9 Essential Tips to Consider When Designing your Own Blog

So you’ve decided to launch your own blog. What are your options now? You obviously have some ideas about what you want to write about and how you want your content to be, but you also realise that success will require more than that.
You want something that will draw attention, but not so much that it will completely take over your site, obscuring everything else. There are numerous critical aspects to consider when designing your blog.

Tip #1 – Make Use of Images

It is critical that you determine what works best in terms of blog design and what does not. Many bloggers believe that people will continue to visit their site based on the quality of the content, not on the layout or design used.

While this may work for a small percentage of people, the majority of people who visit your site do so for reasons other than the words. They enjoy the images, the background, the contrasts, and the overall design of the page. If you stick to a simple design, it will be more difficult to maintain viewers’ interest.

Avoid Overcrowding

There is such a thing as an overcrowded and busy page.
If there is too much going on within the page itself, in terms of design, layout, font, and other such elements, visitors will lose track of what is happening.
Concentrating on content can be difficult if there are too many distractions on the page or if things appear too crowded.
You must strike the proper balance on your page in order for it to appear appealing.

3rd Tip: Fonts Do Matter

Many people find it difficult to believe that the font they use on a given page makes a difference. However, it has the potential to either enhance or detract from your page. If you use an outlandish font, readers may find the page unreadable.
This can immediately turn them off, and they may not even stay to see what else is on the page. This is especially true for the page title. Maintain a focus on something that will appeal to the majority of those who attend.

Google offers a plethora of free font resources.

Tip #4 – Color Is Important!

The colour scheme you choose for your page can also have a significant impact on how appealing it is to visitors.
Different colours have a strong influence on and elicit a variety of emotions in those who view them, so you want to stick with a colour that is not only appealing but also welcoming.
If you’re targeting a younger audience with your blog, you may want to use more black.
Blue is a more neutral colour that is calming and relaxing, which is why it is used in a variety of places, including my blog.

5-Include Yourself on the Page

Numerous bloggers include a photograph or image of themselves above their title on their homepage.
It does not have to be a large image, but it enables your readers and followers to “see” the person being discussed.
It always adds a layer of personalization if your readers know your appearance, and they are more likely to remember you, your blog, and your posts as a result.

Tip #6 – Adhering to blog standards

Certain things have become somewhat of a norm in the world of blogging.

One of these designs is a two-column layout.
This has become somewhat of a standard for blogs, and you will see it frequently on the Internet.
Sometimes adhering to the established standard works well, but there are times when you want a site that stands out and does things differently.
You must decide which approach to take and which method will work best for you.

7th Tip-Templates

The templates you select for your design should accurately reflect the content of your blog.
If you intend to use your blog primarily for text or as a type of diary, you want the design to reflect that.
If your focus is more on multimedia, you’ll probably want a design that immediately grabs a reader’s attention.
Maintain a functional design for your site that is directly related to your content.

Tip #8 – Monetizing Your Website Through Ads

If you’re using your blog to earn money, there may be a specific approach you want to take.
You’ll want to include informational banners in the page’s header and footer that your visitors can click on.
Additionally, you can include links and product suggestions in your sidebars to make it easy for potential customers to obtain any information they desire or require.
Keep your banners simple and clean, and make sure they are visible in both the header and sidebar.

Tip #9 – Avoid Placing an Excessive Number of Add-ons on Your Blog

You can incorporate a variety of add-ons into the design of your blog.
Many people prefer to have a category section so they can label previous posts and make everything easily accessible based on the post’s category.
Additionally, you can include a section that displays a list of recent articles you’ve published, allowing visitors to see what you’ve been up to recently.
Additionally, you may want to include links to any social media accounts you may have, so that people can “follow” or “like” you on those platforms as well.
One of the most critical rules to follow is: NEVER INSTALL TOO MANY ADD-ONS ON YOUR BLOG!!!
Why? Excessive add-ons will significantly slow down your blog’s loading time.

No-Cost Resources

Web development tutorials for beginners to advanced users | Nettuts+Nettuts+ is a Web Development tutorial blog and community. PHP, JavaScript, WordPress, HTML5, CSS, and Ruby are just some of the topics covered.

Pictaculous – A Tool for Creating Color Palettes (courtesy of MailChimp)

Create a palette of colours from a PNG, JPG, or GIF image/photo. Receive colour recommendations and access Photoshop swatches (.ACO)

Google Web Fonts offers a library of over 500 fonts that you can use for free in your next blog design.

Conclusion

When designing your blog, keep in mind that you cannot please everyone.

You want the blog to be a reflection of you and the message you wish to convey, so you should strive to remain authentic. Consider all suggestions for your site and implement those that you believe are genuine and will work best for your blog. I hope I’ve provided you with some useful tips for designing your next blog. If you have any suggestions or advice, please leave them in the comments section below.