Sparked by Jim and Danny, I thought about my blog layout over the past 12 hours and made some changes.
(If you’re reading this by RSS or email, click here to see what I mean.)
Of note:
1. I used to have a 700-pixel-wide content area. That’s now 600.
2. I used to have a navigational bar below the header image and above the content. That’s now gone, and replaced by text links in the sidebar.
3. I used to have a lot of widgets within the sidebar. Those caused by plugins are gone. Those caused by scripts exist on other pages.
4. I used to have the content on the left and the sidebar on the right. Those are now switched.
I have a few more implementation ideas up my sleeve — in an effort to create white space and keep your eyes on these words and nothing else.
Thoughts, so far?
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{ 39 comments }
Twitter: DannyBrown
May 12, 2010 at 4:09 AM
The switch in sidebar placement may take a little getting used to for me (purely because I’ve “grown up” in blogging reading left to right, and content is usually left), but I like it, Ari.
The smaller content width makes it more focused, and I love the sidebar simplicity. Nice job
.-= From Danny Brown to you: How Smart is Your Local Business Marketing? =-.
The sidebar switch was a last-minute idea, so I may switch it back.
I don’t like it. It seems like the space isn’t used efficiently. You have to scroll too much to get to the good stuff.
Just my two cents, bud.
Inefficient scrolling? How so?
Just my opinion, bud, but I’m not a fan of having to scroll down after all of the comments on the “featured” post to get to the rest. I like being able to size up a site upon going to the URL.
Of course, I could be wrong.
I’m confused. What used to be here that’s not here now that forces you to scroll? Was there something you used heavily?
I have to scroll down to get to the other posts (beyond the first). No, there’s no scroll bar on your site.
You’re still confusing me. How did you used to see older posts? You mean the archive?
I agree 100%… I am sure a lot of people like it but it does seem sort of in-efficient.
Given the web analysis done by Jakob Nielsen on his weekly Alertbox, I would go back and put the content on the left and the sidebar on the right
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/
otherwise, clean and simple works for me
.-= From Steve Sherlock to you: Gee, I want some of that! =-.
I see what you mean about a focus on the horizontal left over the right. I’ll give it a day or two, see what others think and then move it. Thanks.
I usually read your blog via RSS so I don’t see the layout, but I like this uncluttered style. Very nice.
.-= From Meg to you: Fifty Simple Pleasures =-.
Thanks. Are you saying I was cluttered before?
I also prefer the sidebar on the right.
I’m also uncertain about the navigation in the paragraph – that wouldn’t be obvious to me and I would be looking for a navigation bar or a list of pages.
Otherwise, I really like the clean layout.
.-= From Kim Woodbridge to you: How to Delete Your Facebook Account =-.
Why would you be looking for a navbar? Because most blogs have one?
Google Analytics tells me less than 10 people have clicked those bar elements over the past 30 days. Maybe this new layout will enact a call to click?
I guess – I think that’s where I would look if I wanted to go to a different page. Then I would look in the sidebar.
.-= From Kim Woodbridge to you: 5 Simple and Minimal WordPress Themes =-.
Twitter: ChristineGreen_
May 12, 2010 at 9:18 AM
I like the narrower content section – easier to read – but I’m in agreement with Steve about switching the article content back to the left. Studies report that it’s most effective there. And from a marketing standpoint having the “about Ari” in that spot as the first thing a visitor reads might not be the most effective. I’d suggest putting the info about yourself somewhere else. In fact you’ve got that covered well in the “Closing Words…” – Just some thoughts…
.-= From Christine Green to you: Do-it-Yourself Marketing (with help) =-.
Thanks. The “Closing Words” bit is new… so going back and forth between what I want where. You?
Twitter: 1to1discovery
May 12, 2010 at 11:16 AM
It’s clean, and I like that there’s little to distract me from the words. But all the white space on the left looks unbalanced. I prefer white space on the right. When the space is on the left, I feel like I’m tipping over as I read.
