A critical look at my blog layout
Previous Theme
As I said in my previous post, I had been looking critically at the layout of my blog following the brainstorming session.
The first thing I realised from the session was that the theme which I had taken so long to choose, after abandoning the default Wordpress theme, still wasn’t really appropriate. The overall width was rather meagre, particularly given the potentially very long intra-group blogroll. Perhaps the option of a third column would offer more flexibility. I feel that the blog needs space, too, for a basically static introductory message; and, of course, for a web form – preferably above the fold.
The web form was something else I had been pondering about, because one had already been designed into the purpose-built page towards which blog visitors are supposed to be directed. However, the majority of my fellow students are saving visitors a click-through by incorporating web forms into their blog pages, so I have to assume that it’s a good idea to provide that option.
The double opt-in seems to be the way to go, too, so I’ve been setting that up as well.
As for the look and feel of the blog, I have had to admit that the style I chose was possibly too old-fashioned and staid for this context. Something more up-to-date was called for, something with more of a Web 2.0 look about it. Light, airy, friendly, informal, easy to read, with an inherently narrative structure and an obvious path for the visitor to follow.
The ‘easy-to-read’ criterion could be helped by using a font size which is slightly larger than that used on many blogs. I feel that this makes the copy feel more accessible and inviting.
As for the header, there was some discussion of that aspect, too, on the brainstorming session.
Using the header for branding seems to be a good idea; so is having a nice graphic – but not an irrelevant or incongruous one, no matter how attractive it may be.
I don’t at present have any bright ideas about using a graphic to brand my own blog, and there are many successful blogs out there which don’t seem to need one. So although I think a header with a customisable graphic would be a good choice, for the time being I’ve decided to leave that as lower-priority.
Posted in Uncategorized
31. December 2008 at 3:04 pm :
Hey James
I had a similar issue with my blog. It just wasn’t sitting right and looked a bit too formal for what really wanted to achieve. I’m still a bit unsure about a few aspects such as using my photo.
However I have realised that branding is important and what better brand to promote than yourself. People get to see who is behind the blog. And get a feel for the personality of the blogger. I just dont want to overdo it so I’ve got to start adding some content or people will probably think I’m being self indulgent.
Dave
31. December 2008 at 3:42 pm :
Hi James
Hope everything is going well over here
You may already know this but myself and Mark Call are in the process of
setting up a website called Studentsofalex.com.
We are hoping to interview as many students as possible about Alex’s coaching,
your progress, success and future plans.
It’s going to be a great opportunity to promote yourself, website and current/future
products.
If you have already signed up, great!
If not, please visit the link below for more details and to sign up.
http://missioninternetmarketing.com/blog/have-you-signed-up-to-be-interviewed-for-studentsofalexcom/
Happy New Year and Mark and I hope to be interviewing you soon!:)
All the best
Mark
http://missioninternetmarketing.com
1. January 2009 at 4:37 pm :
Hi James,
It’s taking me for ever to get round everyone just to say hi, so I don’t want you to think I am being rude, but I’m turbo hopping to get round as many of the F500 that I can. If I wait for you to come to me, it might never happen. Thanks to all who have already visited Planet Valz.
This means I have a standard message for everyone, and I’m leaving it as a comment to the latest post. I hope this does not offend you as communication and generosity is what is driving this.
Firstly, my wishes to you for a Happy, Healthy and very Prosperous Year 2009.
Secondly, I want to give you a New Year present, but you need to go to http://daybydaymarketing.com/2008/12/choose-your-new-year-present/
I would appreciate being added to your blogroll. I am happy to add you to mine when you come over.
Valerie
http://daybydaymarketing.com
P.S. I prefer today’s blog for 2 main reasons. 1. Header is less cluttered, giving a much better impression from the start go and 2. the opt-in for the PPP is above the fold, and clear: both good. The moving blue arrow gives extra interest (How did you do that please?) and should bring more people in for you. Otherwise, other components of the blog not critical I would say, especially at this stage. Getting the traffic in is more important.
