Sunday, January 15, 2012

What's With the Blog Face Lift?

Over the last month, you might have noticed a few changes I've made to the blog.  The biggest change is the new title, blaring my name at you at the top.  I must admit, I'm not exactly comfortable with some of the changes (aka my name blaring at you at the top of the blog) so why would I make them?

Photo courtesy of Ohmega1982
Back before Christmas, I began reading Are You There Blog? It's Me, Writer by Kristen Lamb.  The book is a collection of her blog posts related to writing and blogging.  I hadn't really read anything by Ms. Lamb prior to December, but some of the people she is associated with started following me on Twitter, and then I found her book on sale on my Nook, and so I snapped it up.  I can always use help with blogging, after all.

Next, I read the blog post Your New Writing Blog: Avoid These Faux-Pas by Roz Morris, author of Nail Your Novel, about blogging basics.  She suggested many of the same things that I had read in Are You There Blog? It's Me, Blogger.  Hearing the same advice from two different sources moved me to action.  I have made links to both sources, so you can go read their great advice, rather than detailing all of the advice here and making an insanely long post.  I will share the changes I made, so you can get a sampling.
  • I deleted the left sidebar.  I also deleted some of the extra "stuff" I had needed when I started to fill space.  This did clean up the blog significantly, and moved the posts to the most visible place.
  • I moved the "About Me" back to the main page.  It is now up at the top where it is visible, complete with an updated picture of yours truly.  That's one of those uncomfortable changes, by the way, but both Kristen Lamb and Roz Morris were adament that people want to see who they're reading and don't want to go hunting for it.
  • I added a search box. Now that I have a blog history, I need help relocating specific blogs.  Up it went. I also added a subscribe by e-mail.  It's a relatively new feature on blogger, and can allow people who aren't google affiliated, or don't want to join the follower block, a way to follow your blog.
  • I started tagging my name in all my blog posts. It increases people's ability to search your name and actually find you.
  • And finally, this weekend, I put my name up at the top of my blog.  I kept Motivation for Creation as the URL, because I know how hard it is to spell 'Schiffbauer'. (It's my husband's fault.  That's the reason my twitter handle is @LASbauer, too.) I wish I could change font size, so my name could be a little less...well, large, but I can't figure out how to do that, and leave the Motivation for Creation big, so it is blaring at you, and I'm sorry.  However, you certainly know whose blog it is!
It was a tough sell to put my name up there.  I was dragged, kicking and screaming, to do it.  What finally convinced me to do it were my own experiences this Friday.  I went on a four hour blog reading bender, trying to get caught up with the reading and commenting that got neglected during the week.  When I was catching up on the Nightgale blog challenge I would look for the names of people who had commented on my blog, and not be able to find them.  I had no idea whose blog I was reading.  It was very frustrating.  I decided to save anyone who might want to find me (hopefully!) the same frustration.

Are you happy with your blog design, or are you ready for a blog face lift?  Do you have any other blogging tips you'd like to share?

25 comments:

  1. Wow. Those make a lot of sense. I am very interested in the 'tagging your name in all your blogposts'. That's a good idea!

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  2. @Kelley - Yeah! I never thought about it, but that is one of the gems in Are You There Blog? It's Me, Writer (and I got the name fixed above. oops.)

    @Joanna - Thanks! I like it better now, too.

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  3. Clean and easy to read. That's always a plus. I'll have to check out the sources you mentioned. I'm always looking to improve the blog.

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  4. I haven't read either of their books, but I completely agree with the advice. I'm always telling people to make their blog titles their names (and Twitter handles too) or to at least make the name obvious. I think the blog looks great!

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  5. It's looking good, Lara - and while you may think it's a bit much I think you've judged it just right. Thanks for giving me some of the credit!
    I'll have a few more blogging tips soon if you're game for them.

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  6. Thanks Eric! I hoped it was easier to read than before. It looked a little bare, after taking off the left sidebar, but I like it better.

    @Nina - You are right on so many things social media! I'm so lucky you helped me with twitter, and then let me hang around! :)

    Thanks, Roz (dirtywhitecandy) for stopping by! It does mean alot that you think the header is just right. I was having severe anxiety over the header! I'll be watching for more tips!

    You're welcome, Cindy! I sincerely recommend Kristen Lamb's book and to be on the watch for Roz's series, for more.

