I haven’t counted up how many times I’ve read about blog design, and whether or not it’s important, but I’m willing to take a shot at dozens.
Not wanting to waste your time, (and in case you didn’t really catch the title) I’m going to tell you where I’m going with this — your blog design matters!
As much as we may not even recognise it in ourselves, there is much to prove that our minds are influenced by what we see in split seconds. Many food and clothing stores spend millions every year in advertising, just to get you in the door! However, the Internet, for the most part, works differently.
The vast majority of websites, actually spend little to nothing on advertising. They just hope, that through various means, (links from other sites, comments, etc) they will guide visitors in their direction, and this leads me to a type of ‘cyber pandemic’ misconception which I see everywhere…
The heart of the problem
I read it all the time. It goes something like this,
“I’ve been blogging for six months, and I haven’t managed to get over 5,000 page views/month. What am I doing wrong?”
Over 90% of blogs are in a similar position, and that’s only if they break through the 3 month blog life expectancy. What is it they’re doing wrong?
I’m fairly confident, the problem these blogs have isn’t getting visitors to find them — it’s getting them to return.
If even 0.5% of visitors became subscribers to their blogs, they would be achieving great success! But, why are they not? Why are the majority of visitors not returning, and subscribing?
How to get people to subscribe
The great key to getting people to subscribe, is simply this [drum roll, please!] — you need to get them to click through.
I have rarely, if ever, subscribed to a blog by looking just at a homepage, and I don’t think I’m alone. Most of the sites in my Google Feedreader, have caused me in some way or other, to click through, and visit other material. The more pages I visit, the more likely I am to subscribe, as they continue to influence me in recognising that it’ll be worthwhile.
The number 1 way to get people to click through
So, how do you do it? If you need to get people to click through, in order to get them to subscribe and/or revisit, what do you do?
Simple, don’t drive them away as soon as they arrive!
This is where your blog design comes into play, and where first impressions count.
Over an indefinite period of time, I’m going to be providing tips and information you need to be aware of, in order to encourage your visitors to stay, return, and convert into subscribers to your blog.
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- Turning Visitors Into Subscribers - The Contributing Factors
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Added Commentary
By David Airey
on 05.11.07
Well said, Armen.
It’s a shame that more people don’t last through the 3-month barrier with their blogs. I’m glad I did, as I’ve connected with so many like-minded people. Yourself included.
Thanks for the mention, above, and I’m looking forward to your pearls of wisdom.
By Armen
on 05.11.07
David - Yeah. I’ve seen a number of bloggers really go for it in the past, with paid links and reviews. Then, after putting in all the effort, and building subscribers, they just disappear!
Hopefully there are few things even a (relative) veteran blogger like you can learn.
By David Airey
on 05.11.07
It seems odd that a blogger of just one year is a veteran.
By Armen
on 05.11.07
David - I know. I’m fast approaching 1 year of blogging with WordPress, and according to stats, that places us in the minority.
By MrCorey
on 05.11.07
So, I guess that I must be nearly “over the hill” as a blogger, surpassing 4 years a few months ago. Wow! Can you believe that it was over 4 years ago when Google bought Blogger (my first blog)?
By David Airey
on 05.11.07
What’s your address, Mr Corey?
I’ll send you a walking stick.
By Armen
on 05.11.07
MrCorey - lol…you’re definitely a pensioner!
4 years ago, my website knowledge was limited to Moonfruit. Before that, it was Homestead, Geocities, or worse.
By Justin Tadlock
on 05.11.07
Hey, I’ve been blogging for 4 1/2 years. I guess I’m over-the-hill too.
I started out on Expage. I thought design mattered back then too, but I didn’t have a clue what that meant. Of course, I only had two friends that ever visited. Bad design, of course.
I rarely subscribe to a blog without a decent design for the simple reason that I didn’t stay around long enough to see if they had content worth reading.
By daniel @ omstrategy
on 06.11.07
hi, Armen, how are you?
Great post. On the ‘get them to click through’ point - most of my traffic comes from search engines to pages deep within the site.
I think it’s important to let them know exactly what they’re going to get /no matter what page they land on/. Not just on the homepage.
Thanks again - I look forward to reading more of your stuff.
daniel
By Armen
on 06.11.07
Justin - Now I’m beginning to feel like a toddler. I’m surrounded by pensioners here today!
Those who recognise good design, appreciate the same.
. Some of us have learned through trial and error, and experience. Others may learn from us.
Those who don’t recognise it, just need to be educated
Daniel - Nice to have you stop by.
You’re right. It’s important that those who arrive through organic searches, or via deep links, see something which causes them to stay and browse, rather than going for the back button.
Hopefully I can keep you here, now that you’ve found me, and that it’ll be worth your while.
By Jermayn Parker
on 06.11.07
Think at the end of the day it comes down to content and what your writing about. Also I am beginning to think its also about your blog niche.
My blog is average in popularity but has minimal rss feeders and I do not think its my writing style or even my content but rather what I write about. I write about very different themes and while it brings diveristy I think its also my downfall.
By Kevin
on 07.11.07
Armen, first impressions are very important. By the way - I think your new design is a better first impression - and I’m looking but not touching.
By Armen
on 07.11.07
Jermayn - What I’ve learned, is that bad designs work only with ‘authorities’.
Establishing yourself in a niche from the start, will definitely help. Discussing a wide range of topics, lessens your chances of making an impact, but it’s not impossible.
Kevin - Thanks. I see you’ve been ‘poking around’
By Nyssa
on 08.11.07
Great read here. I have to agree with you completely. While content is important to keep people interested, like you say, first impressions count, otherwise you’ll drive them away immediately.
I also have to echo daniel @ omstrategy’s comment. A lot of my visitors come from search engines so they usually land on a deeper page, so it’s important the design carries through.
By Armen
on 08.11.07
Nyssa - Thanks. I love your design. It’s dark, but it’s really pleasant. Nice work!
By Brian Purkiss
on 21.12.07
Excellent post.
I totally agree.
I’ll often leave as soon as the site loads if the layout is bad.
I figure that if the author isn’t putting the time and/or effort into a good looking design, then what is the content like?
first impressions matter - period.
By Armen
on 21.12.07
Brian - Agreed my friend. There are very few ugly sites in my feedreader. I wouldn’t like to name the ugly ones though
By Deron Sizemore
on 28.12.07
I agree 100%. I was actually going to make a post on this, but I guess you beat me to it buddy!
Owning a website is like going in for a job interview. If you walk into a company for an interview wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt, don’t expect to get the job. If your website looks like all the other websites out there, don’t expect to get readers. I get confused sometimes on who’s site I’m looking at when I see the same theme over and over and over again, so I can only imagine what it’s like for the novice internet user.
I think you need to stand out. You need to differentiate yourself from everyone else in some way.
Haven't you got anything to say?