How To Design A Blog

Imagine spending hours writing your blog posts or spending thousands of dollars to outsource blog writing only to get no traffic.

Many things could be the culprit, but one of those is poor blog design. Fortunately, that’s a problem that you can fix.

What Is Blog Design?

Blog design refers to the visual appearance of a blog or website. It covers the colors, fonts, and layout of blog posts, images, and other blog content.

You can use a template or theme to create a simple blog design. However, you may want to customize the theme or template to develop a design that you want.

Things that make for a good blog layout include:

• Focus on the content
• Easy to navigate
• Easy to read
• Well organized
• Use of categories and tags

Blog posts should be easy to find and read. Many blogs include a search bar so that visitors can find exactly what they need. It’s also important to include a list of categories to help readers narrow their search.

11 Essential Pages Every Blog Should Have

One of the most common questions I get from beginning bloggers is “What are the essential pages I should have on my blog?”

There are no hard and fast rules that a blog should have all these pages mentioned. But here’s a simple checklist about essential pages blog should have to get you started.

1. About Page

It is the most visited page for almost every blog. So, it’s important to make this page compelling. You can add a few sentences introducing yourself and your team (if you have any), mention the purpose of your blog, tell a bit about your mission and your target audience.

2. Contact Page

A contact page is a quick way for people to get in touch with you. It’s a place to list your contact details; some blogs have a contact form that makes it convenient for a visitor to get in touch.

3. Products/Services

The primary objective of starting a blog is to entice visitors to become customers. The purpose of a Products/Services page is to familiarize your visitors with your core business offerings. This is where you can list your products and services.

4. Subscribe Page

The purpose of a subscribe page is to get followers and subscribers for your newsletter. It is perhaps the single most important activity in blogging. With WordPress Subscribe plugins, you can create high-converting subscribe forms with beautiful templates to increase your subscribers.

5. Write for Us

Most Bloggers are constantly looking for guest posting opportunities. A ‘Write for Us’ or a ‘Guest Posts page’ informs people that you are accepting guest posts, and lists guidelines for the same.

If created carefully, this page can attract wonderful writers and ensure a regular flow of quality content to your site through guest posting. So you can consider this page as one of the most essential pages blog should have.

6. Archives Page

As a rule, your most recent blog posts are on top, and your older blog posts are pushed down every time a new blog post is published. To make your blog posts easily accessible, you can add them to an archived page. This helps visitors find your older posts more easily.

7. FAQs

An FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page is a quick way to find out some of the most common questions of your readers. It is the section where you can address the most common concerns, questions, or objections about your business, products and services.

Most websites usually overlook an FAQ page, but a well-compiled FAQ page can reduce your bounce rate substantially.

8. Disclaimer Page

In addition to the general pages, there are a couple of legal pages that every website is required to have by law. A disclaimer is a statement intended to protect a business from legal actions. The disclaimer of your business will depend on the nature of your services or products you are selling.

However, commonly, you could include a ‘notice of risk’ for using a tangible product, limit your liability to intangible services, intellectual property, the content on your blog and protect the copyrights of all your original content.

9. Privacy Policy

Another important legal page to create is a Privacy Policy page. The key purpose of a Privacy Policy page is to reassure your visitors that all their personal information is lawfully being collected, stored, and used by you

10. Terms of Service

A Terms of Service page is a statement which outlines the rules that users must agree to while using a service, or a product, or any kind of intellectual property.

The main objective of a terms of service page is to legally bind users in a contract with you. It also should outline the consequences in case any condition is violated or abused. If you’re not sure about how to create a solid ToS page, you can consult an attorney.

11. Testimonials Page

You can have a page where you can integrate some client reviews and testimonials about your product.

Remember, word-of-mouth is still a powerful way to sell. Another way to show your worth is by putting up any awards or recognition that your business has achieved on your Testimonials Page.

People are always impressed with social proof and positive reviews about a brand. Especially when you are marketing your business online, it is important to display your credibility.

Examples Of Great Blog Design

When deciding how to design your blog, it helps to get some inspiration. Consider the following blog design examples to help create your personal blog.

