Making Your Site More Design Friendly
Mar. 02, 2010
22 Comments
This is a guest post by Ethan T. If you're interested in getting yourself in front of the readers of EpicLaunch, check out the guest posting guidelines here.
If you’re a blogger or entrepreneur, your online presence is important–it’s the best way to reach your audience (or, perhaps your only way). We all know that the content is the most important part, but design is a close runner-up.
A Snap Decision
A user takes about half a second (that’s right: five-hundred milliseconds) to make a decision about a site. That split-second is the difference between the user staying or leaving. Whether or not you’ll get a subscriber or customer. Regardless of content, the visitor will judge your site simply based on what it looks like. You might offer a great service or provide superb content, but the user may not have the chance to read about it because he/she has already left, thinking it is a low quality service or out-of-date due to the design.
Book Cover
What does this say about the Web community?
Does the fact that we judge based on looks say something about the Web community? Are we a prejudiced group? There is the old saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. In school, students are taught to read the synopsis and first few pages before deciding whether or not to read the book. Perhaps we should take the same approach with the Web.
Recognizing the Problem
Spicing up your website might attract more people. How do you know though if your site needs touching up? What you can do is ask someone else to look at your site and provide objective feedback. Or, you could do it yourself by pretending that you are someone who is seeing this site for the first time. This is not as effective as the first method, but works nonetheless.
Excellent Designs
Here are some blogs and sites that have unique, impressive designs that we can all learn from:
Fixing the Problem
If your site actually require design improvements there are various ways to approach it.
- Hire a designer.
- Find another theme or template.
- Learn CSS and HTML to edit your design.
Often, a site will look aged if it is not with the current styles. You can try changing the fonts, changing the background, and mixing up the layout to spice it up. Remember, pretend that when you’re looking at your site it’s the first time. Would you stay or not?
22 Responses to “Making Your Site More Design Friendly”
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Mar. 03, 2010
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I think your design is a great example of how to keep visitors reading. It is clean and inviting. I loved the designs you have as examples.
Tom | Build That List´s last blog post: The 4 Reasons People Unsubscribe Mailing Lists
There’s also Creattica from Envato (http://www.creattica.com) which anyone can submit to, but is still a great resource.
Remember, you want your site to be your own and when people see it from a mile a way they know exactly who it belongs to. It is about making a brand for yourself. To make your website stand out you can’t just go with a free theme that 1.67 million other people use.
This is true, but if you don’t have the budget or time to hire a designer, finding a theme could be your only option.
But, you should try to customize it and brand it as much as possible
Great simple guidelines. I am actually looking to remove few errors from my Blog (as spotted by W3C Validator)
Agent Deepak´s last blog post: Interview with James Richmond – The InfoPreneur
I would’ve liked to see some more ways on fixing the problem.
A user making a decision is a lot like a first impression. You might also have great content but if the design kills, so does the site.
Alex Monroe´s last blog post: Calling All Kids! Want to Make Some Money?
Yeah, having the right balance of content and design is critical–have one and it just puts users off.
With an increasing amount of bloggers out there,designing has become a great competitive advantage. Unfortunately it is also expensive, nevertheless if you research thoroughly you may find a pretty design which is free.
There are a lot of template sites out there (such as WooThemes) that are quite cheap, or free.
It’s quite difficult to create a design that’s unique and doesn’t mix up with many others. However, once a blogger is successful creating a unique and attractive design, people will always remember his or her blog.
Agreed with the post.
Aminul Islam Sajib´s last blog post: Do You Need A Google Wave Invitation?
Having your blog design being remembered it important, but remember that content is also equally important.
One thing I always say, which is also a must is that, every blogger or website owner must know at least some HTML and/or CSS because that’s part of the core of what you do.
Shirley´s last blog post: The Bit.ly Link Preview Tool – Preview Any Bit.ly Link Anywhere On The Web
I agree. There’s a whole debate about designers/bloggers writing HTML: http://www.markboulton.co.uk/journal/comments/on-designers-writing-html
So true. Design is not worth the loss of getting wrong. People judge quickly by appearance.
Clinton Skakun´s last blog post: Stop being so realistic!
It’s unfortunate, really, how people judge so quickly on design but then don’t look at the content.
I completely agree, there is nothing worse than an unprofessional or broken design, and it is certainly a hidrance to any sites success. I think one of the worst mistakes is when you see a blog with Adsense that is in a broken place, and overlaps on content, looks totally lame!
JR ´s last blog post: Make Money Online for Free: How-To Build Money Sites Quickly With WordPress
Pfft, who uses AdSense? Oh, right, broken sites :p
I recently hired a new designer to help with my live build…so far so good.
Dennis Edell´s last blog post: $100 – 10 Winners – Comment Contest! ‘Till Months End…
Hi Ethan,
Great post. I think http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com is another great example on outstanding blogdesign.
/Per
Per Lund´s last blog post: Google Buzz
I can’t help but agree to the fact that most readers would (most probably, unconsciously) judge a blog in the fist few seconds by its design. Patience just wasn’t given to everyone. I know I am guilty of judging that way.
I designed my own website’s look. But I still would want someone else to see if it needs some re-touching or re-designing.
BTW, I like the mailchimp site’s design. And sitesketch’s earthy look is pleasing to the eyes.
James M.´s last blog post: Wired FM Modulator