Is your blog sexy? Part 1
Mon, Jun 2, 2008
This first article is a teaser. An introduction to a series of in depth articles teaching you how to use great design to build a better more profitable business. Don’t have the money for one? You’re blog isn’t profitable enough to make it worth doing? Yeh, I’ve heard them all before, but luckily for you, this is what I do for a living every day. I’ll show you how to get a great design without needing mega bucks. I’ll teach you how valuable a great blog design can be for your online ventures. You’ll never look at your blog the same, and when we’re all finished, neither will your visitors!
Great design is just doing good business.
Your blog should inspire and excite. Stir emotion and create a bond. Build trust and improve your relationships. Your blog is your twenty-four hour salseman who never sleeps, takes breaks, smokes, drinks or quits on you. It does what you say when you say it. It never ever complains about being over worked or in need of a raise. Your blog is in many cases your store front, your front-line for attracting new business. Your blog’s design is the most powerful tool you’ve got to leave a lasting, memorable impression, in the minds of your visitors.
So let me ask you… if you had to hire a staff of people who could accomplish the tasks, how much do you think it would cost you?
Great design will make you money!
Leaving your blog’s fate in the hands of a poor design is hopefully starting to sound like a really bad idea. As a designer, I’ve heard every excuse in the book for why a company doesn’t have the money budgeted for a great design and none of them cut it.
I know that most of you may be thinking that great design is to costly, or you’ve not budgeted for it, or your blog is simply not making enough money to cover the expense… but isn’t risk what a real venture all about? I know first hand how much a great design can cost, and sometimes, it’s intimidating.
I find myself more often than not, clinching my teeth as I layout the design syllabus for my client’s final approval… and I’m the fricken’ designer! Trust me, I know your pain!
From “Bill’s Bait Shop” to “major” international brands, I have NEVER EVER met with a client who didn’t complain about the price of getting great design! But even more frightening than daily complaints or cost reducing plea bargains… is the fact that not one customer ever considers the consequences of a poor design.
Let’s do a little math. We’re going to say that a great design should improve your bottom line by about 30% annulally. While this is a really high number for store front businesses, it’s actually pretty middle ground for online businesses. Using the above 30% margin, let’s assume the following.
Your blog is currently earning you $400.00 a month. If great design were to earn you the full additional 30% you could expect to see and increase of income around $120.00 a month. That’s $1,440.00 in one year from simply changing the way that your blog looks and feels. Nothing more! Not so bad, but it’s no record right?
Now what if you include a 30% increase in subscribers, daily readers, unique visitors, advertising inquiries, comments, trackbacks, and links? What if you and your visitors became more inspired to write good content because your great design lets them know your blog is worth the effort? See where I’m going with this? Great design can improve your blogs performance almost overnight in ways that you could never imagine!
Preparing for the series…
Now I hope that I’ve got you all worked up on the potential that great design has on your business model. I’ll be releasing each article in the series at random so you might want to subscribe to my feed and make sure you get this awesome set of “Authority Articles”. So what do you think… Are you ready for an in depth look at how designers have helped create the blogging empires of today? Are you ready to take notice and make the changes you’re blog needs to become memorable?
********** UPDATE **********
Adii has opened an awesome opportunity for us normal folks! Spawned by a comment I wrote to him last week, he’s graciously opened the doors of his Premium Theme Factory to questions and answers of the not so personal type. It’s exciting! Sort of like your favorite musician teaching you how to play an instrument. Not into selling themes? That’s okay too! Learn about the online business… not the online product!… enjoy it and let me know what you think! Check out Adii’s Q&A session!
Tags: Business, design, Premium Themes
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I’ll be the first to admit that my blog is far from sexy and openly admitted that in a recent post. For someone that has been blogging for less than a week I can honestly say that you have opened my eyes to certain aspects of the ‘game’ that I have been seriously overlooking – good design and branding to name but a few.
Really well written post PB and I cannot wait to learn more.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Nothing but awesomeness on it’s way AP. And I’ve got some pretty neat stuff just for you coming your way too.
Thanks again for the words of encouragement… it’s comments like these that motivate crazy people like myself to keep plugin’ away at this whole blogging thing!
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
…..and vice versa PB!
