This is probably a repeat in terms of blogging advice, but it bears repeating.  Keep your blog design simple. Make sure people can find your content as well as your archives.  If you look at this blog, you’ll notice that everything is pretty clearly labeled.  You know where my content is as well as any advertisements or recent posts.  I’ve gone to quite a few blogs recently and not only is the content hard to find, there are Google ads right in the middle of the post. For me, that is distracting and takes away from the aesthetic of the blog layout.  Let people do their own Google search for computer service orange county, don’t force them read your post like it has a commercial break.

If something works, stick with it. Facebook is starting to become notorious for making layout changes that make the experience a frustrating endeavor. Here’s what I mean, The previous layout had certain things in certain areas of the page. That layout lasted long enough that I and a number of FB friends got really comfortable with it. I could login, check the things I always check, and move on to my next activity. With this new layout, I spent 5-10 minutes more just trying to figure out where everything is. And a number of my friends have already posted status updates about how they hate the new look.

What’s the point of this rant? Usually, blogs don’t change format to much. You might change a graphic every once in a great while but it doesn’t change format. If you have a full blown website, here’s the lesson: if you’re going to change your site layout, don’t completely reinvent the wheel. People like consistency with a little bit of change. When you make your site almost brand new in design and layout, you’re going to make people mad. Mad people usually don’t come back to visit.

I was talking to friend of mine who does web site design in orange county about the accessibility issue I mentioned yesterday, and he sent me a link to some fun stories from the past year.  I read through them and started laughing.  There were some goofy headlines during this past year, and I wanted to share them with you.  View the funniest headlines from the past year here.

I just read a story about how big companies are looking into optimizing their site to be more accessible to those with physical handicaps. It got me to thinking about the smaller websites and blogs. There are readers everywhere and if you want to get your message out, it would behoove you to try and reach as many people as possible. Now, while you may not have the money to spend on consultants and fancy website design, you can enact some changes to help potential readers access your site. Start small, but at least start.

I was doing some research on website companies looking for a good, reputable orange county web design company to help me with my website. Cause if there’s one thing I’ve learned, the best content in the world cannot overcome a poorly designed site. You can have the cure for cancer listed on your web site or blog, but if you have a hideous color scheme or a messy layout, no one is going to believe your message. Give your blog/website design careful consideration and don’t just throw something up, because a poor appearance leads nowhere.

It’s getting to the point very quickly that blogs design is almost as in-depth as website design.  While the content of a blog is what will keep readers coming back, a good design will catch their attention and make them stop to take a look.  Many companies that do website design usually do blog design as well. And since blogs are more personal, a small web design business will be able to give you the personal attention you want for a blog. I live in Orange County, so I would look for web site design orange county in my search bar on the internet or my phone book. See if you can find someone where you live.