Essential Blog Design Tips
Last week we discussed Amazon’s “Frustration-Free Packaging,” a plain brown box that replaces that irritating clamshell packaging most parents hate.
We asked:
Where do you see clamshell packaging on the Internet?
Laura says:
When I apply the clamshell packaging concept to Web sites and blogs, I immediately think of sites with black (or dark) backgrounds and white (or light) type. Chalk it up to me getting old and having bad eyes or just personal preference, but light type on a dark background is my pet peeve. Hasn’t some market research been done on this, Jim?
Jim says:
Yep. Studies show people won’t read as long when type is reversed. On a billboard-where your message is five words or less-you can almost get away with it. But on a blog? A Web site? Huh uh.
Another Web/blog clam shell is pull-down menus. Some sites have so many I feel like I’m in Daedalus’ labyrinth. Info overload means short attention spans. If people can’t find what they’re looking for fast, they’re gone.
Research shows most people will hit three pages on your Web site, so make it easy for them.
Laura says:
Burying important info “below the fold” (you have to scroll to see it) is another no-no. This is hard NOT to do, because you have a limited amount of space in which to put your banner, site title and tagline, navigation buttons, Search feature, RSS feed info, e-zine subscription form, etc.
Many of us succumb to the temptation to do it all, and we end up with ultra-busy sites that instantly turn visitors off. The profusion of enticing widgets makes creating a clutter-free, easy-to-navigate site even more challenging.
I recommend:
- Choose 3-5 key elements to put above the fold.
- Visit a couple dozen sites and analyze how they arrange those elements.
- Choose three sites that knock your socks off. E-mail the links to several of your friends and ask them what they like/dislike about those sites’ design.
- Incorporate the best design elements from those sites into your own site.
You’re going to be using your site on a daily basis for a long time, so choose a design you really like–but one that will also appeal to visitors.
Jim says:
We’ve said this before, but use graphics. Just this morning I read yet another article stating readership takes a nice spike upward when appealing visuals are part of your presentation.
And unless you’re a pro or serious amateur photog aficionado, don’t use your own shots. It’s not worth the $$$ you’ll save. For a little over a $1 a pic you can get impressive shots on stock photo sites like:
People really do judge a book… and a Web site… and a blog… by its cover. Create a clean, clutter-free design that’s easy to navigate and visitors to your site will feel compelled to open the cover.
What’s your blog design pet peeve — and/or your best design tip?