Feb 07 2009
Choosing a Blog Template
Well, my work just increased this weekend. I have several blogs, and not all of which I post too on a regular basis - there are a couple that are test blogs, where I try out different styles and posts to see what attracts more readers. Now as a blogger I love the magazine style because it looks more professional and shows more content. However, I have found several issues that can pose a problem for regular and paid (or trying to be paid bloggers.
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The first is the format is a general pain to maintain. Yes the pictures are great for attracting attention, but are a pain for maintenance. Once you put a new front page article up you have to post a new picture, or re-post the old one. And if you want new ones, finding them takes time. In other words, unless blogging is your job, you may not have the time to invest.
Second, the advertisements can be placed badly. And again, altering this takes time - and a lot of it. My beauty site had a record number of hits yesterday, but no ad clicks because the ads are toward the bottom. The top is filled with featured and headline news. And the same issue goes for my product ads. With them being at the bottom of the page no one will find them.
Third, it has no RSS reader built in. So those who like the site can not fit it into their reader, or don’t know how too. That really has to be fixed….right now. Again, I could add an RSS reader - at the bottom of the page. NOPE.
Fourth, and finally I have discovered through my own habits, if I am looking at a blog I am more likely to scroll through a traditional blog style. I think this is because I feel like the postings are more “real” and are made by real people who are in the same situation I am in. It creates a sense of something that I can relate too. I think this is because we are so bombarded with advertisements today we are looking for something relatable when we surf the web.
Anyways, it created more work for me this weekend - but in the end it will be worth it. And I learned something in the process of doing something new…which is the most important thing!
I’ve long admired and coveted the magazine style template, which wasn’t available for blogger for the longest time… but as I surf around via Entrecard, I too find myself less bothered to expand and explore blogs using the magazine layouts. Now I’m happy I didn’t go out of my way to get my blogger blog in a magazine style. I’m still bored with its look, however, and have been fighting my itchy fingers that want to get another template in place