Welcome to week 6 of the blog tip sharing project! Today’s topic is a continuation of last week’s discussion of blog design. Let’s talk about your (probably overloaded) sidebars. I say that they are probably overloaded because, well, most sidebars, INCLUDING MINE, are. Whether you have one, two, or more sidebars, think about the purpose and necessity of each item you stick over there.
Generally, we want things in our sidebars to entice our readers to stick around and read more. Your sidebars are also a good place to put information that lets your new readers get to know who you are and who they are reading about. When your sidebars are too cluttered, INCLUDING MINE, people tend to ignore all of it because it’s too visually cluttery*(new word!) to wade through.
One excellent way to clean up cluttered sidebars is to add pages. Under my header, there are links to pages that contain information that I previously had in my sidebars. With a little html/javascript/css knowledge, they can be added to any template. Just google “adding pages to blog” and you’ll find about 59 million sites willing to help you.
Let’s talk about the MUST HAVES for your sidebar(s).
1. Subscribe button
Make it easy for people to subscribe to your feed. My subscribe button is over there to your left, right up at the top. Easy to find! I really like that particular button because it makes it easy to add the feed to any feed reader. You can get that button, too, at Addthis.com.
(
Quick confession, I don’t understand how to use these orange subscribe buttons I see everywhere. They just take you to the feed and I can’t figure out a way to add it to my Google reader. I must have the dumbs.)
2. Cast of Characters
In my sidebar I have my name, a picture of myself, the names and ages of my kids, and my husband’s name. This is a CRUCIAL thing to have in your sidebar. When a new reader stops by, they need to know who and what your blog is about. If you don’t already have this on your blog, I’ll wait for you to fix that RIGHT NOW.
**taps fingers**
3. Comment Policy
You need to let commenters know what you do and don’t allow people to say in your comments section. Be sure to let readers know if you edit comments, delete rude comments, or if cursing isn’t allowed. Here’s a great explanation of comment policies from The Blog Herald.
4. Search Box
This is helpful for those who come to your blog and want to search for something specific. I often use search boxes on other’s blogs when I’m looking for a post that I wish to link.
Those four items listed above are probably the only ABSOLUTELY necessary things you should have in your sidebar. However, most of us, INCLUDING ME, cannot resist the lure of other widgets and buttons for our sidebars. So let’s continue to discuss some of the other things that are useful, though not necessary.
5. Consider adding the number of feed subscribers to your sidebar.
Ever since adding my feed count to my sidebar nine months ago, I’ve gone from around 150 subscribers to over 600. Here’s an article from Problogger that discusses revealing your subscriber count.
6. Blogroll/Google Reader shared items/Blogger’s blog list
Sharing with your readers what YOU read, is not only a great way for people get to know you, it’s also a fantastic way to send traffic to sites you admire.
Since most people’s blogrolls are hundreds of sites long, I don’t necessarily recommend that you keep your full blogroll in your sidebar. There are ways you can still have a blogroll, but without so much clutter including having a having a link to a separate site or page that houses your blogroll, a rotating blogroll which shows just a few of the blogs you read at a time, expandable boxes for hiding or showing your blog list (also excellent for hiding awards, buttons, etc.), and scroll boxes.
(By the way, my blogroll is NOT updated. Since I use a feed reader to keep track of the blogs I read, the only time I add people to my blogroll is when someone asks. If you’re not on it and wish to be, please email me and I will add you.)
7. Archives, most recent posts and favorite posts
Offering these in your sidebar makes it easy for people to nose around your site. I have archives and most recent posts in my sidebar and I made a page for my favorite posts.
8. Links to your social networking sites, like Twitter, StumbleUpon, Flickr, etc.
These links let people know where else they can find and “friend” you. I don’t have links to every site I belong to, but the sites that I use the most.
As I mentioned last week, make sure that whatever you have in your sidebar is not holding up the loading of your page. Long load times means lost visitors. Many of the award buttons and twitter widgets cause these slow loading times. Beware!
I realize that I have many things in my sidebars in addition to the items I mentioned above like ads, a live traffic feed, and (too many) other buttons. Like my Internet addiction, I’m slowly weaning myself from the lure of excessive widgetry*(new word!). It’s a work in progress.
I’d love to know what you think is necessary in a blog’s sidebar. What do you think is unnecessary?
