2009 04/11

Does Your Blog or Site Design Make You Happy?

After reading a thread over at the ProBlogger community, I’m considering a makeover of this site. Again.

Why? Because I am not completely in love with the way it looks and works. Yes, I’ve had a lot of positive feed back. Yes, I LOVE the colors. But, personally, I find it a little juvenile, personal-blog-ish, and limiting. And, I can’t do much to change it.

I want a theme that is highly customizable… something I can make my own. This site is mine and I want it to reflect my organized, love-of-all-things-glossy, personality. I want images and color on the front page. I think I may have found the theme that will make me happy so expect the make-over to happen soon.

Why am I talking about this? Because it’s important for a blogger or business owner to like and be proud of their site. If you are not, it will show. Why strive to create the best content when you aren’t pleased with the way it will be presented?

I recently gave my design portfolio a makeover, and now, I’m not ashamed to send people to see it. I now have a logo I can be proud of… partly because I designed it myself, but mostly because it really does rock. I absolutely love the colors and layout of the new site and I can’t think of anything I’d want to change. That makes me a happy site owner!

How about you? Are you happy with your site or blog? If you could change something about it, what would it be? Tell me in the comments and I’ll visit your site and reply with my opinion/tips!

[poll id="5"]

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Patty

I love the theme I currently have, especially since I paid for it. But it's not the easiest to customize if you don't have those all important coding skills. I know what I want to do just have too much on my plate right now to focus on learning how to make the changes.
I am highly motivated to make these changes soon though because someone I know, competition if you will recently switched to the same theme I have. I want to stand out from the competition.
Looking forward to your changes.
.-= Patty´s last blog ..The sign says it all =-.

EricaMueller

Patty,

If you need any help, let me know! I have modified the Lifestyle theme numerous times for many different clients. It's very popular and I'm not at all surprised you have competition using the same theme. The key is to make yours totally YOU. A custom logo and header wouldn't hurt either!

InternetHow Blog

Hi Erica

This is the first time I've been to your blog. I must say, you have great content. One thing I can tell you is, try to go for something simple, that would also increase your content's visibility.

When it comes to my blog's theme, I am still on the look for better themes. Whatever I do, when I see a theme that is nice, I always feel as mine needs improving. I felt like this when I had the previous theme, I feel like this now, and I am sure I will feel the same when I have another theme.

I gues you never get satisfied. And it is difficult to get satisfied as there are lots of nice themes available. I think as human, we always desire, what we don't have.

Have a nice day

EricaMueller

Thanks for the comments!

I'm actually a graphic designer, with just enough PHP and CSS knowledge to modify themes. I like this one a lot, but it bugs me that there's not a lot I can edit to really make it mine. I thought I'd found a new one I could use, but after careful assessment I've found it's missing a lot of features I can't live without. Sigh.

So, now I'm designing my own with the hopes of finding someone to code it for me. :-) I'm incorporating all the features I've loved from different layouts and themes I've used or edited and I'm hoping to come out of this with the ultimate theme - for me.

You're right, there's always something new and better and it's hard to be satisfied with what you have!!

Kevin Tea

Erica, I am very much a Zen Minimalist when it comes to my blog design so the slightly customised Thesis theme suits me. I'd like to think that the content speaks for itself and that the design assists that rather than detracts from it.

How were you thinking of changing it?

EricaMueller

Kevin,

I want more of a classy glossy look and less 'grunge.' I also want thumbnails of my images on the front page to add some color.

I love the Market Place theme (http://themeforest.net/item/marketplace-communi...) except there is no horizontal page or category navigation, and there is no featured post section in the header.

For me, having that post up there in the header has REALLY increased my page views. It's easy to use, and it's always seen. Whatever I feature up there ends up being the most popular post. I love it!

I'm a designer. But, I'm also a very organized, un-cluttered person. The minimalist themes often attract me, but then the designer in me starts screaming for color and fun stuff. :-) I have to find a happy medium.

Fruitfulvine2

Thanks to you I'm very satisfied. Thanks again for your help.

EricaMueller

Aww, thanks!! I'm so happy I was able to assist you and that you now have a site you're completely proud of!

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