1. Dribbble

Dribbble is a freelance design marketplace with a blog on its site. Here’s what you should know about this blog.

What Are the Features of Dribbble Blog Design?

Dribbble is a pretty simple design blog. We’re a fan of minimalism blogs, so this is one of our favorites.

You can see some of the latest posts in the main column, while the sidebar has links to blog categories and the Dribbble podcast. The blog posts have share buttons at the top for social media. While there aren’t any comments, that helps make the page design clean and minimal.

Which Niche Is Dribbble Design a Fit For?

The Dribbble blog design is a good fit for almost any niche.

If you want to have readers focus on the content, it makes sense to keep things simple.

You can use it for a design blog or almost any topic you’d want to write about.

Then, you can spend more time writing than on the design.

Is It Easy to Use the Dribbble Design?

Once you find a theme or template that emulates the Dribbble blog, it should be easy to use.

You don’t have to worry about dealing with tons of images or other clunky elements.

At first, it may take some customization to get the design just right.

But you shouldn’t have to edit the design much after that.

2. Spotify Design

Another simple blog with a fantastic design is Spotify Design, especially if you’re planning to run Spotify ads on the platform.

Consider what makes this layout so effective and if it’s for you.

What Are the Features of Spotify Design?

The Spotify Design blog just features blog posts.

It has rows of four posts, and you can click to view more stories after scrolling through the latest ones.

At the top of the page, you can choose a category to filter the posts you view.

That’s a great option for readers looking for something specific.

Which Niche Is Spotify Design a Fit For?

Spotify Design’s layout is a good fit for a blog that a business wants to use.

The simple design helps with content marketing by removing distractions.

It may not be the best option for websites that are just blogs.

You’ll need a bit more navigation to help people find posts.

Is It Easy to Use the Spotify Design Layout?

Using the Spotify Design layout can be easy once you find a similar theme.

You can customize it a bit to show as many posts as you want.

The ease of use can depend on the platform you select as well.

Some blog platforms have a bigger learning curve.

3. Frank Chimero

Frank Chimero doesn’t have the most active blog, but its design is worth reviewing.

You may find you like the look of it for your site.

What Are the Features of the Frank Chimero Blog Design?

Frank Chimero’s blog is simpler than some of the other examples.

The blog is purely a text list of the posts that he has published.

You can see the date of each post, and the posts have hyperlinks.

When you read a post, you don’t have the option to comment or share on social media.

Which Niche Is the Frank Chimero Design a Fit For?

The Frank Chimero blog design is a good fit for blogs where images aren’t going to be a big thing.

For one, you can’t include a featured image on the main blog page.

While individual blog posts can support images, they make the post seem longer.

So it’s not the best option for a travel blog or fashion blog, for example.

Is It Easy to Use the Frank Chimero Design?

It can be easy to use the Frank Chimero blog design.

You don’t have to worry about images, so you can make your blog posts look how you want.

However, it’s unclear how the blog page would look with dozens of posts.

You might want to add images to break things up, so this design might not work well for long.

4. Visuelle

Visuelle is a place where designers can showcase their work online.

The blog can provide some inspiration to bloggers who want to share images.

What Are the Features of the Visuelle Blog Design?

The Visuelle blog has a simple design, but it’s not obvious that it includes blog posts.

You have to hover your mouse over each post to view the topic and click on it.

At the top of the blog page, you can click on categories to narrow your results.

The individual blog posts have text, images, and videos, so you can use whatever media you choose.

Which Niche Is the Visuelle Design a Fit For?

The Visuelle design will fit visual blog niches the best, such as design or photography.

While you can add text, the typography isn’t the best to read for long periods.

However, it’s an excellent option to showcase your own work as a designer.

Then, you can use it to market your services or products.

Is It Easy to Use the Visuelle Design?

Using the Visuelle design can be easy if you choose the right template.

It’s unclear what template the blog uses or if it uses a custom theme.

Either way, you may need to do your own customizations.

That way, you can make the main blog page more visual.

