My guest post today is Allison from Alli-n-Son. She’s the momma of a spunky and energetic two year old boy. She’s also a wanna-be photographer and gourmet chef, a highly creative woman and one-time graphic designer all rolled into one. This post is packed with helpful information with wonderful advice coming from a woman who has seen it all on the design front.
For over 8 wonderful years I spent the majority of my time designing. Logos. Brochures. Direct mail. CD covers. Annual reports. Invitations. Web sites. Anything and everything that I could get my little hands on. I loved it. My creativity was expressed {even under the watchful eye of the customer} and I helped people communicate with other people or businesses. It was heaven.
Until, that is, I had my son and my world was flipped upside down. Design was no longer the main focus of my life. My son was. Which is why 18 months after having him, I quit my job to stay at home.
As I entered the blogging world, my passion for design followed me. Instead of creating for others, I was creating for myself. My blog became an extension of myself, not only through my words and photos, but also through the design and style of it. Me, my personality, had to show through the design as well as my writing.
The more blogs I read and the more that I visited, the more I realized how important blog design is. I mean, I knew good design and style was important before, but good design is important for different reasons. It’s personal.
One of the things you hear over and over in blogging tips is to be you. Write from your heart. Read other bloggers, but don’t try to be them. As the cliché saying goes, just be yourself. This couldn’t be more true for blog design.
So what exactly is good blog design?
Well, it’s subjective to the blogger, that’s for sure. But here are a few tips to help get you on the right track and to find your style.
Don’t use a standard {ahem, generic} blog template. You know the ones, you see them everywhere. The only thing that changes is the title of the blog. There’s no personality, no connection to the blogger. No sense of who the blogger actually is. And let’s face it, you need that connection to grow your blog.
Find your style. Maybe you love things to be ultra simple and clean. Maybe you adore vintage. Perhaps you find inspiration in nature. Or maybe photography defines who you are. Whatever it is, whatever you are passionate about, whatever fits you, pick one style and run with it. Don’t be afraid to find other blogs that you like, but don’t copy. Use them for inspiration and create a version of your own; a version that is just you and exactly as you would in your writing.
Keep it clean, organized and as clutter-free as possible. It happens to everyone, you get a little side bar happy. So many buttons, so little space. But crowding your side bars with buttons, widgets, ads and all sorts of lovely things is actually taking away from your blog. It’s distracting from the content, from your words, photos, stories, recipes, and everything brilliant you have to say. Clean it up and you will find that people will enjoy visiting your site more.
Don’t be afraid to tweak your blog design as you go along. The best things happen over time, but don’t give your blog a complete overhaul very often. It’s so tempting to change your design and style with every new idea you see. Take your time at the beginning and do it right the first time. Make sure your personality is in your blog design and you’ll be happy with it for a long, long time. If you do decide to change it there are two options. Make it a second generation {or third or fourth}, something similar but a little more refined or grown up. Or, if it’s time, give your blog a complete overhaul, something completely different. Then shout it from the tree tops so everyone stops by to see the new you!
Designing a blog can be overwhelming even for me, who’s been in the design business for almost a decade now. There are so many options! Take a deep breath and ask for some help. Just like everyone can’t bake, not everyone can create great blog designs. It’s one of those skills and passions that you either have or don’t. If you are up for the challenge of learning, high fives all around! But if you find it frustrating or you just don’t have the time, patience or energy, there are plenty of resources to help get you going.
Find a friend who is skilled in blog design and ask for their help. Offer a shout out in return, ad space, a batch of your famous cookies or your undying love – whatever it takes. There are design agencies and freelancers who specialize in creating amazing blogs. Hire one. You may be surprised to find out how affordable it can be.
One final thought: Many bloggers don’t like the idea of branding a blogger. But branding shouldn’t be seen as a negative thing. In fact, it can be one of the best ways to promote your blog. By keeping your identity and your style consistent in everything that you do, you are creating a brand. That brand is you. Consistency is the first way to get other bloggers to notice and recognize you. It’s the first way to get your voice heard. It’s one of the best ways to shout “Look at me! I’m unique and I’m worth reading!”
Please send me an email if you are interested in guest posting at Theta Mom® for TMC Network. Full details can be found on the Network page.
