Help a girl out?

So, I'm a web developer, and I'm about to start working with a couple of guys who want to start a free site. Since I currently have no experience with free sites at all, I was hoping that you guys could help me out a little by answering one question for me

What do you think makes a good free site, website wise?

Obviously the main draw is what offers there are, how many recs you need, the reputation of the site, etc. But from a strictly web-design point of view, what do you like to see in a site? What don't you want to see?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

1) Be a hot girl with her pic as her avatar.
2) Success!

Well, I think the basic criteria that people use to judge other sites applies for free sites too. I think a clean design is the best, and freepay had a nice clean design before
http//web.archive.org/web/20040528074358/www.freeipods.com/Default.aspx[]http//web.archive.org/web/20040528074358/www.freeipods.com/Default.aspx
It basically looked like they were going for the Apple look.

Now their site looks too busy and trashy
http//ipods.freepay.com/Default.aspx[]http//ipods.freepay.com/Default.aspx

Trainn looks alright but their graphics (site logos) aren't the best. The logos look amateurish although the site's pretty clean.

The others mostly look like crap but then again, I don't think most people care either if the site itself is good.

Portfolio please.

ha.. she is using the fact that she is a girl to get more attention/responses.
just for that i'm not doing your site

[quote4e66b7ce1e="hehehhehe"]Well, I think the basic criteria that people use to judge other sites applies for free sites too. I think a clean design is the best, and freepay had a nice clean design before
http//web.archive.org/web/20040528074358/www.freeipods.com/Default.aspx[]http//web.archive.org/web/20040528074358/www.freeipods.com/Default.aspx
It basically looked like they were going for the Apple look.

Now their site looks too busy and trashy
http//ipods.freepay.com/Default.aspx[]http//ipods.freepay.com/Default.aspx

Trainn looks alright but their graphics (site logos) aren't the best. The logos look amateurish although the site's pretty clean.

The others mostly look like crap but then again, I don't think most people care either if the site itself is good.

Portfolio please.[/quote4e66b7ce1e]

The flashy arrows make it look like an annoying add from a popup or something. ?

@ ilanbg - I take it pictures in avs aren't the norm here. lilaughsli I'll fix it.

@ hehehhehe - Thanks! I agree that most people don't care about the design so much as what's being offered, but I figured I'd do the best I can in my area of expertise. ;)

@ bruman - Not a lot of girls around, eh? Good to know, I suppose.

[quoteec60a2dcf5="Mekare"]@ ilanbg - I take it pictures in avs aren't the norm here. lilaughsli I'll fix it.[/quoteec60a2dcf5]

No, I'm serious. I've already started looking for refs for your site.

People that don't like your avatar can block it. The jerks.

rawful

Purple hair turns Ilan on. It was purple right? I can't even remember. oops

Bring it back! Bring back the avatar!

[quote97dbff9262="ilanbg"]Bring it back! Bring back the avatar![/quote97dbff9262]

Heh.. ok! It's back! P

1. Have reasonable offers to do
2. have a reasonable offer/cash or prize ratio
3. good customer support or w/e
4. quick credits

why do i feel like owning your own freesite is the new trend......slap braclets....frohawks....and phbb scripts.

yeah seriously, lol. Everybody is trying to own a site and 85% are shit.

(

Gigante is no longer a mod. cry

[quotebd4ec42fb0="J4320"](

Gigante is no longer a mod. cry[/quotebd4ec42fb0] that tends to happen at this forum not really sure why yet

[quoteecda0cfcef="Gigante"]Everybody is trying to own a site and 85% are shit.[/quoteecda0cfcef]

And that's exactly why I'm asking, because I've been told that most of them don't meet expectations. What makes the other 15% good, in your opinion?

[quote7b91fd56fd="J4320"](

Gigante is no longer a mod. cry[/quote7b91fd56fd]

I know why. But its not for this thread.

[quote187e314699="YourGiftsFree"][quote187e314699="J4320"](

Gigante is no longer a mod. cry[/quote187e314699]

I know why. But its not for this thread.[/quote187e314699]

Don't worry, you're still on our radar.