5. Jules

Jules, also known as Sincerely Jules, is a fashion and lifestyle blog.

It’s an excellent resource to use as inspiration if you want to create something similar.

What Are the Features of the Jules Blog Design?

The Jules blog design features a recent post at the top of the main page.

There are also a few social media share buttons to help readers promote the content.

As you scroll down, you’ll see other posts with links to read as well as a preview of the photos.

That makes it a great option for people to browse posts without clicking on them.

Which Niche Is the Jules Design a Fit For?

The Jules design is a fit for any fashion or lifestyle blog.

It can also work for other blogs that use a lot of photos, such as a travel blog.

While there aren’t categories you can filter through, the posts are all related.

So you can click on each one to read.

Is It Easy to Use the Jules Design?

The Jules design may not be the easiest for beginners to use.

For one, it involves a lot more design than many blogs.

You will probably need to customize your layout significantly to emulate this blog.

But once you do, you can add posts easily.

6. Mirador

Mirador is a blog that curates graphic design work from people all over.

Designers can submit their work to add to the blog, and you can use it to inspire your blog design.

What Are the Features of the Mirador Blog Design?

The Mirador blog design is simple and serves as the website homepage.

Posts all appear in a single column, and you scroll down to find the next post.

Since the blog features graphic design, the posts don’t have a ton of text.

When they do, the font is a bit small, which can make it harder for people to read.

Which Niche Is the Mirador Design a Fit For?

The Mirador design is best for other visual blogs.

If you plan to use a lot of text, you may need to customize the font size to help your readers.

Otherwise, you can get away with smaller text.

Then, your readers will be able to spend more time viewing any images that you add.

Is It Easy to Use the Mirador Design?

Using the Mirador design can be easy, especially once you set it up.

You don’t have to worry about creating a blog page.

Instead, you can add posts, and you don’t need to design a sidebar.

But that doesn’t mean your readers may have trouble finding the posts they want.

7. Abduzeedo

Here’s what you should know about the Abduzeedo blog.

What Are the Features of the Abduzeedo Blog Design?

The Abduzeedo blog features a sidebar on the left side of the screen.

That’s where you’ll find the navigation bar with categories and a search bar.

Meanwhile, the blog posts all lay in a grid, with three posts per line.

Unfortunately, you can’t know the topic until you click on a blog post because the page just shows images.

Which Niche Is the Abduzeedo Design a Fit For?

The Abduzeedo design is a fit for any blog that wants easy navigation.

You can use a sidebar to share whatever you want.

However, it’s not the best fit for bloggers who don’t include titles in their featured images.

Your readers might not like clicking on multiple posts to learn what each covers.

Is It Easy to Use the Abduzeedo Design?

Using the Abduzeedo design can be easy once you set everything up.

However, it may be hard to customize the template to get the look just right.

8. Eye Magazine

Eye Magazine is another website where you can get some blog design inspiration.

What Are the Features of the Eye Magazine Blog Design?

The Eye Magazine blog features categories that you can choose from at the top of the screen.

There’s also a search bar to help you find a specific post.

In the center, blog posts appear one by one with feature images and their post dates.

You can also use the sidebars to display ads or more blog information.

Which Niche Is the Eye Magazine Design a Fit For?

The Eye Magazine design is a great fit for almost any niche.

It’s particularly useful for blogs that act like online magazines.

Is It Easy to Use the Eye Magazine Design?

Using the Eye Magazine design can be easy.

Like any other blog design, it may take time to get used to the features, but you can learn to use them eventually.

9. Browser London

Consider using the Browser London blog to inspire your blog’s layout.

What Are the Features of the Browser London Blog Design?

The Browser London blog showcases posts in two columns.

Each post preview includes an image and a short snippet of the content.

Readers can use the search bar at the top to find something more specific.

Inside a blog post, it will show related posts on the side to help readers navigate the site.

Which Niche Is the Browser London Design a Fit For?

The Browser London design is a good fit for most niches.

If you have an image and want to preview the text, you should use this template.

Is It Easy to Use the Browser London Design?

Using the Browser London design is relatively easy.

