do?

[Anthony Cutchin]

Hi everyone, I am new to this and have not a clue about CSS codes or custom codes. Thankfully I have you guys where I can "copy and paste" to make it look a little better for my members. I just need someone to take a look at my site and let me know what I should do. I am at a stand still at this point. Thank you! www.ImUnashamed.com

[HELP SEEKER]

its off-line

[pjcyto]

I just went back to your site. Wow, what a difference! Much cleaner, and much easier to see things on the main page. Quick note on your top header- you might want to think of having a larger logo or full banner somewhere up there. Or even just the name of the site. It's nice that you have the midway banner right below though, that might be enough to fill that need.

Just a thought, but I dig the new direction.  

[Josh Hall]

Network Offline!

[pjcyto]

I see his network fine. 

[Nor Cal Social Media]

Right on...nice to see someone actually taking my advice for once. Clearly, it is starting to look better.

Now your icon there is a standalone branding tool- like a swiss army knife. It is very small, but that can work if you take the top Ning bar and change the color to white. Then it's just a matter of reinforcing that elsewhere throughout the site so people understand the connection between that logo, your branding, and have a chance to actually see it in more detail.

Now the banner is a commendable effort, but it falls short in quality. Visually you are better off without it right there, and while it does communicate a value proposition better than just the logo, it does not tie into it intuitively. I think that work could be improved just a bit and incorporated as a textbox panel elsewhere maybe where you might write out what the network is about etc. Since it appears you do have an upgraded account, your site could benefit from the use of a slider in that place...and therein this header could flash across along with other content, and not contradict or distract from your logo branding's integrity.

Now what you have there featuring videos in your left column is a good idea. I am an advocate of reshaping thinking from "social network" to "social media environment". However, that top left column is better served with the Latest Activity, and I'd set that to maximum- 20 etc. My general recommendation is to feature a video on the center column at 100% so people can get that full multi-media impact, and then to have the video modules below it or to the right.

The blog and forum are better served from a detail view when on the center column. However having them together makes them seem a bit redundant as social modules. You might insert som text boxes in between, perhaps articulating what each can be used for, i.e. forum for group discussions and blogs for more introspective journaling. So on my recommendations this will fill out and balance your left and center columns.

The right navigation box really weakens the aesthetic and should be taken off IMHO. Also, the share bar on the right cancels out some of your page's balance. I'd work those in some other way, personally. Let's say you put the video module below your featured video embed, then that right panel could be used for some other distinctive purpose. As a reference, see what Ning Creators is doing with their right column.

Hope that helps, and keep up the good work.

Best, Anthony

[Nor Cal Social Media]

Starting to look fantastic!! Great job!!!

-A

[Anthony Cutchin]

Hey thanks Anthony

[La]

Yes I can see a big difference in your site. Anthony has given you some great advice...