I'm not in love with the look of my blog. I haven't really been since the beginning but I was in such a hurry to actually get it up and running, that I winged it. Now I feel the need to finally make some changes.
I want it to be colorful, but also clean and professional looking. I want it to be reader friendly, easy for all of you to find what you are looking for. I've been scanning websites for ideas but have yet to hit upon something that says "Ah Ha! That's it!". I don't have the budget at the moment to pay someone to do a total makeover for me so I have to find a way to do this myself.
Any and all suggestions are very much requested and welcome.
The other thing I'm not sure about is the name of my blog. It seemed like an obvious choice at that moment because of my other blog, the family one, but it doesn't seem catchy to me. I love all those other quilty blogs that have terrific names and I want mine to be memorable too.
I'm not opposed to changing the name if I can come up with one that really sings to me. But maybe I shouldn't? Do you really like my blog name? Be brutally honest here with me people. Does it fit or not?
Help a girl out here please! I feel like my quilting life is growing each and every day and I want my blog to reflect that, not look like an amateur did it.
Thanks!
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8 Comments:
I read blogs in Google Reader and don't click over unless I comment, and by then I've already seen the content and just scroll to the comment box. So what your blog looks like doesn't matter to me one bit. :-)
I also read in Google Reader and only see the blog when I comment. But I like your blog look. It is clean and cool and bright. And easy to read. I also like your blog name. It is easy to remember.
I like the look of your blog. With that said, I know how you feel. I sort of feel the same way about mine. I do like the look/feel/navigation on your blog, so I can't really say that I would change anything. As for the name? PLEASE don't change it. Seriously, it is one of my top favorite blog names. LOVE it! It is creative, memorable and fun!
I love your name, it fits! I love the clean crisp white background. It would be nice to see some of your work in the banner. The only real suggestion I have is to change the type from Italics, it is hard for me to read. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Have fun!
I'm an analyst by trade and so my perspective is a bit different. I actually think your final solution will come from within and not from your list of comments. First off, your blog isn't amateur. Your posts are a very good mixture of useful tips, musings on your own experiences and successful efforts to create a collaborative community amongst us quilters. Perhaps instead you have outgrown this current role and are ready to expand to something bigger. It was bound to happen sooner or later.
When I am assigned a project, my first step is to gather requirements. What does the end user want? And if you were to hire somebody, they would ask you the same question. What is the purpose of your blog? How do you want to accomplish your purpose? You will also be asked, what is your mission statement? You have already begun that first step by identifying that you want you blog to be: colorful, clean, professional looking and reader friendly. Add to that list until you are satisfied that you have all of your objectives. Then go through each elements of your blog, tabs, font, colors, background, etc and decide if what you have fits your proposed objectives. Stay away from the phrase "I don't like". Just eliminate what doesn't fit your new objectives. Any best blog list will be subjective, so don't look at this one as an authority. But it is a list, and a good start. So I'll share it with you.
http://www.quiltershomemag.com/content_downloads/WEBposse.pdf It a list of 50 best quilting blogs. Best of luck and enjoy the journey!
I really like the name of your blog and your blog button but that is just me I always thrilled to opening a new box of crayons even when I gave the to my children and now grandchildren. Tradition in my home is a new box every Christmas whether "needed" or not (I needed it)
I can't make suggestions on the other part of your question since I don't have any experience with blogs other than reading them I find yours easy to maneuver and not unprofessional
I'm in the same box with you....except I'm way behind. I have a private blog for family stuff, but I want to start a public blog just for my quilting and sewing. I really do like your blog....I like the clean but fun appearance, with bright colors.
I'm having a hard time coming up with a name (should I do something related to my role as a firefigher's wife?????)....because there's so many parts of me and my personality that I want to showcase.
I have no idea how to set up a more complicated blog than what I've got, like header buttons and categories, links, how to come up with a logo, etc. And I don't think I'm ready for business-related stuff, like starting my own business. But I don't want to limit myself from expanding later...
Sounds like you're doing great, and do you have some advice for me?
And Ann, thank you for the advice and the link. I remember seeing an article for that, but I passed it by because at that point, I had no idea what a blog was!
Michele, I love your blog name... I hope you don't change it. I, too love crayons and all the wonderful colors they represent in our quilts. Good luck with tweaking your site. I need to tweak mine for sure. I need to figure out the tabs under the header so I can organize things. I don't have that figured out yet so I'm the wrong one to ask for advise but I happen to love how your blog looks and works.
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