This morning for some reason I’ve come upon many blogs that use a theme which is less than ergonomic. We’ve all seen them. They use nonstandard navigation, background images that are distracting in combination with text that is colored to blend with the background as well as text that is far too small to be comfortably readable. Often they lack the xanga top navigation toolbar and use other words in place of navigation.
Professionally I am a video and motion graphics guy who works at a web media company. I shoot and produce video for the internet, DVD and TV. My department is adjacent to the creative department filled with web designers and graphic artists. I also do a little of both as needed and on the side. As a result I’m qualifying myself as a professional in this area. So please take my advice to heart.
The purpose of using a public blog like xanga is to share your thoughts and possibly get feedback from others. If that’s not your purpose, you really don’t have a need for using a site like xanga. That said, you have to be happy with the look and feel of your own blog, since it is your own blog. But you should expect that the less ergonomic your blog is, likely the less people will want to visit it. Sure content is king but it can only help to make it more accessible. So here are some tips.
- Use point sizes(pt) or em(em) sizes for text rather than pixel sizes(px). Pixels sizes remain constant and do not scale. The others do. Aside from that, choose a size that is readable. 10pt or higher is perfectly fine. Anything smaller used for an entire blog entry will make it uncomfortable to read and you’ll likely get less people willing to read as a result. I don’t care if you’re anorexic, your blog text doesn’t have to be.
- Keep the standard xanga navigation bar at the top of the screen. Xanga has been nice enough to allow us to style this bar in different colors which you can do to match the rest of your color scheme. But you shouldn’t get rid of it completely. It’s incredibly helpful for other people and even yourself to use in navigating to and from your site.
- Do not use background images. While there are certain instances where background images can be used properly, most people don’t understand this. So it’s better if you just stay away from them. If you insist, then choose a repeatable pattern that is easy on the eyes or use an image that does not repeat but remains in a given location and does not disrupt the readability of the main text. Do no use photographs that repeat and under no circumstance should you ever use an animated gif. NEVER!
- I know it’s fun to “rename” your navigation links using expressive phrases and words like changing “photos” into “my life” or something like that. But you should stay away from this practice. It only confuses people. They may want to see your photos but if they have to spend a minute figuring out which link takes them there, they aren’t going to bother. If you insist on renaming them, then use words that are similar (i.e. photo = pix, images, photography, etc) .
- Give your text some contrast. Using dark red text on a black background may convey the idea that you are dark and goth, but if I have to highlight your text to comfortably read it, I’m not going to bother. Also note that certain operating systems, like MacOS for instance, do not change the color of the text when highlighted. So these people don’t have any alternative options for reading your blog entries.
The general rule of thumb is not to punish your readers. Don’t trap them, confuse them or make them strain their eyes to see what you have to say. Because if you do all of that they aren’t going to care what you have to say.
haha, I disagree.. background images are vital.. exposing people to Tristan Tzara is a must
Very well stated. Simple is usually the best.
@Paul_Partisan – you have a solid box over background so your text is readable. makes a huge difference.
oh YES! Thank you for posting this. I dont even read those sites. And a link back to the readers site is a must.
If people have overbearing layouts/backgrounds I usually will not read or if the first line is interesting enough I copy and paste the text into my notepad in order to get a clear view.. This honestly has to be the most aggravating thing on Xanga!
I hate when I have to highlight text to read it. Even then, it’s awkward.
@macphoto – Agreed. Images are ok as long as there is an overlaying box for the text.
Amen to that!
@macphoto – @JesyCole – It may make it readable, but it doesn’t take away from the tackiness of a design that repeats non-repeatable images.
@roxics – true. I was just addressing the readability issue.
I agree 100%. Mine’s pretty straight up.
@JesyCole – You can hit Ctrl-A to highlight the text.
@buddly47 – Yeah, everyone who has commented so far hasn’t broken any of these rules.
Would you like to come critique my site?
I am so glad someone finally wrote this, I was beginning to think I was the only one who felt this way. I hate hate it when people have a “home” link and it signs you out to the front page. I never go to the front page! and I never sign out! lol
@ProfessorTom – Your site is good. Personally I’m not a fan of that shade of blue. But that’s just me personally. Everything is fine though.
@roxics - Yeah, I’ve gotten complaints about the blue over the years. I’m no designer and hate to see it go (as I feel it’s part of my brand. See my LJ) but I’m open to suggestions.
Thanks for taking the time to look at my site.
@ProfessorTom – Maybe you could try a more muted blue like a #3D7ABB or #6699CC or #2E5C8A
http://www.colorschemer.com/online.html
It’s up to you. Like I said, just my personal opinion.
Yup, I agree.
@roxics - I took you up on the last color. We’ll see what people have to say about it.
This is good advice (I suppose) for people who want others to read their blogs. Personally, I use Xanga because my family’s pretty intrusive and keeping a diary isn’t really an option. And I was always drawn to Xanga for some reason. But I agree that there are common themes that make me leave a blog… like background pictures that take FOREVER for the entire page to load, or flashing colors, or when the layout is customized and ends up overlapping because it was done poorly…. the point size font never bothered me… I don’t mind reading tiny font, but I do realize that MANY people don’t like it which is a reason why I keep my blog with it…. I don’t want all the traffic. Anyway, interesting stuff; it would be further interesting to read up on what pushes fellow bloggers away or what makes people interested in a blog. For me though, content (as it should be) is most key. However, background does help emphasize a theme…. so, if a page is plain and colorless, I will most likely not remember it to visit again.
By the way, that last sentence of the first bullet point… so unnecessary, and a terrible pun – nobody would write a pun about autism or diabetes… it’s just a little insensitive – just my opinion.
@ultravioletskies08 – “it’s just a little insensitive” Of course it is. Lol. This blog has never been cushy and nice. It’s funny because it’s true. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen some thinspo chicks blog that’s all tiny and unreadable. They may not be able to help their anorexia but they can help the way their blog looks.
@roxics – Sigh, I forget most people aren’t sensitive in this world, maybe I should have said respectful? Anyway, maybe refer to those gals as “thinspo chicks”…(for fyi, the majority of them don’t have anorexia or eating disorders in general, it’s called posing). And again, just as importantly as the last time… you would never make a pun about autism or diabetes. Bah, not funny. /end preach.
good advice. I never took a graphic design class, but my ex was majoring in it, and I found that most of the things she learned in class were common sense. It seems that lots of people don’t have such common sense! If I come across a blog or a website in which I have to highlight the text in order to read it, I leave. You could have written the Most Amazing Thing Ever, but if I have to put in extra effort, I don’t want to know. (It also seems that people who do these sorts of things don’t ever write very intelligent things anyway, but maybe I’m biased by the first impression.)
There is a reason why most books are black text on white(ish) paper: that contrast is the easiest for our eyes to read without strain. Some other combinations are legible, but light red on dark red? No way. It amazes me that people don’t just get this stuff with common sense. And the navigation stuff you mentioned is very helpful, too. The funny thing is that with blogs it’s understandable, being as it’s mostly amateur design, but there are actual websites out there, trying to sell things and establish communities, that don’t follow these rules.