Blog Design Tips: Visual & Functional Elements

I recently listened in on a Twitter chat between Bloggers about crafting a visually appealing and functional blog. In case you couldn’t be there, here are some highlights.

(Much of the information below is paraphrased from others. See below for the transcript link.)

When designing your blog, think of it as a piece of real estate. You only have a certain amount of space, so use it wisely. You have 5-20 seconds to make a first impression and convey your message.

The most important information/functionality of your blog should be at the top, above the fold or “Manhattan.” It was suggested that 80% of people will not scroll, based on a recent study.

Have your goal clearly in mind, then design with that in mind. Look at your page from the perspective of a reader. The average attention span of viewer is 6 seconds. Think of your own browsing habits. What grabs your attention and makes you look around?

With those stats in mind, it’s important to use your blog’s real estate effectively if you want to convey your message. Here are some additional suggestions I gathered from the chat.

Include:

A 2-column layout- have one for your posts and one for sidebar. Only go to 3 columns if you can justify extra column with good content.

About Page- don’t underestimate how important this is to your readers. Describe your blog, then yourself. You may want to use a separate page for each. Don’t forget to update your content frequently. New people stop by all the time, so make sure they get the latest information.

Horizontal Navigation Bar- include this under the header. Your readers may not stick around long enough to hunt for information. Make it easy for them to find what they’re looking for by placing important links there.

Widgets or Gadgets- use only those that provide value to your readers, not necessarily yourself. What you choose to include will be different depending on your blogs’ purpose. It was recommended to include RSS/subscription links, a search option, author pic/info, and a tag cloud. Integrated Twitter feed and a Facebook badge may also be what your readers are looking for. Just remember, the more you add, the slower your blog may load!

You may want to skip:

Blogroll- “too many people worry too much about linking with blogrolls and exchanging links. Organic linking is more important. Instead of blogroll in your sidebar, why not have a Recommended Reading page & expand on why you read them?” Many bloggers in the chat agreed with this idea.

Unnecessary Clutter– don’t include widgets & gadgets that have no great importance to your readers! Consider how long it takes for your blog to load. Many of our Features authors have also expressed this!

Here’s one last thing for any of you thinking about starting a blog. “What is more important: Launching a good blog now or waiting & launching a perfect blog two months from now?” The answer from experienced blogger and host, Mack Collier was: “Launch one now, you’ll learn best by doing.”

There are lots of guidelines in blogging and many who will share their advice, but it’s your blog and you get to decide how to use it. Consider what’s important to your readers, stay informed about what works best, and ultimately decide what is best for you! Happy Blogging!

Now it’s your turn! What do you think are the key elements to include when designing a blog? What do you like or dislike as a reader?

{Info summarized & directly quoted from #blogchat: June 13, 2010.}

Photo credit: swimboy1

Related posts:

1. Grow Your Blog Series – Content
2. How To Keep Your Blog Appealing
3. Ten Tips for New Tweeters

Tagged as: blogging, design, tips, widgets