How to make your blog look better | Bloggers Lair | Yakezie Forums

Hi everyone,

I would like to improve the way my blog looks.  Do you have any suggestions to my blog?  How did you guys learn to make your blog look better?  Did you use any special tools?

Also, has anyone hired a web designer?  How much do they cost and is it worth it?  I have a programming background and can probably learn how to code a site correctly but it will take some serious time and effort. 

Learn as much about WordPress. It's fun. Only time you need graphics designer is for your custom logo. 

Over time it's going to get better. Keep building on your content and then start thinking of how your voice on the internet should look. I would also consider changing your color as the green color is a bit dull for its content. 

Shilpan said:

Learn as much about WordPress. It's fun. Only time you need graphics designer is for your custom logo. 

Hello! I am from PA as well (though currently living in Houston).

I think the first thing to do is to get a great logo–the blog looks bare. Also, to save space "above the fold" you don't need to explain what the reader will receive by subscribing to your blog–just keep the title "Subscribe by Email".

Also, when I visited, the "Ad Choices" block of ad was awkwardly placed to the center-right of the page.

Just a few thoughts!

Personally I prefer to outsource my design work.  At the very least you can pay for a decent logo.  In my case I got a designer friend to do the whole design and it turned out much better than I would've been able to put together myself.  Plus I didn't have to waste my time trying to figure out something that isn't really my specialty.

Thanks for the tips everyone.  I'm going to work on my design this weekend and see if I can make it look a little better.  I plan on keeping my design minimal (so I have a smaller chance of messing something up  )

-I plan on moving the ads around so they are no longer in the way
-I would like to get a professional logo.  I have artistic friends who might be able to help me or I could hire someone.  How have you hired a logo designer?  I heard about a website where designers compete for your contract and you pay for the one you like the best (say, $200 to the logo you like the best)  Does anyone know this website?

-Even though I am going to keep it simple, I still want it to look good and professional.  I will let you know when I update it!

Btw, my current set-up took me about an hour of moving stuff around in the Wordpress Twenty Eleven theme. 

Like the others, I suggest getting a logo/header for your site. That will give it a more personal feel and will make your site more unique. I believe the site you're looking for is 99designs.com. I also suggest that you play around with different colors (you can go to kuler.adobe.com and get a feel for some good color palettes if you don't know where to start). I'm also not a fan of the green. 

A couple of questions: Why do you have subscribe by email twice? You can go with either the icon or the text box; there's no need for both. When I read your posts, specifically the most recent one above the fold, the ad seems to cover up some of the text. Can you reposition those? 

Other than that, I think you're on the right track. 

sooverdebt said:

"I would definitely recommend considering a professional logo. That helps to give you an identity that people recognize, and it will make other design choices come easier."

 

I'll second this thought. My biggest takeaway from the old book Guerilla Marketing was that although small businesses can't afford much, your logo and signage is your identity with your public. If it looks shoddy, they'll think the same of the site.