Previously in this series…Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
My subscribers have more than doubled since I put that orange box up near the top. And, thanks for the link to the problogger article. (I really need to subscribe to him!) He raises some good points but I’m not sure I’m ready to ‘tell’ what my numbers are just yet. Insecurity.
Great points!
Headless Moms last blog post..And the winner is…
I think when you hit that little orange button and it takes you to the feed… isn’t there a box off to the right that has all the icons for feed readers? Then you just choose yours and it automatically adds it to your list. At least that’s what I’ve found!
Kristas last blog post..A Famous Cory?
Well, I have some widgets which are unecessary, but link to pages/sites I like or tell where my visitors are from. I don’t know how important this is to most readers, but when I went from a two-sidebar to three-sidebar design, I put all my social networking links at the top of the right sidebar, and all my advertising underneath that. That way, my specific blog-related stuff is all on one sidebar.
I used to have my most recent posts, but for some reason I was having issues and took it off. I do have a calendar, though, so maybe that will help to that effect. I have the rest of the necessities, except a cast of characters.
Devilish Southern Belles last blog post..Huntsville Air Show
Krista, it just takes me to a box that says something about Microsoft feeds…maybe it’s because I’m a dinosaur who stills uses IE instead of Firefox!
I just don’t GET those orange boxes!
DSB, I think that links to recent posts are more enticing than a calendar because people are more likely to click on an interesting title than just a date.
But that’s just my opinion!
It must be the IE but I get the same thing Krista described when I hit the orange button…a list of feed options and I choose google, it adds and it’s as simple as that.
BTW, I’m going to break another one of my rules today and I shall blame you for this one.
Queen of Shake Shakes last blog post..Without Further Ado, My First Haiku
I don’t know… I am hot and cold on my sidebar. I like to try to put stuff on there that shows a bit of who I am, but you’re right, it can get pretty junky on there.
Interesting idea on the feed… maybe I’ll show my subscribers.
Manager Moms last blog post..When Worlds Collide
I love your live feed – where people are coming from.
I also like when people have lnks to “posts that didn’t suck” or their favorite posts. Gives me something good to read if I’m bored.
I also love that you have a Site of the Week – 1. I like to find new sites and 2. I think it shows respect to your readers and let’s them know you’re out reading too. (Just like your “me likey” thing.
Looks like I’ve got work to do.
Cathys last blog post..Watch Your Mouth Haiku
Interesting. I have most the things mentioned. I am not too keen on getting a thousand reader, but I do like my blog to look nice. I think sometimes sidebars get a little cluttered. One of my blogs doesn’t even have a sidebar, but I realized just yesterday that if someone got there that they wouldn’t even know my name so I added a small description in the header.
These how to blog articles of yours are very interesting. Thanks for all the incite.
And, uh, does it freak you out at all that over 600 people read what you write? Just a little, maybe?
Cathys last blog post..Watch Your Mouth Haiku
I also like your commentluv thing that shows last blog posts. I use it a lot to link to others blogs.
Lauras last blog post..Celebrities bug me
You my dear, have become the Blog Queen.
nice work…
~JJ!s last blog post..Haiku Miss You
1. I still have an issue with feeds. In Google Reader, you can actually subscribe to my blog in two ways – the feed url and the regular url. Both show that I have some subscribers. I switched from the orange feedburner button to the one you use, so maybe that will help. How do you get the information to put how many readers you have??
2. Can you get something like CommentLuv for blogger?
Thanks for this series – it has been SO helpful.
Mrs. Whos last blog post..For Fun Friday – June 27, 2008
I just started my blog a few weeks and your tips have been a huge help. I added the subscribe button, but have to admit, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT’S FOR! yikes, guess I have some learning to do.
Nicoles last blog post..Three is a magic number
You know, I have the feedburner button on my site and last week it dropped like 20 readers. Shouldn’t it be going the other way? I wonder how I offended so many people.
I’m loving this series of yours.
Stimeys last blog post..Anthology of Interest I
You’re right, I need to put my ‘cast of characters’ up. I’m still debating about the # of subscribers up though.
Cassies last blog post..love or money?
You’re right, I need to put my ‘cast of characters’ up. I’m still debating about the # of subscribers up though. How do you get a search box for your page?
Cassies last blog post..love or money?
