Blogging pet peeves are obviously going to be different depending on the blogger or blog reader. I am not an expert, but I have been blogging for more than 3 years between this blog & my other one. So I've seen a lot of blogs & read a lot of tips. Here are 5 things from my perspective that will really help you as a blogger & me as a reader.
1. Offer a full RSS feed
Oh my goodness this gets on my nerves!! I don't know if people think that offering a partial feed will get people to click on their page more or something? But really all it does it gets most people from what I've seen to NOT subscribe or visit your blog at all. There are maybe 2 bloggers that I subscribe to their feed even if they don't offer a full feed & that's only because they email & converse with me regularly & in some way make up for the fact that I can't see their feed in my reader. So just offer a full feed.
There is some debate about the issue, but in every debate, I believe full feeds wins. Check it out for yourself:
This is so annoying. This is probably one of the main reasons I keep my sound turned off when I'm browsing the internet. I am not thinking, "oh how lovely & soothing" as I hear a new song on a site. I'm thinking "if I wanted to listen to music, I'd use Pandora or I'd get on myspace." It's distracting & causes people to look around for the quickest way to turn it off! Plus it feels very unprofessional.
Don't agree with me? Read these:
You may think it's cute, but it's hurting your design. Go for easy, common, readable fonts. Make your blog unique in other ways. This obviously doesn't necessarily apply to the cute logo for your blog, but as far as the content of the posts & the links in the sidebar, you want everything to be easily readable.
Again, don't just take my word for it:
Make sure that your email or contact form or contact info is clearly listed or linked to on your homepage! People are going to want to ask you questions or send you info. They may want to ask you to guest blog or correct some of your info or any number of other things. They shouldn't have to do this in the comments section. Some things just aren't for the comments section. I don't know how many times I've wanted to email a blogger & can't find their contact info anywhere!! Make sure it's listed! Also - if you have a blogger profile, please link your email to it.
I didn't even look for articles on this topic. I feel like it's just common sense when you think about it. You may have just not thought about it or forgotten.
Blog readers are looking for efficiency. We all have busy lives & when we sit down to read a few blogs, it should be easy & enjoyable. We shouldn't have to sort through a million ads or pop-ups or 30 different glittery images in your sidebar. Make it easy for us to navigate your page & see what you're about. There are plenty of ways to make your page unique to you & still keep it simple, uncluttered & easily readable.
Here are some great articles on this topic, although many of the articles linked above also mention this:
I could keep going, but I'll stop here.
What would you add to this list?
Comments
- tons of messy badges
- drop down menus
- horizontal scrolling
- unreadable CAPTCHA
You can drop by and read my entire post at: http://www.imafulltimemummy.com/post/2010/07/30/Web-Design-Mistakes-To-Avoid.aspx
How do I offer a full feed?
It also drives me nuts when sites have music. There is one I follow with music because it is just too good not to, but other than that I will avoid them.
I also have and like drop down menus....I think it's a great way to list all of your important categories in an easy to see section.
I also have and like drop down menus....I think it's a great way to list all of your important categories in an easy to see section.
Livy & Jhen - I subscribe to both of your feeds & they are both full feeds.
Unless I *really* like a blog, a partial feed usually means a quick unsubscribe for me. And I can't stand auto playing music. I would only add captchas to the list ;)
I have two drop down boxes for my monthly archives and categories, but that's only because after about 10 years of blogging, there are so many!
Thanks for this... and thanks for the heads up in my comment section.
Now I realize that when I do an obligatory "follow-back", sometimes I don't have anything to say (because it's already been said, the topic is too personal, etc.) and I am guilty of the crime myself.
In terms of full feeds, the same goes for email subscriptions. I subscribe to some blogs through email, and some only have partial (teaser) posts...and I rarely (if ever) click through.
Kate @ This Mom Loves
Stopping by again!
Mommy Only Has Two Hands!
I completely agree about clutter and music. Totally turns me away.
I was unsure about the email thing, so good to know about that Google Connect feature, Heather!
But help: WHAT IS A FULL RSS FEED? Thought they were all the same. I suck at this blogging techie stuff.
-Jessica
Anywho, I love that you have resources along with your list. I love that and now am going to go read them all.
Happy Wednesday and thanks for the tips!
Cameron, it's thanks to you that I sort of know how to navigate the blog world because of your tips that I read during week one of my trials and tribulations in blogger land. Thank you for sharing of your knowledge with us and for being so selfless in your posts and your praise.
Tiffany @ Organic Parenthood
Have you gone www.kellehampton.com?
Her music plays automatically and she is one of the top blogs in the world.