Small suggestion if I may be so bold: Put header at the very top, and have the words for the pages running directly underneath it and try to push the PPP opt-in up so there is less “white” space, and more of the info can get in above the fold.
Either relocate search button, or leave off until blog has enough content to warrant a search button.
Hope this is helpful, and I was only popping in to give you a pressie! BTW, you don’t give much away in the About page. Would you by any chance be a Virgo?
Wishing you every success.
3. January 2009 at 2:52 pm :
Hi James, found another one, thank goodness,
Its amazing how hard it is to find 499 other student blogs with no cluie as to their title or owner. Now have square eyes and sore fingers from all the blog sesrching activities over the pat 2 weeks or so.
Made a couple of subtle changes to my theme following AJ’s critique but have retained
the calendar, dont see that as an issue really.
Have you popped over to join the forum I put up yet?
http://www.g4usbmarketing.com/forum is the URL
Alex is now a signed up member by the way.
Have added you to my links list and trust you will reciprocate
Norman
http://www.g4usbmarketing.com
4. January 2009 at 2:43 pm :
Hi James!
I know what you are talking about when you try to decide on a theme. The theme I am using on my blog is one that I very much like, but I am not so sure that it is right for my internet business. I have looked at a few other themes, uploaded some of them, but still kept my original. I just really like my theme. Lol. I have decided to keep it for now, although I am still looking at themes all the time. I am hoping that my content will be good enough to overcome choosing the wrong theme. Anyway, time will tell.
See you in the webinars!
Beth
26. January 2009 at 11:41 am :
Thank you, Beth. I like your theme too, and as I said in my comments at yours, your writing lives up to your theme’s literary promise.
26. January 2009 at 12:56 pm :
Hiya Valerie, thanks for coming over, and for the critique. I agree with you about having the page links below the header rather than above it. The theme came with the links at the top, and as I didn’t know how to change it I just left it that way. However, your comment inspired me to take a close look at the header coding, and – largely by trial and error – I’ve succeeded in rearranging things. I take your point about the white space above the PPP opt-in, too, but I haven’t figured that one out yet! The problem really is that all this coding is php rather than your basic html, so it’s a bit of a mystery…. By the way, the moving arrow is an animated gif file which I obtained from a free site, ftp’d up to my host server, and then referenced using html (yes, it worked there) in editing the theme’s sidebar.
Thanks again,
James
26. January 2009 at 1:02 pm :
Hiya Dave, thanks for the comments. I take your point in the last sentence… I’d better get on with it!
James
29. January 2009 at 6:01 am :
Hi James,
Your theme has potential here. It’s nicely laid out and the font and post titles are friendly on my eyes, which i think is very important.
If i could suggest a few things.
If you could create a border which separates the content and the sidebar from the background, it would help.
When i first visited here, my eyes saw a lot of whitespace and this space causes my eyes to wander. If this template was boxed in, my eyes would restrict to this boundry – if this makes sense?
Secondly, you have more whitespace above your PPP optin which should be eliminated. I would also put some sort of border around this too – perhaps dashed.
What you got here is good! But i just think you really should ensure that your content is catching the visitors eyes and more importantly the PPP optin jumps out!
Oh and while i am noticing this. I noticed that your permalink structure is also set to default.
For example:
blog.com/?p=165
With a better structure in place, your structure will look like this:
blog.com/hello-world/
If any of the suggestions above should be considered here, it is the permalinks and for a few reasons.
A better structure is more search engine friendly, it allows potential visitors to look at your link and know what the page should be about, your links do not resemble anything affiliate or dangerous. and most importantly you can optimize your post titles better by inserting keywords that you want to target.
Although you can find help on how to do this tasks quite easily within the search engines, i have written a ebook for the students which also contains information on how to do this step if you are interested. It is called “BlogFU” and you can download it from my blog.
Cheers!,
Colin
http://www.marketingwithcolin.com