I have itchy fingers again after taking another hard look at my blog design. I had to ask myself some hard questions and be absolutely honest with the answers
1. What is the main purpose of my blog
2. What is currently on the blog that gets in the way of that primary directive
3. What should be on the blog, but isn’t now.
For my blog the answers are as follows; for your blog they could be completely different priorities
1. My primary purpose is to present good quality content so that people add me to their readers or regular reading platform.
2. Side bar and banner advertising gets plenty of clicks but not enough to warrant their existence. So they are gone!
Popular articles is good for new readers to dip their toes in, but this one is manual and I haven’t updated it in a long time. Will look for a widget that will automatically post the most read / most commented posts of the last XX days to ensure fresh content and turnover
Tags are useless, they can go
Same with archives…gone
Countdown timer to my quitting corporate will stay, but I will probably move to the footer or header as it is a focus point that will help set the tone of what this blog is about.
Most active commenters will stay, but I will again set that to the 10 most active commenters of the last XX days to encouraged multiple comments and discussion rather than fly by night VA crap.
3. I need to make the RSS button bigger
I need to have a footer on each post that links to signing up for my pay-by-month newsletter
I need a “quote” banner eye-catcher that explains exactly what this blog is about so new visitors are instantly drawn to the story within
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So what is my plan for achieving all of this? Well I am looking for a quote from WordPress specialists that could work with me to create what I am looking for. If you have the time and the chops, drop me a message in the comments. Maybe we can do business.
Planned and executed my exit from the corporate world. Walked away with a 6 figure payment to boot.
I look forward to following your progress. Was there any reason behind picking Nov 30, 2010 as your day for quitting corporate life?
.-= Mical Johnson´s last blog ..Fortune 500 company or Online Scammer? =-.
December 1st is my birthday and I don’t like working on my birthday
Thanks for the comment Mical
Hey Allison–
We’d be happy to work with you to redesign your blog. Check out our site and give us a holler if you’re interested.
.-= chris´s last blog ..Free Holiday Blogger Template: Let It Snow =-.
Your ideas on blog designing show how committed you are with your work. I think this very essence will make you feel easy at time.
The tweaks all make sense – what about a”tweet this” button?
The new blog design looks good – although I think you mean “ditching” and not “dicthing”
Keep up the good work.
.-= Michelle´s last blog .. Mixed Media Backgrounds with the Credit Card Painting Technique =-.
Thanks Chris, will give you a ping in the new year.
You know, I am not convinced anyone ever actually uses them…what is your experience with social media buttons?
Thanks Michelle for the comment. Nice spot on the typo! It’s been there over a year and no-one has said anything. Changing it now!
Love the redesign, and I think you made good choices – it’s clear you’re setting this site up as an authority site and not just another ad portal.
I do think you should consider returning the “Popular Articles”. Have you tried “Popularity Contest” plugin for WordPress? It’s one of the more widely used.