Be honest, this is probably not the best looking blog in the world… I’m willing to guarantee it because I’ve seen some amazing sites.
The Athletic Nerd has been in existence for nearly 3 months now and I’m loving it. Having a place to write about films, television and technology has been a goal of mine for a long time. When I first started, my overall plan was simple:
Step 1: Create the blog (Check)
Step 2: Create interesting content (Check but it’s debatable)
Step 3: Find an audience (See Step 2)
Thanks to WordPress, step 1 was pretty simple. Within minutes, I was up and running. Steps 2 and 3 are still a work in progress but I have a pretty good idea of where I want to take this blog in coming months. The other day, I was reading some articles about blogging and it opened my eyes to an opportunity I have yet to seize. An opportunity to create a blog that doesn’t look boring. It’s an inspiring idea isn’t it?
Speaking of which, two sites in particular inspired this post:
problogger.net A pretty amazing resource for bloggers
Smashing Magazine: The Death of the Blog Post
I have to admit, there is an issue with my three step plan. It fails to address the overall design of the site. I think it’s time to really start focusing on an overall look. To me that means more graphics, better images and more dynamic layouts for my posts. So you’ll be noticing some changes from now on. I really like the idea of creating a unique look tailored to each individual blog post. When I had this realization, I took a look at my blog and decided it was ugly. I know I’m not the only beginner out there dealing with this issue… I intend to fight.
Putting effort into the way posts are displayed is an extremely important part of maintaining a successful blog. You have to be willing to put in the time in order to create amazing content that looks great. Even as I type this, I have Photoshop open and I’m brainstorming some type of banner to put at the top of this post. Little details count. (It’s up there now. Simple. I think it’s effective.) So, how do you avoid ugly posts? Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
Content comes first. Boring content is a synonym for ugly content.
Don’t be afraid of custom graphics. This was my downfall at first. I like a lot of media in my posts but I was never willing to go the extra mile to really create a truly original look.
Pay attention to layout. I’ve written a bunch of posts that look identical to each other. It would be fantastic if they all looked awesome but they probably don’t. A lot of the blogging trends I’ve caught onto involve magazine style layouts. Blogazine if I remember the term correctly. People are incorporating a lot of different techniques and separating sections of their blog in different ways to really keep people’s attention on their content. A magazine look may not necessarily be the style I’m going for but it’s an example of something different to try.
Avoid large blocks of text. I’m shocked at how many blogs I’ve seen that look like textbooks. I’ve made that mistake as well. (Actually, in a way, I’m doing it right now.)
Have a vision. I work in a fast paced environment and I have to be able to trust my instincts on what looks good enough to put to air. Even while writing and directing, you need to have a clear idea of what the end result will be. This applies to blogging too. The trick is to plan out elements to make your posts stand out and then execute.
Don’t force it. Putting too much into a post can have a negative effect as well. Too much ‘noise’ is distracting. Good design is invisible. Personally, I’m a fan of minimalist design.
I’m learning more and more as I go and I’ve seen some pretty amazing looking blogs along the way. It’s great to have so many sources of inspiration on the web.
The journey to better looking posts has begun.
Stay tuned for more interesting and better looking content in 3…2… soon.
PS: This post was phase 2. There are no more phases.
