Feedback on my forum site

[GFin]

Hi guys,

After some feedback on my forum site, what do you think of the design? layout?
www.ChessForums.org

Thanks in advance,
Greg

[boron]

Upper "main area" when most people look first is stuffed with text. "Welcome...", then "You are currently viewing our board as a guest..."

Both is OK.
Welcome should go below the header. And "You are currently viewing..." text should open only when someone actually starts to browse the forum categories.

This is for users and for SEO. Main keywords ("Chess forums", I guess) should be always the very first words on a site.

For my taste better menu placement is on the right, so the forum itself is on the first plan. Statistics can go below the board.

Current color isn't my favorite.
Icons before categories are VERY translucent, not OK.
...
It's so easy to pick, pick...

[camuk19]

Im liking the custom graphics, looking very nice, fits well with the theme.

[Submerge]

The forum is looking decent in this state, but as I said before a new forum skin would do wonders. Other for SEO, use the word Chess a decent amount.

[GFin]

Thanks for your comments guys.

The forum skin/template was just a temporary fix until I can raise the funds for a professional design. If I was stronger on the coding side and more experienced with vB I'd have a go myself. VBulletinSkinz are looking for $900-1000 (as someone previously mentioned here) and unfortunately just don't have the money at the moment.

Thanks,
Greg