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Hello PB!
I will get my about page up when you put your ‘Piss List’ up…I’m intrigued.
My blog is way sexy.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Hi ya UBTC! LOL… you might just end up on it
and yes… my blog is sexy too… but you’re way too funny. I hope you stick around a while, I think you’d be fun. Thanks for stopping in!
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:16 am
Thank you for the lesson. I’m in the opinion that the image you use is sexier than your blog. Oops, did I say the wrong thing? Heck, I think you would agree too, wouldn’t you?
I know I shouldn’t do what my mama often told me to ‘Not to judge the book by its cover’. If I were to admit, I have a tendency to do just that. I’ll stick around when the blog design is properly taken care of.
And I’ll stick with you cos you use lots of pink on your blog. (Just joking?) May I then ask why?
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:34 am
Just dropped by to say that I like your customization of the theme
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:46 am
@ Magnus: You guys are awesome! I’ve gotten more e-mails about how cool it is… I couldn’t be happier! Don’t be a stranger and feel free to use me anytime as an accolade to what you guys do… I think that PB would be a great testimonial for you guys… Maybe one day I’ll earn a spot on your premium themes blog!
Oh and as a side note, I’ve gotten some nice traffic from the “showcase” portion of Premium News. I think it’s the interesting name… I’m not as boring as some of those other guys! LOL. Thanks Magnus!
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 am
As a reader, to me, layout is everything. If a site doesn’t look right I don’t even read, I’ll click right out of it. Something about a bad layout makes me not want to read. I just can’t respect them, I don’t know why, or what it is that makes me do this. If I had to take a stab I’d say it’s because they don’t even respect their work enough to package it correctly. There’s a sports site, firejoemorgan.com that is probably by and far the best sports blog on the internet, but they also -by and far- have the worst layout on the internet. I’d heard about the site 100’s of times, how excellent it was, so I’d go look and I just couldn’t read it. It took them being listed in Sports Illustrated as the best sports blog of the year, and to have the writers hired to write a piece for the magazine (who also happen to be the writers for the hit sitcom the office) for me to actually get in there and check it out.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:03 am
My business depends heavily on how my site looks and feels, I was seriously considering a webdesigner to handle my site because I had absolutely no knowledge about building sites, until I discovered wordpress…
That was about a year ago and today I’m happy to have a website that I can call “pro” looking considering what my competitors have.
I do think that only paid premium themes are really worth the extra investment but some free themes come quite close.
Sometimes I still think about getting a professional designer redesigning my site because I”m not satisfied about the layout as there is too much information packed on the front page. It looks nice but can be a bit overwhelming for my clients or other visitors, structure is equally important as looks meaning if they can’t find what they are looking for I loose business.
I’m also very sure that you can be a very good video- or photographer f.i. but if your site looks like it has been build by a 10 year old, that’s the first impression potential clients get, even if webdesign is something you are not selling. the only exception to this rule is when you are considered an authority in your area, if everybody knows you deliver quality then the site design does not make a lot of difference because people know what you stand for.
I have seen a site some time a ago about a commercial producing company, their site looked ridiculous simple and only contained video demo’s and a contact page but that actually was all it took to display their expertise.
Unfortunately I don’t belong to this class but trying hard to get there
Most my clients find me through the internet and for me appearance and first impression is everything. Actually it’s the only reason for a client to keep looking around to see what I have to offer as well. Eventually when they contact me I know that are curious about finding out more and the site design contributes in that for sure.
By the way, I must try using pics like you did in this post, at first it was the only reason for me too look what was inside, I even didn’t read the title
June 4th, 2008 at 4:08 am
@ Robin: Thanks for the great comment! When you’re ready to talk about it let me know. Remember that you can have someone TWEAK a premium theme to make it more your taste, without having to hire a pro to redo the whole thing from scratch… it saves you a lot of money that way.
As a designer, I know the feeling… I get judged by my cover all the time, and yes, the little thumbnails do ad a bit of flair don’t they!
June 4th, 2008 at 8:11 am
PB, I think you hav done a really great job with the customization of the theme. Your name is pretty interesting too. I agree that a good looking blog can make a huge difference! I’m seriously desparate to redesign my blog but I don’t have the time. Would you reccommend that I take the same route as you did, in buying a ready made theme and then modding it?
