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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.