DIY Getting Started With Design

     The first thing I like to do when I design a blog or website is to map it out on paper.  Go have a Starbucks sit down with pen and a napkin {I’ve created some of my BEST work on a napkin} and go to town (as they say).  Think about all the elements you would like to have.  Here is a list of some of them.

1)     How many columns

2)     Title and tag line for header

3)     Do you want a navigation bar if so…?

a)     How many categories

b)     Graphics or text

c)     Vertical or horizontal

4)     Sidebar Items

5)     Blog Button

6)     Signature

7)     Post Divider

8)     Will you offer a newsletter of any kind

9)     Will you need ad space

10) What type of blog/website will it be…

a)     Personal

b)     Community

c)     Business

d)     Information

11) What type of graphics will you need

12) Will you be ‘social’…facebook, twitter, etc.

This is just a few things to think about in your napkin design stage.  The best set-up is mapping it out first on paper and make changes accordingly.  If you are going to be ‘social’ {who isn’t}, then you need to have your twitter and facebook pages ready and set up for launch day.

This is a lot to think about, so let’s get those napkins out and start to work.

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I'm Broke, But I Need A Designer

Hey All,
I now that times can be hard right now and money a little tight.  There are TONS of talented bloggers out there that need a blog "pick me up", but they just don't have the extra cash to hire a designer right now.  Well FOLLOW me as I start a series on... "DIY Blog Design"

I will blog you through the steps of 'DIY Blog Design'.  Now that Blogger has upgraded their system, making those multi column blogs is easier that EVER.  I will create a "dummy" site to walk you through the process so that you can see just how EASY 'DIY Blog Design' can be!!  Make sure you 'FOLLOW' me so that you don't miss an article!!

At the end of this series {and for all those that followed} I will be asking for links to their NEW blogs.

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A GREAT Background Tutorial

With Blogger's new face lift, a few things have changed.  I think for the good, once you become use to the new features.  Don't worry though, you can still use the old templates if you like you just have to look for the classic template at the bottom of the edit html page.

One of my favorite sites... Kevin and Amanda has a wonderful Tutorial on different backgrounds for your different pages.  This blogger girl has it going on!!  She can really 'dish' up the advice on blinging out your blog.  Make sure you check out ALL her links {there are many, but worth the read!!}.

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Signature Letting Them Know Who You Are

A Blog Appeal item that I just LOVE is a signature.  This tells your visitor who you are.  You can make your blog, email or web site signature for FREE!!

Creating Blog Appeal does NOT have to be expensive.  My Live Signature is a FREE site with TONS of different fonts to choose from.  How do I install the signature??  No problem...The Blog Diner has your "order"!!

Directions for installing your NEW sig.:

1. Upload your new sig to your photobucket account OR where ever you host your images.
2. Go to your Blogger Dashboard and click on layout then edit html.
3. Check the expand widget template box.
4. Click ctrl-f and copy and paste the line below in search box to search for it in your code.
   post-footer-line post-footer-line-1
5. UNDER that line, paste this code and change IMAGE URL to the url address of our sig image {it's the direct link on Photobucket}.
   
6. Preview it and SAVE IT!  Your "order" is done!!

 

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Design Kits Enchanted Studio Scraps

There are TONS of Digital Scrapbook kits available on the internet now. This is where a lot of designers will get some of their graphics. They will take the elements in the kit and turn them into web graphics.

If you have a program like photoshop then you can easily make the items you need for your blog.

Here is a great site that offers some fabulous kits. Enchanted Studio Scraps. These kits are very reasonable and a great way to help you save money on your blog design.

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Blog Appeal

Your homepage is like the outside of a home.  Some homes have fantastic “curb appeal” while others don’t.  Blog Appeal is VERY important, just like curb appeal is important to a home.  You may think… “well, I’m not selling anything, I’m just blogging about my life.”  If you want to capture readers, blog appeal is important.

The one thing I hate to see when looking at homes that are for sale are untidy yards!  This goes for blog homepages as well.  You don’t have to have all the cutie fluff that some blogs have, but it is IMPORTANT to have a clean neat site.

If you have columns, make sure that your blog buttons don’t go over the lines.  This is a tell-tell sign of a person who MAY be unorganized which leads to clutter reading for their followers.  You may say… “well, I don’t know how to do all that technical stuff.”  Point well made.  There are SO many free tutorials and software programs out there you don’t have to be tech savvy {You can also email me with your questions, and I will be happy to help}.  If you paid a designer to do your site, ask them to help you with keeping your buttons straight.  This is part of their job in designing a blog/webpage.

Some sites scream “I’m desperate for followers and so I will throw up any and all buttons.”  There is no need to be a desperate blogger.  Your goal in blog appeal is to decide on a theme and layout for your blog/webpage.  Stick to the theme!!  If you are blogging for friends and family, a 1,2 or 3 column layout is plenty.  If you are an information site (ie. Reviews, giveaways, resources, etc.) you should have a layout with multi columns but also white space.  What is white space?

White space defined- In page layout, illustration and sculpture, white space is often referred to as negative space. It is that portion of a page left unmarked: the space between (it’s NOT always white) graphics, margins, gutters, space between columns, space between lines of type or figures and objects drawn or depicted. ...

White space keeps you blog clean and easy to read.  Thus, you have happy followers eager to come back to learn more.

Evaluate your blog.  Are there old links that don’t work anymore?  Delete them.   Is the design old or boring?  Brainstorm and come up with a new design.  I look at our blogs like this… a home needs an outside coat of paint every few years, our blogs may need a new design or even just a new header.

I will be writing a series of Blog Appeal.  I will share with you tips, tricks and finds to make your blog/webpage have more Blog Appeal.

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