You just need to create some categories and add images to each of your posts.

The Impact Of A Bad Website Design Explained

Bad website design mistakes, the phrase seems familiar, right?

No one is perfect, and that includes website designers. However, some mistakes should be avoided at all costs, because they can make your website look bad and may even drive visitors away.

Now let’s take a look at some of the most common design mistakes and explain why you should avoid them.

While we have a lot of blog posts filled with tips on how you can make stellar-looking blogs and websites, in this article we will take a slightly different approach to educate you.

Here, we will look at 8 examples of astonishingly bad websites, discuss where they went wrong, and learn from their mistakes.

1. Suzanne Collins Books

Do you like The Hunger Games series? I certainly do.

Given the popularity of Suzanne Collins’ franchise, you would think that she would invest in having a more professional online presence by hiring a professional development firm.

Maybe she thinks she has nothing to prove anymore? I can only speculate.

What we know for sure though is that this website’s overuse of white space, odd center-floated photograph at the top of the page and a right-justified menu all conspire together among many other things to make this bad website one to forget.

2. Yale School of Art

Yale is one of the most prestigious schools in the country boasting ultra-low acceptance rates and prestigious alumni.

If any of those prestigious alumni are web developers, they might want to donate their services to the school’s art wing.

Immediately when you go to the page you see a bright yellow tiled background that jars users rather than welcoming them in.

Then, to contrast the bright background, we get grey boxes with erratically formatted text that make you feel like you’re on a scam site rather than on the Yale page you were searching for.

Rest assured this is a real Yale website.

3. Waking People up With Truth

We get it. Conspiracy websites aren’t supposed to be good.

They’re supposed to be as nutty as their creators.

Why is that though!?

You’d think that if a conspiracy theorist were trying to get somebody to buy into what they’re saying, they’d want to present it a little more credibly.

Maybe conventional taste in design is a conspiracy this website is trying to bust…

Whether or not that’s true, all our small minds can do is jump to the conclusion that from its bad background to its website description you need a magnifying glass to read at the top of the page, Waking People up With Truth is definitely among the top bad websites.

4. Head Hunter Hair Styling

We’ll admit, this website is not all that bad. It has a nice full-screen video in its banner position, a clear menu at the top of the page… it definitely checks some boxes.

The reason why we’ve flagged it among our bad websites is because of its simple yet important miss on color.

The use of blue at the top of the page invokes feelings not of style but of something more generic or unrelated like a beach.

This website would benefit big time by recoloring its menu section with something darker.

That darker palette would make the site feel more sophisticated and on-brand with a hair styling organization.

5. Electrifying Times

Electrifying times is a website that’s supposed to be all about the latest and greatest in electric cars.

Unfortunately, it looks like a website from the early 2000s advertising a local carnival.

Not only is the site non-responsive, it also uses animations to draw people’s attention to new articles and ultimately does ZERO to inspire confidence in consumers that this is a credible source when it comes to electric vehicles.

6. Irish Wrecks Online

Have you ever wanted to find a website dedicated to telling you about Irish shipwrecks?

We didn’t think so.

As it turns out, the more niche your topic of interest is, the worst the websites you find providing the information you need get.

While this site almost qualifies as a passable minimalist motif, it loses the chance of being acceptable thanks to its textured background and the fact that you have to click on a picture of a ship to enter the actual site.

Only bad websites make you solve puzzles to access their contents.

7. ARNGREN.net

Here’s a bad website for the history books. Never have we seen a site overwhelm users with TMI more than this site does.

Explaining where this site went wrong seems pointless.

Just navigate to it and prepare to go cross-eyed.

8. Internet Archaeology

This is one of the only bad websites that have given us nightmares.

We’re thinking that the site’s intent is to be unwelcoming, confusing, and then (if you dare enter the purple door) unbearable.

Still, whether its intent was to be bad or not, there’s no denying that the site’s alienating use of animation does more to scare users away than it does to welcome anybody in.

Key Takeaway

Web design mistakes can cost you dearly in terms of lost sales and customers. By taking the time to avoid these mistakes, you can help ensure that your website is successful.