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  7. Great tips for a blogging facelift. When I used to manage a friend's blog, I was dying at all things you should do. It was too much self-publication for me and I felt stupid. But... guess what? It's stupid not to do it! You really SHOULD be doing this stuff, and I didn't even think about tagging myself in my posts. Glad you mentioned that. I need to start doing it!

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  8. I like the blog design! I'm still playing around with mine. I just can't seem to get it right. Good job on yours!

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  9. I like it - nice and clean and easy to read.

    I like the look of mine, but I know it could use a bit of lightening up :-)

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  10. @Leigh - It is hard to self-promote. I think it has to do with the "nice people don't talk about themselves." Unfortunately, it's something writers have to get used to. I am trying to learn how to do it with class, though. Some of the over-promoters really make me cringe.

    @Emily - Thanks! I like your blog design - it is kind of Victorian but professional - if you don't mind me giving my two cents ;)

    @Eva - Thanks so much for the compliment. I have tried to comment on your blog the last two of your posts and for some reason blogger keeps wiping it out. It's doing that with some others, too, but if you come back to read this, I wanted you to know I'm trying!

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  11. Yeah, I'm wondering about my name too. I haven't even put my full name anywhere on my blog, but I figure it's something I probably should do. It just makes me a teensy bit uncomfortable! But I know it's probably the best way people have of finding me on the web.

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  12. I like your blog, and can totally relate to looking for the names of comments I've gotten so I know who I'm returning the favor for (thanks by the way).

    I like your current design and may have to look into your blog design resources you mentioned. I admit I find self-promotion and over-promotion both cringe worthy, but fortunately from my side of the screen your blog is neither.

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  13. I'm glad I posted this post, because all the feedback makes me feel better about having my name screaming across the top. And you're welcome - thanks back!

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  14. Hi there!

    I just wanted to let you know that I left you awards over at my blog!!

    Pop on over and get em' :)

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    1. Thanks so much Kelley! I'm so excited - it's like Christmas!

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  15. I totally need a blog facelift! I've been bloggin for a few months and have found it to be going in a different direction than ancticipated, time for a change.
    I've left you two awards on my blog :)
    And man that white page comment thing is driving me nuts :( Glad I could comment on yours still :)

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    1. Thanks, Hope! I can't believe all the blog-love that's going on over here! and guess what - I just got the white page on my own blog! Blogger better get it figured out.

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  16. Just wanted to say "Welcome" to follower number 50 - Ilima! I also would like to say a big thank you to fellow Life List Club members Gary Gauthier and Sonia Medeiros, as well as Tricia from Word and Stuff, Emilia, and... I just went up and looked and can't remember where I stopped off the last time I welcomed everyone. I guess I will say thanks to all of you, and even if I didn't give you a personal welcome before, I do sincerely appreciate you joining up and putting your picture on my blog!

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  17. I maintain a Google Alert for schiffbauer and today it brought me here. I couldn't help but hang around after I read what you said about schiffbauer being difficult to spell. It's my husband's fault, too! One of my former students told me (after he graduated from high school) that the way he remembered how to spell schiffbauer was that it fit the old Mickey Mouse Club song. Try spelling schiffbauer rather than Mickey Mouse... sch...iff...bauer :)

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  18. Aloha Lara,

    What an interesting post - thanks for sharing...I've recently *added* a left sidebar, but I'm not convinced yet... we'll see :)

    I also don't have my name on my blog, but I do start *every* blog with "Aloha" and try to use the same with every comment... I'm hoping this association will help with my "name recognition :)

    PS...You know you're welcome to post an entry to my Inspirational Contest annnnytime, thanks for stopping by :)

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    1. Thanks, Mark! I'm glad you found some positives to it. It has been hard for me to find what I like for the blog, as well as what I think other's might find easiest to read and find. It is good to have a tag-line, I think. And I'm racking my brain to try to come up with an entry!

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  19. I've been making some changes to my blog as well, but still forget to tag myself in every post. Sometimes I wonder how much I need to, though, as I have not yet seen my name associate with anyone but me :) Interesting ideas - new follower!

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  20. I know how you feel, Tasha! I do things like tag myself, etc... in hopes that ne day they will bear fruit, but right now sometimes feel like I'm a poser-writer :) Thanks so much for following!

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