June 4th, 2008 at 10:35 am
@ John: I think the premium themes are great if you’re looking for a more affordable, slightly quicker way to improve the overall feel of a blog. However, while I think it’s a great solution I HIGHLY recommend getting it tweaked to make it your own.
Even though I’m a website designer, my schedule doesn’t allow me the free time, I’d need to develop my own theme. So going premium was well worth the time I saved. Now, I can spend more time writing all this awesome content
, as well as adding the little custom touches that everyone seems to love.
Have you entered yourself in for my Free Premium Theme Giveaway yet… you might just be able to get one for nothin’.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:16 am
PB, does that not bother you being a designer but using someone else’s theme? I understand the timegain you get out of it but is it not a part of being a designer to showcase your skills?
I guess it also depends if you ever intent to make, and sell your own themes because if that’s not the case then I can understand your choice.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Robin: VERY VERY VERY Good question! Let’s see how I can answer this. I’m quite content with my corporate job “for now”. I’d like to get the guts to go back out on my own again, but I’d have to be pretty certain about my finances.
I’ve built about 36 themes for clients this year… and countless “websites” so I have the ability. But I’m also in business… I have to keep my job right now and if buying a theme and tweaking it, means that I can keep the job and still give you guys something fun to look at… I’m happy.
So, yes, it actually does bother me… but only because in earlier years, I would have NEVER bought a theme. I think what makes me okay with it, are the little subtle changes I’m making to it. I’ve got lots I’d like to do, I just don’t have as much free time as I’d like right now. Did that answer your question? Oh, and plane ticket… price… ???
June 5th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Ok, that’s what I thought was the case, thanks for answering.
And, wouldn’t mind traveling by boat really, maybe if I could use the lifeboat I’d get a free ticket to the states, then again, no, I get seasick.. I think you will have to settle for second best, so whoever videotapes your wedding, you’d better show us all the demo.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Hej PB, when I visit your blog there is one thing which I really miss and that is a section with recent or last posted comments. Then it would be a lot easier to follow up on posts that have new comments.
thought I just let you know.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:12 am
I second that… Good point Robin.
June 6th, 2008 at 10:29 am
@ Robin” Seasick huh? That sucks, I guess you won’t be going on any cruises then. Second best is right, I’m telling you, you’ve got one hell of a skill my friend… and I sent Cassey to take a look… That said, who knows, you might actually be coming to the states… one weekend in New Orleans, you’d never go home
I actually agree 110% with the recent comments… I’ll look into that today for you guys. It’ll help me quite a bit too!
June 6th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I see you took Robins advice. Looks good and will save me trying to remember how many comments you had last time I checked, or reading every article time and again.
Any chance you could send me that TAP banner you did? and is your competition banner ready for me yet?
June 6th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
@ AP: Yep, I sure did! Hopefully it will make it easier on everyone. You could copy the banner right from the ad slot, or do you need something besides that?
As for the Golden ticket banner, I’m trying to figure out what to do with the competition. So, once I’ve got it all figured out, it’s all yours.
@ Robin: See, I listen!
June 6th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
“Robin: See, I listen!”
OK, next thing I want you to do is to give every FEEDBURNER subscriber a free premium theme.
Much better, now it’s a lot easier to keep track of what is going on. Thanks for the effort.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I might just be inclined to do that… you want me to go broke don’t ya! LOL
See if EVERYONE on my FEEDBURNER list WROTE a REALLY GOOD post on THEIR blog ABOUT PB.com… I JUST MIGHT have to dig in my pocket for some developers licenses.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
“See if EVERYONE on my FEEDBURNER list WROTE a REALLY GOOD post”
I wrote several posts, really I did. But too bad they’re in Dutch so you don’t know which ones. So 1 developer license is OK for me, we belgians are not greedy you know.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Okay then… let’s see if these “said” posts show up in my linkback log ;-P
June 6th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Let’s test your attention to detail and see if you can notice a slight change on my blog! If you spot it you may be reminded to do something on yours too!
June 6th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Sorry was in a meeting. But nice Favicon
Yep, got one in the works