Date: 3 Mar 2010 Comments: 1
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There are so many blog templates and you can even create the design of your blog easily. But what kind of design should the successful blog have?
I though more about the design of my blog. I read some tip about blog design and here’s a list of (in my opinion) best blog design tips that could help you to make your blog more successful:

1. Keep it Clear

When people visits your blog they want to read something interesting, so the most important thing in blog design is to make article reading easier.

2. Add a Big RSS Icon in the top of the blog

Many people use RSS, I use it, my readers too :) So, If someone wants to read your blog rss feeds, help him to find the RSS link in a second.

3. Add Menu in Header

Usually, every blog has some pages (home, about, advertise, etc.) If you add header menu, visitors will feel more comfortable :)

4. White Background is a Must

When we read books, textbooks, etc. all text there is black over white background. That’s how we learn to read. So, why should blogging reading cannot be as much as possible close and comfortable to the book reading !?

5. Create a Unique Logo

Well, I don’t have but when I find some free time I’ll add :) The logo is the symbol of your blog and th main part of the branding.

6. Check Loading Time

Who can wait your blog to load? So, after some design change, don’t forget to check blog loading time.

7. Increase the Line Spacing to Improve Readability

It’s easy to be done and can only help :)

8. Don’t Type More than 2 words in ALL CAPS

The reason is: DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU READ THIS ALL CAPS TEXT :)

9. Forget Pop-Up Windows

I hate (and I believe you, too) when I open some blog and a pop up window appears to suggest me to download some book, read ads, etc.

10. Add favicon.ico

We have browsers with tabs, make your blog more ‘recognizable’ in the row of tab by adding a fav icon.

11. Check Your Blog Under All Broswers

Not all people use FireFox, IE is still a leader, so we need to check our blogs for browser compatibility, too.

12. Choose Proper Color

Colors affect our moods and feelings. So, you can read more about color effect before designing your blog.

13. Reduce Scrolling

People don’t like it. You can reduce it by displaying only summaries of post in the main and archive pages, reduce number of posts per page, etc.

14.  Stay away from animated GIFs and Auto-Loading Sound

Animated GIFs and auto-loading sounds are easiest way to annoy your readers :)

15. Maximum 1000 pixels for the Width

Most people have 1024×768 monitors, so your blog should be completely visible at 1000 pixels wide without horizontal scrolling.

16. Make the Text Large Enough to Read

It’s the most important css line :)

17. Don’t Underline Words If They’re Not Links

Same as some of the tips above, it could only annoy your readers.

18. Don’t Forget the Footer

If people scroll to the footer, it means they like your site or at least they’ve found something interesting in it. Do you think they want to read the Copyright text !? That’s why the footer should be awesome, too. Ex. you can design it like my footer: add main menu links there, twitter icon, facebook widgets, etc.

19. If You’re Proud with Your Blog Design, it’s Ready to be Uploaded

I think it’s the best way to understand when your design is ready. Just think how you’ll feel if everybody see it.

20. Your Blog Design Always Can Be Better

After upload you blog design, you can think what more can be improved. I bet you always will find something that can be improved :)