I know we all have our little quirks about what we like or what we don’t like. Lately I’ve been finding more and more blogs that are lacking a few essential items that are important to me, as a reader.
It is important not to forget your readers and their needs on your blog. So many of these mistakes I mention below are easy fixes. Your reader’s will be grateful for the small changes that make reading your blog a pleasure.
10 Blog Design Mistakes You Need to Fix Today
1. You don’t have an about page.
It takes so little time to create and is indispensable. People will connect with you if they relate to you. Don’t be boring. Be real. It’s not a job application. The right readers will stick around if you’re honest and open.
2. You don’t have a search box.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to someone’s blog, wanted to get just an outfit or quote from one of their posts and I can’t because that would mean I’m scrolling through years of posts trying to find the photo or post I wanted to promote. I just get frustrated and leave. No free promotion for that blog.
3. You have a black background.
This is just me, but I can’t stand them. It looks like something out of star wars and I truly dislike reading for a long time on a black background. It hurts my eyes.
4. The writing is aligned in the centre.
I get that you’re trying to be artistic, but if I’m trying to read something lengthy, centred text is hard on the eyes.
5. You don’t offer social media buttons to share content.
I want to share your content. Really I do. So don’t make it hard for me.
6. Pop-ups or fly-outs come up right away for me to subscribe.
I wouldn’t mind, but it happens every time I visit your blog. It is annoying.
7. You have music that I can’t turn off.
Seriously. We all don’t have the same taste in music. It is a guarantee that I won’t be sticking around long.
8. There is too much text without visual breaks.
This is a big one for me. If I have to read a paragraph that goes on for a full page my eyes can’t take it and honestly, before I even begin reading I’m overwhelmed and turned off.
Break it up! Try adding some headings, or making long paragraphs shorter. You can also use photographs to break up text. White space is a break for the eyes. Even double spacing some text will make it more reader friendly.
9. The blog is difficult to navigate.
Those tag cloud lists? They are too difficult to read and make finding content on your blog frustrating. Create a real menu.
10. They are still using CAPTCHA or word verifications for commenting.
Half the time I can’t even read what I’m supposed to be typing in that CAPTCHA and I give up and leave.
What about you? What are your pet peeves on blogs?
I’m still annoyed with my blog because I can’t seem to get people to receive the replies I’ve written to their comments and each time they comment they have to fill in all their info from scratch. Each plugin I downloaded to deal with these issues didn’t work. Solutions are welcome : )
Also I must mention that I don’t like it when a blog doesn’t have the posting date listed. I understand why they do this, they want all of their content to look fresh, but I really like to know when it was written. Does that bother you as a reader?
Are there any design issues you don’t like on my blog?
Great advice, Suzanne. Crisp dark text in a simple font on a white background are my favorite things, construction wise. For content, I seek out a personal story, a sense of humor, and authenticity. Here’s my big secret: the clothes are not as important to me as the person. Your blog is fabulous, as are you. xox.
PS I have made hotel reservations at the Blue Horizon, wheee!
I’m so excited about Vancouver!!! : ) We’re taking over that hotel!
I agree that it is often more about the person than the blog.
I don’t know what mine are. We center allign our blog, but that one (obviously) doesnt’ bother me. The music one is horrible…and too many ads/pop-ups is a good one, too.
We center align our blog, but that one doesn’t bother me (obviously). The music, pop-ups, and too many ads bother me, too.
It is funny that I never even noticed that you align your text in the centre. Must be that there isn’t an overwhelming amount to read so it doesn’t seem to bother me.
I agree. These flaws impair our enjoyment of blogs. Sometimes they annoy me; sometimes they push me to the point of stopping visits. Good for you to spread the news. (And, yes, I’ll improve my blog with your suggestions.)
yes, yes, yes, all of those things bother me too- except the share buttons- which I think I don’t have on my blog… hmmm will have to remedy that on the new site- all good tips here!
Each and every one of these drives me crazy!!! I close a window immediatley in the black background ones and will struggle a bit wih the centered text ones…but let’s face it, my eyes are older and they need to make it easy to read!!
I hope I have a search box! Heading back to check.
The other thing that drives me crazy is ones with clogged and cluttered sidebars! I’m there for the content, not the blog awards etc.
Great post!
xo
I’m right with you on every one of these problem areas you mentioned…especially the search box one. I REALLY don’t understand that, especially if it’s for a digital stamp designer?! How can I link the stamp I’ve used back to their blog if I can’t find the stamp? So frustrating. Along this same line is not having any labels—NO labels and NO search box—how can I find anything and link back to you? Another thing I don’t understand, is not having the link open up in a new window so that when the reader clicks on the link, they don’t leave your blog (it’s so simple to do—why kick your reader out?!). A particular problem for me is design team contributions to challenges, company websites, etc. where I want to click on their work for an explanation or supply list and it goes to the designer’s blog main page. I wish someone would either psychically create the link after the designer posts it on their own blog, or have the designers provide post permalinks. As for your own blog…I think it’s great, pas de problème!