YEah, I suck. I don’t have the picture and descrip up. I’ll be putting up soon as I find a decent picture of me *G* (that might just be…NEVER…:P)
Sarahs last blog post..I’m just not the type…
I toy with my sidebars all the time. I recently added all my categories, because I have some that are a little different (scoliosis, hepatitis) and I wanted readers to be able to find them. But I have so many that I’ve been slowly cutting down the number of categories because it looks JUNKY!!
I also love the feedjit thingy that tells where recent visitors came from. It’s fun.
Off to mess with sidebar again!!
Anne Glamores last blog post..A Little Bit of Everything
ok, just spent some time messing with the sidebar…got a long way to go. I will not be adding my feedburner stats until I get at least 10 readers….ha!
thanks for doing this, gives me somthing to do Saturday mornings…
designHER Mommas last blog post..A wee bit wee for the wii…
Well, Puppy’s certainly going to be busy changing mine this weekend, now isn’t he! I have a site I’m going to email you if you are interested. And, sorry about the blogroll snafu last night.
Anglophile Football Fanatics last blog post..The Incredible True Mis-Adventures of Carl (take 1)
Well, Puppy’s certainly going to be busy changing mine this weekend, now isn’t he! I have a site I’m going to email you if you are interested. And, sorry about the blogroll snafu last night.
Anglophile Football Fanatics last blog post..The Incredible True Mis-Adventures of Carl (take 1)
These classes have been so helpful! I have been trying to figure out how to add the feed button but have had limited time. Thank goodness I found your classes:)
Mary Beths last blog post..WANT SLAPSTICK COMEDY?
[...] What you need (and don’t need) cluttering up your sidebars, over at Playgroups Are No Place For Children [...]
Oh Jennifer… I’m wishing (again) that we somehow could be neighbors so you could help me get up to speed with my blog. This post is so great.
And, I think we could actually be friends since I think we married the same guy. (at least they have the same characteristics)
Kristins last blog post..Alice in Non-Dairyland
Cathy, YES, it freaks me out. I wonder who ARE all of you people reading.
Thanks to all of you who read. It means a lot to me.
Mrs. Who, I’m not sure if this will help or if you are already doing this…In blogger you can redirect your feed to feedburner and help you get an accurate subscriber count. Read about it here…http://buzz.blogger.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
Also, I’m not aware of anything like Comment Luv for Blogger. (Another fatal flaw of Blogger vs. WP, in my opinion).
Stimey, Subscriber counts can fluctuate GREATLY and it doesn’t mean you’ve lost subscribers. It has to do with people opening or not opening their readers. With it being summertime, lots of people don’t open their readers at all for days. I notice that on Sundays and Mondays my subscriber count drops and I suspect it’s because fewer people are online Sat/Sun.
I’ve lost as many as 200 subscribers overnight. That hurt.
Anne, After publishing this, I thought “I should’ve mentioned categories, especially if you write about something specific and searchable.”
Great tip to add!
Cassie, To add a search button to a Blogger site, try this site:
http://www.blogbar.org/
In WordPress, it’s automatically an option.
I don’t know how to collapse things into a blog roll…I wish I did because I have LONG list of family and friends blogs that I wish I could collapse because it is especially long on my side bar! I will click on your links in your posts to see if I can’t track something more effective down! Thanks again for the advice!
P.S. I left you a present on my blog today:)
Mary Beths last blog post..I GOTCHER BLOGGY LOVE RIGHT HERE!
I love this series! I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned. Including that I wish I had started my blog on wordpress – now I feel tied to blogger!
And, not to pressure you or anything, but I desperately need that post that focuses on Stumbleupon. I joined, but I feel lost. I did manage to add you as a friend though! (You are my one and only.)
anymommys last blog post..Hairku Friday: Exhaustion
Ditto to all the other ladies…this series ROCKS. Thank you so, so much Jennifer. It’s helpful beyond belief. Fo reals.
I agree on all the sidebar necessities. I know my bars are a little cluttered, but I don’t think they’re TOO bad yet…someone please give me feedback if they are! I’m dragging my heels and screaming about switching to WP too, anymommy. It’s scary, after nice, comfy Blogger…
I am always excited to see a new BTSP post up, Jennifer! I hope there are many more to come…I read and absorb every single one, and recommend them to new bloggers too.
flickrlovrs last blog post..25 Things You Don’t Really Need To Know About Me
I’ve added my subscribe button!
I have a playlist on my regular blog, on my recipe blog, on my myspace page, on my cafemom page and on my facebook page because I have to have music! Do you think it a bad idea to have a play list?
