should an authority site have a white background?

[cornkernel]

sorry if it's a stupid question. i'm in the process of building an authority site (hopefully) and have wondered if the site background should be white? i have made it blue, which i do like, but i took a look at other big sites in my niche, and their backgrounds are white. since i will be charging clients/customers, i obviously want it to look as professional as possible.

it's a directory kind of site, if that helps at all.

i also took a look at sites from my niche in other countries, and their backgrounds are also white. the sites mostly consist of 2-3 colours, for cleanliness i'm guessing... and easy on the eyes?

is this the way to go? my concern with my blue background is that it looks more like a personal site.


hoping someone can give me their opinion!

cheers

 

[Union]

all my autority sites are with White Backround, work better and looks Original... Black, Blue, Red .... thats for Spam

You can make it even BLACK, but you need a very GOOD Design...

just my 2c..

 

[Autumn]

White backgrounds are easier read and have significantly higher time on site, click through and conversion rates in many studies. Make the border / background whatever colour you like, but the background behind your main text should be white. You won't find many serious sites in mainstream niches that don't have white / off-white backgrounds.

 

[GimmeMoney]

White backgrounds are easier read and have significantly higher time on site, click through and conversion rates in many studies. Make the border / background whatever colour you like, but the background behind your main text should be white. You won't find many serious sites in mainstream niches that don't have white / off-white backgrounds.

^This^. The reason most authority sites have a white background with black text is that it's the most readable scheme to most humans.

 

[ScripterAlex]

I would say the BHW is the authority site for black hat seo, and it doesn't have a white background

 

[SahL]

imo Background doesnt matter as long as its readable and has good content, But yes white is the most preferred color.

 

[FuryKyle]

I would say the BHW is the authority site for black hat seo, and it doesn't have a white background

That's cause it's the other way around

 

[itos84]

Youtube, Facebook, Dropbox, IGN, Joystiq, Foursquare, all white backgrounds!

 

[FuryFit]

BHW is an authority site. With that said, yes, use a white background

 

[HoNeYBiRD]

I would say the BHW is the authority site for black hat seo, and it doesn't have a white background

black is the new white

 

[StaceyGammet]

Definitely White.... white is right

 

[flx89]

noticed the same thing. 90% of the authority websites are white. It just looks better

 

[wannabie]

Interesting question, i think its down to ease of use more than colour but most of our clients have a white background and it does seem to work for loyal visitors compared to a darker site

 

[Deleted member 110025]

White looks more professional not better! There are many beautiful websites with superb colourful backgrounds, but if you build cooperative website - you've got to stick to white.

 

[Zapdos]

White does not mean better, easier to read, professional or anything else. A good designer will make a pink background site look better than a white one, and it would be easier to read and upsell. The only part of color which should be of concern is color theory and contrast. The first one is valuable and the second is required.