I enjoyed reading the posting in TechTuesday last week from The Keogh Corner (http://keoughcorner.blogspot.com/) about giving your blog "a spring clean". I realise that the content is the important factor, but I am a great believer in the principle that "first impressions count" in encouraging readers to look further.
The last thing I am is technologically minded, so I am not into fancy graphic designs and I don't understand a lot of the answers on Blogger Helpline. With some trepidation I aimed to freshen up the site.
I went into the Blogger Templates - Advanced and spent ages trying out various layout options and font styles and colours. I am happy with my label organisation and left them alone. I must admit there was panic at one point when the Preview showed the site looked a mess, but I managed to get back to broadly what I wanted. And I also managed to set the site to "printer friendly".
Some aspects will have to wait for a fresher mind i.e. I could not work out how to alter the text colour of my archives and labels listings, and I still need to try setting up Pages in Blogger.
In my early days of blogging, I had a brief flirtation with the deep rich red background which I felt showed up photographs very well, but I soon tired of the heavy colour.
My choice eventually fell on the calm look of the Simple blue and white screen, which I felt was easy on the eye, but perhaps it has got rather boring and dull, especially when the posting does not contain images to liven it up. Also I must admit it did not quite reflect my blog title "Family History Fun" to illustrate the enjoyment I get from this absorbing hobby.
So I have gone for a more vibrant cosmetic change from Simple to a customised Ethereal template where I can change the font colour of the Post Titles as well as the Blog Title and Description. (Blogger Help advice worked well here).
I feel the look is still clean, calming and simple but the different colours add interest, with the opportunity to make seasonal colour changes - just to stop everyone getting bored1
Has it been worth all that time spent on it - I leave you to judge! Though you might well see more changes.
I like the new look Sue - well done.
ReplyDeleteMike
Many thanks, Mike, for your encouraging comment.
ReplyDeleteI think it looks great!
ReplyDeleteI like the new template too - simple and easy on the eye. I much prefer muted sites to multi-colour ones! Look forward to seeing your summer choice when it comes around too :-) Jo
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