Customising your blog... "Why my template is fine!"
I thought I would just show you a couple of before and after shots... for my blog.
I always think that blogging platform templates are great places to start but should never be used as they are for your own personal or business blog.
You need to look at how you can customise it to make it your own. Your own personal or company brand is important and looking like someone else won't help. I have been on many business blogs and I wont embarrass some of them by showing how they look the same because they have used the same wordpress template, and they are not alone.
Customising a blog can be a daunting task for many as they think that they need to dig deep in code and use language like CSS, SEO and Widgets... what do these really mean to the everyday blogger?
As a designer and web developer I am conscious that I can do these things where many can't.
Here are 4 simple tips that work in most blogging platforms for customisation.
- Always put your photo on the blog - There is no one else like you!
- Most blogging platforms allow you to change the styling to layout, colours, text, links and images through an on screen interface - tweak everything, even if it is just a little.
- Dress your blog with a great header - Magazines use a masthead design to distinguish themselves from crowd, you should do the same. Upload a great image to use as your header.
- Link your blog from your own web address - See mine... http://www.anthodges.co.uk points to http://anthodges.posterous.com. This helps distinguish from all other posterous.com websites
My blog here started life like this:
...and after a complete re-design and coding of a new template I ended up with this:
What do you think? If you have a posterous blog and would like me to help, just get in touch.
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