Out of all the creative avenues to express yourself, blogging is perhaps the easiest one to get into. As a result, countless blogs have popped up over the past decade, yet only a few of them have survived to become profitable business opportunities for the owners. Arguably, the most important part of any blog is the content. Without good writing, a blog can’t hope to succeed and without a good personality behind it, there’s no hope for it to kick off.
Unfortunately, as designs become more sophisticated and more talent turns towards blogging, owners need to find different ways to stand out, and that’s where design comes into play. Design is one of the most misunderstood concepts in marketing. Something as basic as the colours we use on our website can actually provoke different feelings in our minds, and it’s important to understand the psychology of colour if you want to design a blog that looks great, feels great, and most important, has fantastic content.
To answer the title question: yes, bloggers DO need to worry about web design. But to the same extent as any other website? Probably not, but it never hurts to have a fantastic page that is easy to navigate, looks fantastic, and contains all the best content. Tick those three boxes, and you have a winning recipe that is just waiting to be cooked.
Have a search box
If you don’t have a search function on your website, then it helps to spend a couple of minutes learning how to add one. Not only does it make your site easier to navigate, but it gives your readers a chance to browse through your older content without looking through several pages of posts.
Categorise your content
To make your website easier to navigate, make sure you have categories for the type of content you write. For instance, if you’re blogging about phones, then have sections that include Android phones, Apple phones, and then have a section for reviews, previews, then the different manufacturers as well.
Don’t use templates
Templates look tacky and they’re easily recognisable. If possible, get a premium template that isn’t seen very often or learn some web design basics so you can edit templates and twist them into your own creation.
Make a logo
Bloggers need logos too! A logo designer would be great here if you can afford it, but even if your “logo” is just a clean coloured text of your blog’s name, that’s better than not having a logo. You can always change it in the future, but it helps to add a layer of professionalism to your website.
Use colours properly
As mentioned before, make sure you understand the importance of colour psychology. Use lighter pastel colours if your website is light-hearted, and darker colours if you’re talking about serious topics.
Don’t clutter it
Lastly, give your blog some definition. If it’s about smartphones, don’t talk about computers—make a different blog for that. Stick to your subjects and don’t stray too far from it. This helps prevent clutter on your blog and keeps it heading in the right direction.