14 Website Design Mistakes That Should Be Avoided At All Costs

There are so many mistakes that web developers do. Below is the list of top 14 common web design mistakes that you should avoid at all costs for the success of your career.

1. Poor Layout And Organization

Website design is not always about how a website looks. Many times it has more to do with how a website is organized and the user’s experience while navigating the site.

A well-designed website will take into account the user’s needs and make sure the information they are looking for is easy to find. A poorly designed website, on the other hand, can be incredibly frustrating to use.

One of the most common errors made in website design is poor layout and organization. This can make a website seem cluttered and confusing, and it can be very difficult to find the information you are looking for.

This often happens when a website tries to cram too much information onto one page, or when there is no logical order to the way the information is presented.

If you are designing a website, be sure to take care of the layout and organization, as it can have a big impact on the user’s experience.

2. Cluttered Or Busy Design

Website visitors are often turned off by cluttered or busy designs. This is a common mistake that many website owners make, thinking that more information and links will keep people on their site longer.

You should develop a responsive web design. However, this is rarely the case. Too much information can be overwhelming, and people will quickly lose interest and leave.

The same is true of busy backgrounds and overly-complicated designs. Instead of trying to cram everything onto one page, it’s better to focus on simplicity.

Stick to a clean layout with plenty of white space, and use images and videos sparingly. This will help to create a calm and inviting atmosphere that’s more likely to keep people engaged.

3. Ineffective Use Of Color

Website designers sometimes make the mistake of using too much color, or colors that clash.

This can make a website look busy, and messy, and can be jarring to visitors.

Instead, it is important to use color effectively, to create a pleasing and cohesive design.

A good rule of thumb is to use a maximum of three colors and to make sure that they complement each other.

Using a color wheel can help choose colors that work well together.

In addition, it is important to use light colors for the background and dark colors for the text, to ensure that the text is easy to read.

By using color effectively, website designers can create pleasing designs that are easy on the eyes.

Using too many graphics is also among the same mistakes.

4. Wrong Fonts And Font Sizes

Website design mistakes can come in all shapes and sizes – quite literally.

One of the most common (and easiest to avoid) blunders is using the wrong fonts or font sizes.

It might not seem like a big deal, but using an inappropriate font can have a major impact on the overall look and feel of your site.

Worse yet, it can make your site difficult to read.

So, what’s the best way to choose fonts for your website?

First, take into account the overall tone of your site.

Are you going for a fun and friendly vibe, or a more serious and professional one?

The font you choose should match this tone.

Second, consider the size of your text.

If you’re using large blocks of text, you’ll want to choose a font that’s easy to read.

Finally, make sure the fonts you select are compatible with all major browsers.

By following these simple tips, you can avoid making a major design mistake.

Use a font that makes sense and inspires interaction.

Because the first impression is lasting.

Useful reading: 7+ Free Tools to Help You Increase Website Traffic Exponentially

5. Using Too Small Or Too Large Images

Website design is essential for any business that wants to have an online presence.

In digital marketing, to create a website that is both visually appealing and easy to use, designers must carefully select each element, from the layout to the fonts and colors.

One common mistake is using images that are either too small or too large.

Small images can appear blurry or pixelated, while large images can take up too much space and make a website seem overcrowded.

Using too small or too large image is one of the bad website design mistakes.

The ideal solution is to find a balance by using a mix of medium and large images.

Additionally, designers should make sure that all images are optimized for both desktop and mobile devices.

By taking these considerations into account, website owners can ensure that their site will be attractive and user-friendly.

Remember, images are an eye-catching focal point for your blog and should be optimized through search engines.

Also read: How To Monetize A Blog In 2022

6. Using Stock Photos Instead Of Your Images

One common bad website design mistake is using stock photos instead of original images.

While it may seem like a good idea to save time and money by using pre-made images, doing so can harm your site in several ways.

First, stock photos are often of poor quality, which can give visitors the impression that your site is cheaply made.

Second, using the same photos as everyone else makes your site look unoriginal and unprofessional.

