Judging a Blog by Its Cover

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Does the design of your book review blog really matter?  How do the color and images of your blog represent who you are as a reviewer?  How does blog design affect how your "clients" perceive your skills and abilities as a reviewer?  How did you design your book review blog, and what impression are you hoping to make by the choices you made?

http://astrangeplacecalledhome.blogspot.com

[Frishawn Rasheed]

     I try to keep my blog as clean as possible.  To me, my blog should be about the REVIEW.  I don't like ads all over or all sorts of gadgets.  People are busy, and they don't have time to get through all the madness if your blog is too busy.

Come to my blog and let me know what you think

Sincerely,

Frishawn

WTF Are You Reading?

[Maria Behar]

I like your blog design.  It's actually really great!  But...I would change the title.  Just my opinion.

[Patricia Blomeley-Maddigan]

Hi, Frishawn -

 

I like your Blog design, and it certainly looks the you spent a serious amount of time setting it up.  I don't want alot of that sidebar info either.  And what I put on my sidebar wall will definitely mean something to me and/or my Blog!

 

And if I may say, I would change the name of your Blog.  Just a throught.

Patricia

[Deb Hockenberry]

Hi! It does matter to me. I prefer a lighter background with darker text. On Deb's Book Reviews, I use a tan background with black text. It's much easier to read. On another blog I have, when doing a Virtual Book Tour, I have used black for the questions and red for the answers. I found that this works too. I've learned from people with visual problems that the light background with darker text is easier for them to read. Yellow text hurts the eyes and is almost impossible to read!

 

As for badges, I try to keep it simple. I don't like a lot of clutter on my page. All the badges and widgets also bother a visually impaired persons' eyes.

[Maria Behar]

Just a note:  one of my favorite blogs, from the list I posted earlier, has a total of 1,249 followers so far!  So she must be doing something right!   The design incorporates tones of pink and lilac, along with black.   I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this blog!!!

 

Here's the link again:

http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/

 

And here's another gorgeous blog I've just discovered!   It's got tones of light green and blue.  Stunning!!!

http://the-crc.blogspot.com/

 

 

[Lesa]

 

Aaaiiieeee--- I'm blinded!  hahaha-- kidding but going from one to the other was a bit of an eye shock!

 

Jumping in again since I like how you make a case for dark blogs.

As I stated back on page one, light colored backgrounds with dark text are easier for me to read. But I do read some dark blogs if the font is legible enough for my eyes and the content appeals. 

Of these two, crc is the only one I could see comfortably-- and the rich green color in the posting column is lovely-- reminds me of what summer should be. 

 

:o)

 

[Lesa]

 

That is a good point about using Google Reader. I've avoided using GR because it looks so sterile-- I really prefer to read blogs in their natural state as the blogger intended them to be read but that cuts out some interesting blogs that hurt the eyes.  Reading those headace inducing blogs in GR will solve the problem! 

 

:o)

[Maria Behar]

I agree with you, Lesa!  I don't like using Google Reader myself.  For me, part of the enjoyment of a blog is the visual aspect of it (you guys know that by now, but still....lol), and I don't like that long list on the reader, which gives no clue as to what the real blog looks like....

 

[Maria Behar]

Yes, the green blog has a very nice, kinda nurturing feeling to it...maybe the dark one was a bit harder to navigate.  I'll admit to that.  Yet, I do love it!  A lot.  It's got such rich texture!  But I do admit that the green one is a bit easier on the eyes.  Still...how do you account for the dark ones huge following?  I wonder...   : )

[Maria Behar]

Larissa:  True, bookpixie has great content, but, if the blog is as uncomfortable on the eyes as some of you say, wouldn't that deter people from reading it altoghether?  Just wondering...

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

I really like The Book Pixie's palette, too. (It's her sidebars that I'm not crazy about. =P) If I were more interested i her content, I could totally see myself going back whenever she updates her blog.

[Maria Behar]

Hi, Enbrethiliel!  Yeah, her sidebars are maybe a bit crowded... but I totally agree with you about her palette.  I also love her content, since I'm into YA fiction.