Want A Real Bad Example Of Blog Navigation Layout?
Unfortunately, you’re looking at it.
When I first created this blog, I wanted to whip up a blog layout using the caricature of me, and since I was using this free wordpress theme, I wanted to customize it a bit so it didn’t look exactly like everyone else who’s using it.
I didn’t get around to finishing the details, partly because I had a few ideas for layout that included content that I didn’t have yet, but now it’s bothering me enough to change it.
For some reason, I’ve always had a problem being satisfied with a “personal” site of my own, but this one is just breaking too many simple navigation rules. There’s a few other small things that are bugging me as well, so it has to be fixed asap.
At least I have the subscribe links in a good place, but I’m really wasting that top space where I could have the nav or something else that served purpose instead of just my head in the clouds.
As if that wasn’t enough, I have part of my navigation on the bottom left and part on the top right. Obviously, the caffeine wasn’t working the night I had the vision of how people will navigate my blog.
So, I’m deciding on a whether to rework this layout or just customize a new theme. I do know that I’ll still use the same color scheme (I’m a green freak), use my caricature, and try not to damage anybody’s eyes by sending them in opposite directions as soon as they arrive.
If you have any tips on how to rework the basic look of how it is now, while creating a more user-friendly nav, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Tags: Blogging, tips and fixes
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:47 am
First of all……..love the crazy eyes!
To re-work the them or change the them, that is the question? As you know I have just opted for a change in them and am very impressed with the results (also a green freak).
A couple of things I notice about your site is that, as you so rightly point out, your logo (as much as I like it) is overly large - regardless of your head being in the clouds. don’t take this the wrong way but it could be construed as egotistical; not only that but it does draw my attention away from the subsciption which is rather less prominent albeit positioned well. Secondly, (the head in the clouds thing)there is a huge waste of valuable space and not just in your header. You definitely need to focus on making the most of the space you have..no matter which theme you decided to tweak. It’s tough I know, but if you re-work it so that you are not just trying to cram stuff in above the fold, go for ease of navigation. Actually, better still go to thepissbiscuit. He did a wonderful post on site layout. http://thepissbiscuit.com/building-a-better-blog/
Good luck with it Jay.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Thanks for the comments/tips AP. lol @ crazy eyes. I had just seen Mr Deeds ob cable and thought how he’d be a perfect visitor. lol
I decided to just rework this theme/layout a little, and almost have it ready. Thanks for the link to PB’s site layout post!
Cheers!
Jay
August 8th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
You are not kidding me that this theme is a free theme, aren’t you? It looks to me like any custom design theme. Oh I just love the caricature.
Yeah I agree that you have a valuable real estate on your top section that you need to capitalize on.
Perhaps if I were to add, make your subscription button more obvious to your visitors.
Yan
August 9th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Yeah, this site doesn’t exactly take the best of approaches for navigation. I like seeing skinny headers, nav buttons at the top, and sidebars that don’t look too cluttered. I just redid my site and it’s so much better - and the right theme will bring in more $$ too - it’s only been up a few days and already i am seeing a difference.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:57 am
Thaks for stopping by guys!
@Yan: Yeah, I think an image goes better next to the subscription area/link so it sticks out a little more at first glance. Yes, the first one was built on a free theme but I customized it a bit.
@Chelle: Yeah, my biggest problem was the navigation. Although I liked the big caricature too, it was just wasting too much space, because it wasn’t practical to have anything “under it” either.
The cool (and fun) thing is, you can always improve a site, so I’m sure it’s not the last time I’ll blog about it’s “problems”. lol