I'm always on the hunt for new websites to read and be inspired by, however one thing I've noticed is that I'm less inclined to follow a new blog if it doesn't catch my eye right away. You've got one shot to make a first impression, and as shallow as it is looks are key. I was researching this and as it turns out that in as little as 17 milliseconds the reader forms an opinion of your site and a whopping 94% of their first impression is based on the design. Here are a five design elements (with references to my favorite twenty-something year old bloggers) to help make your first impressions count...
▲ A well-designed logo
{breanna rose}The average viewer spends 6.5 seconds looking at a logo, so let it truly be a reflection of you and your brand. Even if it means getting help from a designer, it's probably a wise investment. I'm a huge fan of Breanna Rose's clean logo designs.
▲ Simple navigation
{the object enthusiast}Second popular to your logo, users spend about 6.44 seconds looking at the navigation, so defining clear and relevant categories is key. The Object Enthusiast's navigation chic and simple.
▲ Relevant, good pictures
{esther from the sticks}Pictures should embody the spirit and feel of your site. As far as first impressions go, photos are even more important than content. Esther from the Sticks talks about using a wireless remote or if you're not the next Ansel Adams, Unsplash.com has beautiful, free stock images. No excuses!
▲ A familiar layout
{little den blog}The layout should be simple yet familiar to your site's genre. I personally like the blog layouts that have their blog posts on one side and the about content on the other like Little Den Blog's. *Exception: If the norm has really terrible design—think domain hosting sites à la GoDaddy versus the new and revolutionary, beautiful site Namecheap.
▲ Content readability
{adrienne young}Content is what keeps people coming back, but it's important to have everything else in place so people will want to continue reading for more than a few seconds. Adrienne Young makes sure her type is pretty and easy to read, although she knows how to take gorgeous photos too!
I freshened up my own blog with a few of those first impression elements. It's still a work in progress, but I think it's already looking more welcoming! I'm curious, what are the things that stick out to you when you see a good or badly designed blog?
xo from catie
{ references from conversionxl & google}
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