All of us want our blogs to stand out visually. We want to attract new visitors and keep them coming back for more. One way to deter readers from reading and enjoying your content is a poorly designed blog or website. Now I know everyone isn’t a web designer, and doesn’t have the latest copy of Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, but here are 5 things that stand out on a poorly designed blog or website. With some small adjustments, you can have a more aesthetically pleasing blog. Check it out after the jump.
1. Website Background. – If you have the one or more of the following backgrounds on your website, please consider some alternatives:
- a. Loud Colored Backgrounds – There is nothing worse than entering a blog and seeing a loud color that sends your eyes into utter shock. While bright neon colors are hot in fashion, they aren’t necessarily on trend with website backgrounds. If you must use neon green as your background, use a less saturated neon green.
- b. Busy Distracting Backgrounds – Like tribal is hot in fashion, a background full of tribal print, might not work on your blog. While there are always exceptions to the rule, be careful with background patterns. Opt for a more subtle pattern if you must have a background pattern.
- c. Dark type on top of dark background. – Having a royal blue background and dark text will not only dampen the mood of your readers, it will also be hard for your readers to read. Use blue, but make sure it is less saturated in color. It will make all the difference in the world.
2. Too Many Colors – I like rainbows, but they just don’t belong on a blog. Your link colors, background colors and graphic colors should all complement one another. If you’re not good with colors, try visiting a site like www.design-seeds.com to get some inspiration. I would stick to 3 or 4 complementing colors tops. Leave the rainbows for unicorns and leprechauns.
3. Text – Text (Typography) is key to having a clean looking blog or website.
- a. Too Many Font Types – Fonts are fun. I’m not afraid to admit I’m an avid font hoarder. While cool looking fonts are fun, they don’t belong on your blog all at the same time. Try to limit your font choices to one in web and two when you’re creating graphis.
- b. Typing in all caps, Typing in all bold, typing in all italics. – Leave all caps, italics, or bold lettering to emphasize only portions of your blog post; not your entire blog. This can confuse your reader. HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU ARE READING THIS? DO YOU FEEL LIKE I AM ANGRY? WHY? YOUR READERS CAN FEEL THIS TOO. YOU FEEL ME? LOL.
- c. Your text is too small – In my early blogging years, I was guilty of this. For some reason it was cool to have extra small text. Not anymore. Keep your font sizes no smaller than 12px.
4. Images – If your images are too small, too big, or too blurry, consider making all of your images on your blog a default image size and uploading them. Re-size very large images in free graphic editors that can be found online (try GIMP) or use an online photo editor like Pic Monkey. Having your images uniform, gives an overall consistent look on your blog.
5. Navigation – I’ve been to so many sites trying to figure out how to find the contact information, the search bar and just how to get back to the home page. There have been times where I didn’t know there was a navigation bar. Make sure the navigation is:
- a. Clear and all links are labeled
- b. Navigation is easy to use
- c. Make sure the all of the links are working
There are many additional ways to spice up your blog, but these are just a few quick tips to get you started. If you want more tips like this, please subscribe to my newsletter! Do you have any additional tips you’d like to share on making your blog look fab?
XOXO Kim
That busy background totally messed with my eyes…LOL Great tips and I’m hoping my new phone takes even better pics since no one wants to buy me a camera. haha
LMBOOO Alisha! People actually have backgrounds like this! I immediately log off of their website. hahaha! Shoot, I wish somebody would buy me a camera! I use my point and shoot or my iphone. Natural light and different angles always helps with good photos no matter what kind of camera you’re using.
Great info! Basic is best!
thanks Rochelle! Yes, less is more!
Great post. Good things to know when designing. It will help blogs with their bounce rate. I really do loathe busy backgrounds on sites. Its distracting and I immediately want to leave.
Exactly Tasha! Less is more anyway. I appreciate clean and clutter free blogs lol.
Great tips! I went to the design seeds website and pinned a bunch of color pallet ideas for my skin care website. I’m going to be ready to go when it’s time to start designing!
I can’t wait either Mylah! It’s good you’ve got your inspiration board all ready to go 🙂
Agree with everything you mentioned. Another tip I would include is regarding images. Make your images the full width of your content area.. Makes a big difference. So if your blog has a 600 pixel width content area — make sure all your pics are 600 pixels in width!
L.
@PartyOverHair / @thelprovidence
Yes L.! I do not like when there is a 300px pic then there is a 600px pic then a 300px pic. It drives insane when all of the pictures are not the same size lol.
Thank you so much for this post. Already signed up my newletter.
yay! Thanks for signing up Timeka! I am going to try to include more freebies and more tips starting at the new year 🙂
I LOVE you for this Kim. I have by passed many of blogs with crazy backgrounds and fonts. The content was probably good, but I care about my vision way more…LOL.
you’re so welcome. Content is definitely king but the visuals don’t follow too far behind. lol
Awesome points to remember! I am sure this well help a lot of folks out!
-Karen
http://www.yourstylistkaren.com
Hi Karen! I really hope it does help anyone that is looking to design their own blog. 🙂
These are GREAT tips Kim! 🙂
thanks Britt! I absolutely love your blog 🙂
Great tips, thanks!
thanks Roxy! Now I just went to your blog, and I need those blue shoes in my life immediately!
Love this post. Very informative and pleasing to the eye!
http://thriftyandshameless.blogspot.com
Great tips. I agree, as well imagery and simplicity does play a big part too.
Great info! Thanks so much!!! Guilty as charged on a few.
You couldn’t have said it better, Kim. Everything that you have listed is exactly what determines if their blog gets added to my Google Reader or not. It’s quite possible that I have passed on many blogs that are probably fantastic due to the way that they are designed. Some I can excuse and just view them in my Reader but the design of a blog reels me in.
These tips are amazing; thank you for sharing!
I recently stared “The Style Cycle”. Its is a site that features outfit inspiration, How-to projects for clothing & jewelry and style tips for women who want to look good without having to spend thousands to get a designer look. The Style Cycle isn’t about being straight off the runway. It’s about getting a runway look thats practical and reasonable without compromising on quality.
Kim, I can’t thank you enough for this post. I personally am a huge neat freak and I love to keep everything in my life organized and tidy. You covered the five major points in a post that’s short, sweet, and to the point. this really helped me decide the layout & theme. I would have been lost without your guidance. Thank you!