…and p.s. cursive font for the main text…I HATE that and can’t/won’t read it. Ooops…sorry I was so long winded.
Well at least I know I’m not the only one having problems linking back to certain pages on blogs.
Ah, that Capcha thing. It’s a curse. My robot thing and word verification are OFF! But this is something blogger is doing automatically and I have no control over it. I haaate that thing. It didn’t use to be like this. So I commiserate on that point.
I agree with your other points too, especially about text with no breaks in a style blog.
In the end, I know my blog is imperfect, but it’s a perfect reflection of who I am. Hehe.
Your blog? Suzanne, it is wonderful!
I know you can’t do anything about that Captcha thing. As in life there are sometimes things we cannot change.
Plus…as everyone mentioned here, if we like the person we are willing to look past any quirks.
Suzanne, you have a wonderful blog! I like your fiery personality, it is always so visible in your posts. That is the reason I enjoy bloggers – their different personalities. Clothing is just a common ground, nothing more.
I agree with your search box suggestion, and clouds really are difficult to manage. But the rest is really up to a blogger. I think it all depends what are your goals as a blogger, as a person who enjoys writing – if readers mean more than what you want to express and more than the sense “it is MY space”, then probably you have great suggestions. Though black background, I know for a fact, is considered easier on the eyes (think black chalkboard). Though I also don’t prefer it myself (think white book pages). We all are different (sounds like a cliche but it’s just so true when you really think of it). There are many things that annoy me, but I like individuality – more than anything, I’m absolutely not interested in reading uniform blogs that all look like commercial impersonal magazines. xxx
I agree that variety is the spice of life and blogs should reflect their owner.
Ooh, it’s a tough crowd out there, so very definite about what they do and don’t want from a blog… Me, I don’t much care! If I like the blogger and what I gain from their blog, they can design it however they like. It is, after all, their blog. Sure, I have preferences, but I indulge these on my own blog, and have no expectation that anyone else will share them. Since I am guilty of a few of your pet peeves, Suzanne, I will consider myself honoured that you still follow me! I have to say I am willing to overlook pretty much any design issues if the content makes my visit worthwhile. I’m all heart! xxxx
Did I fail to mention that humour trumps any kind of issues? My bad. I will follow people anywhere if they can make me smile or laugh : )
Guilty as charged! Aligned text and no About Me page. Just as well I’ve got a nice personality!
There’s loads of things that annoy me about blogs but I’ll forgive most stuff if I like the person behind it.
The only thing I feel compelled to email the writer about is when they use a swirly, script-like font. I find it almost impossible to read. xxx
I will also follow someone if I just feel like I’d like to get to know them better and you most certainly fall into that category.
I am always rethinking the design of my blog. Thanks for these thoughts, although I already do most of them.
I changed my label cloud to a menu although it takes up too much space now!
I really need to do some tabs and redesign some things. Baby steps, baby steps!
Xo Jazzy Jack
I do NOT like the pop ups, and they’ve been coming up seemingly more and more often for me. They are a guarantee to make me not want to subscribe–it’s like, do you think I’m not smart enough to see your little button on the sidebar?
I couldn’t agree more.
Thanks so much for this post – I immediately added a search box to my blog. No idea why I hadn’t thought to add one before. As far as the Captcha goes, blogger won’t let me turn that off, even though it says so in my settings. Very annoying, because I hate to turn an readers away! Love your site and I wouldn’t change a thing!
CAPTCHA phrases, pop ups and my number pet peeves for blogs. I don’t like fancy cursive writing either since I can barely read it. I prefer blogs that have a clean look and makes it easy for me to read and see the pictures.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Great post Suzanne! I am guilty of the “search box” deficit, and must fix that. Blogging, like life, is a process and it’s good to know what makes it easier for readers. Thanks!
I think I comply with all your 10 tips. I just have black sides. Does that count as annoying? Only recently did that because Ron hated the green. But the middle section is still white.
Greetje
What I hate is over-long line lengths, especially combined with small text.
Thanks for this, Suzanne! It’s helpful to hear what readers don’t like, and that feedback is especially helpful coming from a fellow blogger because you can relate. I’ve bookmarked this post to reference as Kyle and I continue to improve my blog layout. He’s been slowly (oh god…so slowly) making my requested changes to the layout, and now I know a few more things to add to the list! If he knew better, he’d stop saying, “Oh, I can do that!” when I point out certain issues. Because then I expect him to fix them. And in a timely manner would be nice. lol
<3 Liz
http://www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
I agree with your annoyances. And I have some similar problems with my blog like you do, e.g. the comment-thingie, that I do not succeed to solve whatever I try.
Where is that genius WordPress/SEO/blogging expert that we can hire and who actually solves our problems???!!!