Hello Raven,

No one is ever going to participate in your forum as long as advertisements take up the left  1/3 of EVERY page. The problem is exercerbated by the excessively wide (and totally unnecessary) wide blank margins on both sides.

Your site looks very slick and professional, and I think you are on the right track and are targeting the right things (workshop activities, Studio, Archives, and the Forum), but there is far too much advertising. I wouldn't mind seeing an advertisement on the main page, but you're dreaming if you think you'll ever get away with taking up so much room on EVERY page with advertising.

Good Luck to you,

Crypt Keeper

P.S.

There are several items that I like and might very well purchase, but it's insulting to have your advertisments flashed in my face constantly. I suggest you add a "Store" or Catalogue where those interested in browsing your wares (like me) could go and look at what you have, but it should not interfere with the basic functionality of the website as it does now. If you ever decide to remedy the situation, please email me and I'll come back to try things out.

Thanks for the review MinuteMan however it's unfortunate that you won't be around for the response.

The size of the left column was a concern to me when we were designing the site. But since we made the site width wider than the traditional 800 pixel we felt that we could afford to have a wider left column. We try to use this space wisely.

You'll notice that the left column usually has content in it that pertains to what's on the main page.

For Example: On the News Articles and Video pages the left column has pertinent info in it such as most commented, most viewed, archives etc. The left column also always contains the users Private Message indicator.

The Store Items is almost always at the bottom of the left column so as not to be too obtrusive. Other then that there is no other advertising any where on the site. We may eventually put in a sponsors page under the support us link that contains essentially survival gear like quality water filters.

Regarding the Store Items you'll notice that there is a link to our Store catalog under Support Us. We really don't consider it to be advertising by displaying them in the left column. What they are is truth gear made by the community for the community. That's right they were all designed right here in the Truth Alliance Studio by our very own talented members. There is hardly a markup on them at all. We find them to be good visual tools in the info war. I'd personally love to see a million upside down American flags plastered all over this country, not because Truth Alliance might make a couple dimes off each of them but because then people might really believe that something is wrong and America is truly under distress.

If we do happen to make a little money off them then all we are going to do is upgrade our server. We always plug everything right back into the community. And by community I even mean those listed on our links page.

Anyway I want to hear what others think. Is the left column too big? We can fix that pretty easily. Are the store items in the left column obnoxious?

Well being a community portal it is open for suggestions and change. Comments from people that do this kind of work are especially apprieciated like yourself. If you see anything that is down right ridiculous let us know and we will modify accordingly.

Thanks