.-= From Juli Monroe @All About Networking to you: No Blogging This Week =-.
No more tipping!
Twitter: 1to1discovery
May 13, 2010 at 9:34 AM
Feeling much steadier now. Thanks. This layout I like a lot!
.-= From Juli Monroe @All About Networking to you: No Blogging This Week =-.
Thanks.
Ari, I preferred the old blog layout.
I think you need to have the navigation tabs in the header. It’s what people expect.
And I agree with most of the previous comments that it’s best to have the sidebar on the right.
.-= From John Soares to you: Brian Clark’s SEO Copywriting Report is Free =-.
If people expect to see a navbar, how come few people click its elements? Google Analytics tells me less than 10 people over the past 30 days clicked the “About” and “Contact” bar links. So they serve what purpose, again?
Good point.
However, I know that I expect to see basic navigation either in the header or in the sidebar, and having it in the first paragraph of the sidebar will likely not be obvious to some visitors.
.-= From John Soares to you: Brian Clark’s SEO Copywriting Report is Free =-.
If someone doesn’t read the sidebar, then they will read the content — and that’s the point of a blog, no?
Thanks, folks. While your ideas continue to come in, I’ve stricken number four and the content and sidebar are back to how they used to be.
Twitter: kikolani
May 12, 2010 at 5:13 PM
I think that I like the sidebar on the right much better. You could probably remove the comment policy from the sidebar, as it is below this form anyway. And the follow me in the first sentence may need to clarify on Twitter – I thought it was a subscription link.
Plus, on an SEO note, when you link to your root domain in the sidebar, you should maybe change it to dive in and read my blog on [insert keyword anchor text of what you are focusing on - social media, online marketing, etc. and link to this instead].
Otherwise, I like it!
.-= From Kristi@Blogging Tips to you: How to Sound Like You Know What You’re Blogging About =-.
So edited. Thanks.
Ari,
I like that your blog focuses on the words and I have always like that your text was presented in a readable large font. However, the clutter that outlined the words in the past did not bother me. In fact, it kind of framed the words. The new design will take a little getting used to for me.
.-= From Richard Cummings to you: MONEYMAKERINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM: Blogger Account Disabled Then Re-enabled Causes Frenzy =-.
Interesting. Thanks.
Ari,
I didn’t mind the sidebar being on the left, but then again the menus on my site are on the left, so that’s probably just my preference. As for the archival links, I like having the sentence structure there because the words guide users to action, but wonder if they would pop more as list elements. It could look something like the following list with bullets:
Explore Ariwriter:
Visit the archive,
discover how to contribute an article, and
read the latest about social media marketing.
.-= From Heidi Cool to you: Should we stay or should we go? Responding to Ning’s new pricing plans. =-.
It’s curious that you like the structure as-is but suggest a list.
I like the idea of the wording, using verbs like “read,” “visit” etc. to prompt action (rather than just listing “archives”), but think they may be more visible as list elements. So basically I’m suggesting a hybrid. Cheers. – H
.-= From Heidi Cool to you: Should we stay or should we go? Responding to Ning’s new pricing plans. =-.
Look again now.
I love the minimalistic look; very appealing without clutter (not to say it was cluttered before).
However, I was about to complain about no visible categories, then merely out of curiosity, I clicked the archives. I love the set up and want to know how you did it, but I must suggest you change the name in the sidebar.
I believe “Archives” is way too well known for “old and out of date”, not current categories, posts, etc. Know what I mean?
.-= From Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing to you: Warning: 8 Posts Coming Back to Back =-.
In lieu of archive or library, what word would you use?
Impatient I see. lol
Good to see it changed, I had nothing coming to me.
Seriously though, how did you set that up like that; a plugin?
.-= From Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing to you: Web Income Experiments DotCom Wins Hands-Down! =-.
I stole the idea from Matt Langford, when he blogged with the custom function for his archive page.
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