Finally, many stock photos are simply too generic to be effective, meaning they won’t add anything meaningful to your site.

If you want your site to look its best, make sure to use only original, high-quality images.

Also, avoid pixelated images or dancing images and too much text on the image also is a mistake.

Boring design and too much text become a bit confusing in marketing-related posts.

7. Poor Website Navigation

Poor navigation is one of the bad website design mistakes.

You want to create a site that is visually appealing and easy to navigate, but you also don’t want to make it so simple that it looks like you’re not offering much content.

Navigation refers to how users move around your site.

If it is confusing or difficult to use, then visitors are likely to give up and go elsewhere.

There are a few key things to keep in mind when designing your website’s navigation.

• First, make sure that all of your pages are accessible from the home page.
• Second, use clear and concise labels for each page.
• And finally, use consistent formatting throughout the site.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your website’s navigation is both effective and user-friendly.

Most related: Best WordPress Hosting

8. Lack of Visual Appeal

Website design is critical to the success of any online business.

Not only does your website need to be functional and easy to navigate, but it also needs to have a visual appeal that will attract and engage visitors.

One common mistake that businesses make is neglecting the visual appeal of their website.

A website that is poorly designed, with outdated or amateurish graphics, can give visitors the impression that your business is not professional or credible.

This can lead them to click away from your site without even considering your products or services.

On the other hand, a well-designed website can make a lasting impression on visitors and encourage them to explore your business further.

When it comes to website design, don’t underestimate the power of visuals.

9. Unclear or Incorrect Contact Information

One of the bad Website design mistakes is using the unclear or incorrect contact information.

When visitors to your site can’t easily find your contact information, or when they see outdated information, it reflects poorly on your business.

Worse, it can lead to lost sales and customers.

Make sure that your contact information is prominently displayed on your website, and that it is accurate and up-to-date.

Taking these simple steps will help you avoid this costly website design mistake.

10. Inaccessible Website Content

Website inaccessible content is one of the many design mistakes that can cost you dearly.

Web users are impatient, and if they can’t find what they’re looking for quickly, they’ll move on to another site.

So it’s important to ensure that all of your website content is easy to find and easy to understand.

One way to do this is to use clear and concise headlines and subheadings.

That way, users will know immediately what each page is about and be able to navigate to the section they’re interested in.

Another way to make your content accessible is to use bullet points and lists.

This makes it easier for users to scan the page and find the information they’re looking for.

Finally, be sure to proofread your content carefully.

Typos and grammatical errors can make it difficult for users to understand what you’re trying to say, so take the time to edit your work before publishing it.

By following these simple tips, you can help ensure that your website content is accessible and easy to find.

11. Slow Loading Times

One of the most common and frustrating mistakes is a slow loading time.

In today’s fast-paced world, people are used to getting the information they need quickly and easily.

If a website takes too long to load, users are likely to click away in frustration.

Several factors can contribute to slow loading times.

One is large images. Images are an important part of any website, but they need to be optimized for the web.

This means reducing their file size so that they load quickly.

Another common cause of slow loading times is poorly coded scripts and stylesheets.

Scripts and stylesheets can help to make a website more dynamic and interactive, but if they are not properly coded, they can slow down the loading process.

Finally, insufficient bandwidth can also be a problem.

If a website is receiving a lot of traffic, it may simply be overwhelmed by the amount of data that needs to be transferred.

These are just a few of the potential causes of slow loading times.

By identifying and addressing these issues, you can help ensure that your website loads quickly and efficiently.

12. Not Enough Whitespace

Whitespace is important in design for two reasons: it makes your content easier to read, and it makes your website more visually appealing.

Without enough whitespace, your website will look cluttered and busy.

13. Not Optimizing For Mobile

More and more people are using their mobile devices to browse the web, so it’s important to make sure your website is optimized for these users.

This means having a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes, as well as making sure your content is easy to read on a smaller screen.

14. Inconsistent Design

Your website should have a consistent design throughout, with similar fonts, colors, and layouts used on all pages.

This will help create a cohesive look that is easy for visitors to navigate.