To be simple or not? Need some advice.

This is featured panel of my latest design, in the first screenshot, i added some effects for it as you see. in the second, i removed these effects to keep it simple.

the two results both ok to me, then it’s been a hard choice since yesterday, i can’t decide use which.

What do u think? any advice is appreciated and not limit to the featured panel.

screenshot 1 http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4453703160_dc4550c647_o.jpg

screenshot 2 http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4452925669_dfd12a6081_o.jpg

Definitely needs some sort of aesthetics going on there, although I’m not too sure #1 fits the bill perfectly.

i personally prefer the first, but either way you really need to do something with the button to make it stand out more because at the moment it doesn’t seem like a call to action.

The second one isn’t so bad though either – simple and clean so perhaps you should develop both optins in your theme and really add value.

i personally prefer the first, but either way you really need to do something with the button to make it stand out more because at the moment it doesn’t seem like a call to action. The second one isn’t so bad though either – simple and clean so perhaps you should develop both optins in your theme and really add value.

ye the button, you are right, i’m not satisfied with it too, i just can’t find a fit one. I ever tried 10+ button styles and failed to find a good one in mono color palette.