If you are not a blogger, skip this post 🙂 I’ll be posting something else for the rest of you later today.
Last year we started out “Improve Your Blog Month” with the suggestion and information on how to work on your template-I even included a bunch of free template sites (by no means exhaustive-I’m sure there are tons more out there, and that many new ones have been created in the last year!) If you have a favorite source for free or inexpensive templates, please leave a comment and let us know!
My suggestion would be if you are still using a standard format to think about changing it up a little. To be frank, when you use one of the “basic” templates you look like a beginner. You could totally change the template, or you could just add a new header or color scheme.
Personally I want to spend the whole month coming up with a nice header (I’m bored with just plain text) and possibly adjusting the color scheme-or at least figuring out how to put a pattern on the background to snaz things up a bit. There may be some changes by Saturday, but it will be an evolving process throughout the month.
I’m also considering going back to a 2 column format. Somehow they do seem to look cleaner, and I get the feeling that most folks are reading from a feed reader-and not even seeing the sidebars. Am I right?
I’m reading by visiting the site, FWIW.
I visit your site by having it bookmarked under “favorites,” so I see the sidebars. I really like the sidebars; I’ve found other blogs that I enjoy reading through your blog roll, and the labels help when I’m trying to remember something in one of your posts. I vote for three columns!
Hi Jenn,
I read mainly through a feeder – going over to the blog when I want a reminder of what’s on your site or to post a comment. I think this improve your blog month is a great idea. I know mine needs a bit of work but since dh set it up for me I am totally clueless how to do anything but add posts – so I will need to get him to help/show me.
Libby
Yea, if you are viewing the site through the RSS feed you will not see the sidebars (unless you click on the link to actually view the post on the site).
thanks for the tips..i am a newbie so i can use the help!
🙂
I find the sidebars useful.
Please keep in mind that some of us are so frugal that we still have dial-up when you choose your new header!
Thanks – Mac
I use blogarithm to let me know when your blog has been updated, and then click through to the site. So, yes, I see the sidebars. 🙂
Also, I am a stickler for “clean,” but I don’t have a problem with two sidebars. (In fact, my own newest template is a 3-column one.) I think that the organization within the sidebars is a much bigger factor in whether they look “cluttered” than whether there are one or two.
And, yes, please keep those of us on dialup in mind when choosing your new header! I don’t visit some of my favorite blogs very often, because they take forever to load – and it’s usually huge header images that really don’t even add anything to the page.
I have 3 columns on mine because I feel like I need the room, but I’m working on paring down the archives, labels, blogroll, etc. into tabs. That way I can still have everything I want to on there but it will look “cleaner” as you say.
you are right,basic template can’t help much earn money 🙂 during surfing Net,I got find new template and just installed new template http://tempatmojok.blogspot.com and now i will explore your to enrich myknowledge,thanks