5 Changes In 5 Minutes To Attain A 5-Star Blog
I am sure yours isn’t a perfect blog. Neither is mine because attaining perfection is impossible. However, reaching close to perfection is also a splendid achievement. So, how is anything that’s perfect or close to perfection different from common, dull things? There isn’t much difference, just one: Attention to minor details.
Even if we can’t attain perfection, it’s necessary to keep improving in order to be noticed. Here are five minor changes that could raise you a step up toward perfection. But before I start with the first one, I expect you to share your views on this article and add some points. Deal? Alright, here we go.
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Adding “Back to Top”:
This is simple isn’t it? And will it make any difference to my blog? Yes, it will. The home page of many blogs is quite long. Readers keep scrolling down to search a good article. Whether they get it or not, it becomes quite annoying to scroll back up. This results in reader closing the window, instead of scrolling up. Hence, you lose a reader every time he/she visits the posts lying below.
So, it’s wise to place a “back to top” link at suitable intervals, to retain the visitors. And it’s not at all difficult. Just add this code:
<a href=”#header”>Back to top</a>
Yes, it’s this simple. Adding this code will create a link that will direct the reader on top of the page whenever they click it.
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Small Attractive Icons:
A well designed blog comprises of many things. However, lets not get into all that and focus one of the components – Icons. Keep adding small but attractive icons besides several links. For instance, you can add a small icon of envelope besides the “Email Updates” link, which makes it pleasant for reader to sign up. Start using the RSS icon with or without the textual “RSS” link. Similary, you can use such attractive icons for many other links that makes the overall view of the blog quite eye-catching.
However, you need to make sure that the icons are not very big. Also, don’t clutter your blog with such icons.
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Trendy input forms:
Input form is an indispensable part of blogging. These forms are used limitlessly everyday all over the globe. These forms include signing up for email updates or newsletters, posting a comment, or any such spaces which involves acquiring reader’s information.
Very often these forms are quite ugly, uninteresting, and usually avoided, making it one of the major reasons why people don’t subscribe or comment on your blog. You can make it a bit interesting by changing colors, making the edges round, using background images, etc. I am not sure whether readers would be attracted to write a comment, bu at least they won’t run away.
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Adding a thumbnail to your posts:
People love thumbnails. It improvers the overall look of the blog. Don’t just list down the posts under “Recent articles” tab with a link; add a thumbnail. It really makes the blog quite interesting and uncommon making it distinct from other blogs. People will love to visit your blog.
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Easy and copious page navigation options:
Under every page, not only homepage, list down numerous options for readers to navigate quite easily across pages. For instance, under “recent articles”, mention pages 1-10, each page containing several other posts, and other options like archives, homepage, categories, etc.
Mentioning the number of pages works well with old blogs. More number of pages shows the blog is in existence since many years or months, thus increases credibility. And it’s fast to click on ‘page six’ from ‘page 1’ instead on clicking on ‘next page’ six times.
These five minor changes are sure to bring major changes in the reader’s attitude and traffic to your blog. Here, two points are helpful to save reader’s time while other three increase the attractiveness of the blog, compelling the readers to hook for few more minutes, which makes a major difference.
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My philosophy is that keep things as simple as possible.So I only add things which is really necessary.Some times too many things can drive away the readers’ attention.That’s not what I want, I just want my readers focus on my content.
Darni´s last blog ..7 Ways to Make Money Online
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Chris Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:04 am
Hey Darni,
Thanks for the inputs. I love interacting with readers because they bring in different perspective and suggestions. Some like their blog to be simple, some like decorating them. The above mentioned tips would improve the overall sight and convenience to readers. However, as you correctly mentioned, too many things can distract the readers. Hence, it’s important not to clutter the blog.
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How about this one, write great original content and stop regurgitrating the “A listers”
Encuestas pagas´s last blog ..Encuestas pagadas
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The 5 changes really effect blog to move close to perfection
Blogging Tips´s last blog ..How to add marquee or scrolling text to blogger
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Chris Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:07 am
Definitely Mr. Baig,
These are minor changes with major returns. Thanks for stopping by.
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Great idea for adjusments and alluring the reader in.
I have been recently testing out how the articles on my blog feature to allow for other one’s to appear, even as little teasers. Not found the right layout yet, or probably not experimenting enough in Thesis. This just helps me to point me more in the direction that I am eager to follow in.
Thanks for such a useful article yet again Chris.
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Chris Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:31 am
Right Ana. It definitely allure readers because of the convenience and layout of the blog. I visited you blog recently and quite glad to inform you that it’s truly awakening. The layout is simple yet attractive. Real good job.
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving comments.
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That was page navigation options
Ana Goncalves´s last blog ..Love is truth guided by you
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Hey Chris, these are some really great tips that you put up here. I think to an extent you use all these tips on your blog right now. It’s no wonder why you have so many fans.
Great job!
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Chris Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:15 am
Thanks for your observation and appreciation, Hulbert. Hopefully, these tips should help my readers to improve their blogs.
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Love the Back to Top idea. Will implement it on my blog soon.
Agent Deepak´s last blog ..The WIIFM Principle of Blogging
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Chris Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:38 am
‘Back to top’ is quite convenient for readers, especially while they are reading long posts.
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Indeed Valuable. Thanks for the share
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Chris Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:35 am
Thanks for stopping by, Rishab. i visited Techylabs and i guess, it pretty much covers all the tips i have mentioned here. Good job.
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Good tips! When it comes to blogging, I like to keep things as simple as possible for my readers.If my readers get confused because my blog looks cluttered no one has any fun.I like a blog that is simple so it is easy to find what you are looking for.
Tom Lindstrom´s last blog ..Do You Have The Right Internet Marketing Mindset?
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attractive icons and thumbnails are very good point to make our blog look better.
Easy navigation of your blog also helps attain visitors ease
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