Comments on: Blog Tip Sharing Project Redux: Blog Design

By: Blog Yourself Silly | My Messy Paradise

Blog Yourself Silly | My Messy Paradise — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:18:32 +0000

[...] Blog Design and Sidebars and Pages, from Playgroups are No Place for [...]

By: Angles

Angles — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:39:49 +0000

I posted some comments before anyway, because lots of your stuff is really informative.Absolutely amazing man!

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:32:22 +0000

I think your blog is very nicely designed. Its very conducive to reading your entries. You seem to have done a great job. Ive had a look at your code on the header, there are a few minor problems but other then that very nicely done.

By: sam {temptingmama}

sam {temptingmama} — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:45:13 +0000

Aren’t you sweet for including me in your designer list?! I love you!

As for the sidebars and content part – YES! Having the sidebars to the right is a good thing not only for the reason you mentioned above, but I think it helps with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) crawlers read sites starting on the left and therefore pick up content faster if it’s the first thing. Or so I’ve been told. LOL
sam {temptingmama}´s last blog ..Today

By: ~Laura

~Laura — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:36:05 +0000

Thanks for the great tips! A custom header is something I’ve been thinking about for a while now. I’m on blogger and I think it is more limiting than wordpress on what you can do on your own. We’ll see what I can manage…
~Laura´s last blog ..The Showdown

By: Holly

Holly — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:34:22 +0000

Shoot. Forgot to leave my site address. I think my layout might be a horrible mess. If anyone wants to take a peak and comment, I would appreciate it!

By: Holly

Holly — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:31:50 +0000

I hate sites with music! I’m usually on the internet during my kids’ naptime and there is nothing more frustrating than realizing I forgot to mute the computer and therefore being unwillfully subjected to some twangy country song blaring from the speakers. It’s woken my twins up before and trust me, there is nothing scarier than a mother whose twins have been prematurely awoken from their nap. (This is also why the girl scouts avoid my house now. I miss the thin mints but would rather have sleeping twins.)

By: Texan Mama

Texan Mama — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:25:04 +0000

I like simple blog designs too. But, I think a blog design that is memorable, even if it’s just a memorable header, is a good idea. Not necessary, but a good idea. It’s helpful if it all can tie together, meaning, the name of your blog, plus a design that kinda matches it, plus a gravatar that also kinda matches it. Then stick with it. If you make changes, that’s okay, as long as it stays within the theme.

I know, that limits choices down the road. But, if you want your name to get out there (and your name is, for example Jennifer – sorry Jen) then you have to distinguish yourself from everyone else. (like the example you gave with the book cover).
Texan Mama´s last blog ..Meal Rotation

By: Karen Lewis

Karen Lewis — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:37:27 +0000

Jennifer,

Thanks so much for including me in your list of affordable designers! It’s an honor to be included in a list with some of the top names in web and blog design.

And for anyone who is interested in a free website or blog analyzing tool, I find that the Web Page Analyzer does a pretty good job for what most people need.

Cheers!

Karen Lewis

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:39:34 +0000

Denise, No kidding! You go to make one little change and it ends up taking an entire morning/day/week.

If you use Firefox, I hope you know about the Firebug plugin, it allows to make changes to your html and see what happens when you make the changes before doing anything permanent. Greatest invention ever.