I’m still keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll tell us how to get those lurkers out there posting *hint*
Marye~s last blog post..The Suburban Gardener
Great job on this. I directed a friend of mine to your site for tips since she is using her blog to sell her purses.
I took off my awards & “things I stand for” type badges. Just because I was de-cluttering.
Don’t mind ‘em on other people’s blogs necessarily.
VDogs last blog post..Supermodel (You Better Work!)
You are the blog desing guru. Since switching over to my .com and starting up AM, I’ve been totally lax on getting my sidebar back together. It’s pretty sad right now, but you’ve inspired me to fix it up! Yay! Another internet related project! As if I don’t spend enough time here already!
And…I’m not sure I want everyone to SEE that I’ve got all of 34 subscribers. Although I just admitted it here, so that’s the first step I suppose.
My name is Meghan and I have a peasly subscriber count.
[...] Blog Tip Sharing Project 6: Sidebars [...]
I was on a sidebar decluttering mission yesterday. I finally moved my award buttons and updated them to a separate page. I recently added the subscribe button, too.
I don’t like it when blogs are too cluttered. I am not a big fan of blinky shizzle or music.
I accidentally deleted my blogroll a while back but I want to do the blog of the week feature like you.
I’m really wanting to switch to a 3 column layout but maybe for my 3 year blogiversary in October.
This series rocks Jennifer!!!! Very helpful stuff.
Jamies last blog post..Good Dog, Jack
Thank you so much for these tips! It has honestly helped me a ton! I spent about 2 hours (thank heavens the boys were napping!) adding the blogreader button and the feedburner button to my sidebar. It took me so long (i’m so computer dumb) but it was worth it.
Kathryns last blog post..Summer At It’s Best
I love this series too! I got some great advice recently from another blogger, and cleaned up my sidebars A TON. Now I’m adding a few things back, but they’re actual useful things! I’m looking for a search box now, and I think I’ll add some of my favorite posts to the sidebar, I have a subscribe button now and am exploring feedburner. AGH! Thank you for taking the time to do this, it is really, really helpful!
Rachaels last blog post..SYTYCD: Top 16 Results Show
STOP trying to convince me to switch to WordPress – and I know it’s ME you’re talking to. (just kidding, sort of)
Anyway…I can’t switch now, I think napwarden would kill me… or just charge me more to change everything again…
Cathys last blog post..What’s in a name, anyway???
hmph…am missing lots of those things…GRR.
alis last blog post..swiper no swiping, ali is naked, and the mouths of babes
I just found your blog through Settle Mom Blogs and found your tips very informative. I went back and read through all 6 parts and am anxiously awaiting the rest. Thanks for the tips.
I think watching your stats to see what widgets actually bring in traffic and which ones don’t also is helpful in figuring out what to get rid of. So many of these blog cataloging sites have their own widgets but they become invisible to people. Same with ads from certain blogging networks – they’re invisible once they’re on everyone’s blogs, therefore making them useless.
Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near Yous last blog post..Giveaway Winners
[...] giveaways a-coming! Some announced. Some that will make you search (see the new search box Jennifer’s post told me to put up!?) for answers. Some just when the heat index hits 110 and I feel the need to [...]
Oh my God, I think I might actually almost be abiding by this one. Wait, let me go check my sidebars…
Subscribe: check
Cast of characters: got me, others on “about page”
Comment policy & search box: check check
# of feed readers: Really? Ugh. I can’t decide. Does it register negative numbers?
Blogroll/Share/Archives: got ‘em all and use flooble (I think I sent you flooble, so I do help!)
Now then…. woah. Where the hell did all of this other stuff come from in my sidebar?!
Jennifer, maybe you missed my explicit offer to share my butt warmth at BlogHer, but I need you to come over and critique my blog. My other readers tried to sneak in critiques and I started crying, so I need help and you have a sweet voice.
Now I’ve got to go and add a couple more widgets to my sidebars because my site doesn’t load slowly enough. Ooh, did you mention somewhere that if you insist on loading the entire blogosphere into your sidebars that you should put your content in the left column so it loads first?
[...] been some chatter recently about traffic counts, subscriber numbers, reader engagement, etc. Jennifer’s most recent blog school post touched on the fact that she believes you should post your subscriber count on your blog, regardless [...]
[...] Previously in this series…Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 [...]