[quotea933c79538="Mekare"][quotea933c79538="Gigante"]Everybody is trying to own a site and 85% are shit.[/quotea933c79538]

And that's exactly why I'm asking, because I've been told that most of them don't meet expectations. What makes the other 15% good, in your opinion?[/quotea933c79538]

I think to have a successful site you will need good payouts, most sites are $40 per ref. People dont seem to care too much for the sites desgin, but it doesnt hurt to have a nice design. It may atract those who are new to the feebies scene. Good Customer service is a must it seems. Also fast aprroval and fast shipping. You will also have to establish your reputation as a trustworth person. There are many scam site so it is hard to differentiate which is and which is not. But since your main question is about design, make the design unique.

uR s0000 h0t!1!!!(onE)!1 'n Sp1cEE!!

h1t m3 uP w/suM n000dz/!1

[quote11f0d20e09="Offer4All"]
I think to have a successful site you will need good payouts, most sites are $40 per ref. People dont seem to care too much for the sites desgin, but it doesnt hurt to have a nice design. It may atract those who are new to the feebies scene. Good Customer service is a must it seems. Also fast aprroval and fast shipping. You will also have to establish your reputation as a trustworth person. There are many scam site so it is hard to differentiate which is and which is not. But since your main question is about design, make the design unique.[/quote11f0d20e09]

Thanks for taking the time to answer. A preference for a unique site vs. a standard (boring) site would definitely make this project different than most of the ones I've worked on before. The rest of the things you mentioned aren't really up to me, but I'm going to pass them on to the people I'm working with. Thanks again!

Use lots of frames and tables. That'll make it look good. Oh and be sure to have white text with a yellow background. That pleases me.

[quote0ebc36bef3="ilanbg"]1) Be a fucking creepy internet male
2) Success![/quote0ebc36bef3]

[quote0bb6f17446="Admin"][quote0bb6f17446="ilanbg"]1) Be a fucking creepy internet male
2) Success![/quote0bb6f17446][/quote0bb6f17446] lol that's what I thought

[quote544027ddc0="Stroid"][quote544027ddc0="Admin"][quote544027ddc0="ilanbg"]1) Be a fucking creepy internet male
2) Success![/quote544027ddc0][/quote544027ddc0] lol that's what I thought[/quote544027ddc0]

laff

It's kindof tricky to put into words what looks the best. You want a site to look legit. Avoid "Congratulations". It's deceptive, the visitor hasn't won anything. Stay away from flashy stuff - aim for the way the official sites of the product look (check out Apple, XBOX, Playstation). Simple, clean lines, few colours. Dark greys mixed with a one or two selected "theme" colours always looks nice in my opinion. This is a good tool for finding colours which look good together http//www.knorrpage.de/colormatch.html[]http//www.knorrpage.de/colormatch.html I think blues (not turquoises) tend to look very professional. Avoid bright red - looks scammy.

I think the first page should feature the prizes as well as a little info about them (eg if you are offering a 30GB iPod, state 3-4 features, such as brighter screen, number of songs, etc). Keep it minimal, don't overwhelm. Make sure the info experienced freebiests want is linked from your main site, i.e. TOS should be available on the main page, not only on each individual freebie page (if you have more that one) and not only after you enter an email address. Make it clear which countries your site supports - maybe small flags. No annoying tacky animated gifs.

As a developer, I'm sure you know this, but make sure the site looks good in all browsers. IE7 in particular may apply some weird changes to bulleted lists etc.

Edit BTW you ARE hot, and this is coming from a girl. My hair is sorta bluey-green at the moment. I really like yours - what do you use for it? My Manic Panic washes out too fast.

Damn everyone's hair is different colors, I wish I died mine pink again, lol my hubby would like it.

.... i dont even wanna know.

Girls who design webpages are hot.

=0) liwinkli

stop it

Why don't you show us what you can do first? Do you have a portfolio?

I design websites too. D Although my "style" is getting pretty old. (