How important is the forum skin?

How important is it to have an appealing forum skin? Has anyone noticed an increase in signups after installing a new forum skin?

Have you ever not visited (or used) a forum just because of its skin/design?

 

A style is very important in my books. It's like a first impression, some people will automatically decide there and then to progress further into your site on the visual look of your site. I myself have been guilty of doing just that, dark styles that are of high contrast will get closed down (unless I review the style) then I basically have no choice. Styles that contain lot's of the default scripts images usually prompts me to close a site (It tells me that the owner couldn't be bothered). Sure, he/she might not be a designer but he/she can pay someone to do it (alot of designers will create a wonderful style cheaply).

A style is your first chance of an impression, you lose that you have most probably lost your chance of recruiting a potentially valuable member. Chances are he/she won't be back.

 

I completely agree. You have only one chance to make that good first impression.
If I go to a site that has a crappy style, I most likely won't stick around long enough to read any content. I think that most people are the same.

 

I have never visited a forum because of its style, ive quickly left a few because of them.

I hate dark styles, so depressing and hard to see. Really bright styles that require sunglasses are also bound for a quick exit.

I also dislike fixed width styles () as they just waste space on my widescreen display.

 

I've used many a forum still running the default skin, but would not be likely to return once my issue was solved. For my own forums I can't stand the vB default and always make arrangements to change it.

 

Agree with most of the posts here. Style is your site's first impression so you need to nail that one-time opportunity. If I see that a forum is running the default style without any attempt to change it (with exception of the logo perhaps), I probably won't register or stick around very long. Style modification or customization at least show me, as an end user, that the staff have put some effort into the success of the forum and perhaps will be fairly involved with its upkeep. But that's just my opinion of default/bad styles.

 

I am a function over form person. Elliquiy is not designed to look unique, it's designed to get you where you want to be as smoothly as possible (after approval) - thus the triple-column layout for approved members, etc.

It may simply be my advantage for controlling the niche, I don't know.

 

While the visual appearance of a community is one of the first aspects seen, it's not the "deciding" factor for me when it comes to registration. If I see that a community is active, friendly, and has a constant "flow" of discussion, I'll join.

A forum could look fantastic, but the content (and discussion) within could be the exact opposite.

 

@_@ Design is about all to me! I take my time designing a lot so my forum would look visually delicious and then I work on the content.

 

I second this.

There are forums that I do not visit because they are bloated, take forever to load, and take its toll on my computers CPU and video card.

And then there are the forums that you can barely read because of the colors.

 

I believe that a forum with a unique and never before skin is much more likely to gain members and respect over the same forum with a pre-made or default skin. Usually, if the forum has a custom made skin, there's more than just the skin itself (meaning the owner wouldn't have paid for an over-the-top skin for nothing). I can't take my own forums serious until they have a skin that is custom and presentable.

 

I don't know; is the average user really familiar with most pre-made templates? Those of us who've visited many forums, sure, we're familiar with them, but the user who spends most of their online time using email or FaceBook, would they really know the difference between a fully custom template and a premade with some tweaks?

 

Uh, no. I was before one of them who never knew how to make skins and when I saw a forum I thought it was awesome, now that I am a little more knowledgeable, I browse around and go like " Wow... that was pre-made?"

 

Good point. But it will be harder to advertise when you're new.