This week, Liz from Belle, Bean & Chicago Dog and Jessica from Four Plus an Angel are hosting the Summer Blog Social. If you aren’t familiar with it, I encourage you to participate… find new friends and write out some new goals.
Today I decided to write the 5 things I like and 5 things I dislike seeing on blogs when I’m checking them out for the first time. I’d say that I’m taking a little liberty with the prompt… but still covering what really it’s about.
Also I’m looking to you for advice after you read this… what things do you like (and, um… dislike) when you are looking around *my* blog here?
- Pictures. I *love* seeing pictures in blog posts {and yes, I’m totally guilty of not putting more of them in my blog posts!} I think that it helps add a little something to the post itself – or even enhance it if the picture directly applies.
- Social Media Icons in an easy to find place. I love to communicate on twitter… so the faster I can find them (and clearer they are) the better! {Just remember that not everyone knows what each symbol means… including the little twitter bird!)
- Search Box. I especially like this if I remember that you wrote something, but not necessarily when you wrote it. Make sure that it’s up toward the top of the page.
- Favorite or Best posts area. {Another thing I have yet to do.} I *love* seeing this category in the Nav Bar (the bar typically across the top of the page)… it shows what you are proud of and maybe what has resonated most with your readers.
- A well designed header can (and sometimes will) make the difference between someone staying or going. If you want to look serious, make your blog header match who you are. (And you don’t have to spend a lot to do… there are great designers at all price ranges!)
5 Things I’m not so fond of when finding a new blog…
- Excerpts only on the home page. Going to the home page of the blog and only seeing excerpts is my biggest pet peeve. I’ve already arrived at your blog, let me read your latest post without having to click around. I get distracted easily. You will lose me. (And don’t get me started about excerpts in the RSS feed for my google reader. Unfollow, every.single.time.)
- Cluttered columns. Especially too many blog buttons. If you aren’t participating in something actively… or going to that conference… remove the button. The cleaner your columns are – and even a little “white” (blank) space, the easier it is for me to read.
- The “Category Cloud”. I think it’s a waste of space – not to mention a mess – to show what you blog about most being bigger and lesser blogged items smaller. What I (and others) want to see might only have been categorized once making it much harder to locate.
- Disclosure Policy located in the Nav Bar. This is one of my biggest annoyances. Yes, if blogging is your job, you should have a disclosure policy. But it doesn’t need to be front and center. Put a link to it at the bottom of your contact page or in your footer.
- Not having an “About Me” introduction (snippet or box) on your home page. It’s your space… and I’m there to learn about YOU – give me a reason to get to know you! {And yes, again… totally guilty. Working on it.}
So that’s what I like and dislike… what about you? Anything here you really like or dislike?
The prompt from Summer Blog Social…
- When you visit a blog, what areas – besides the main post – do you check out? Do you visit the Nav Bar pages? Look at the sidebars? Check for a list of categories or tags? Talk about the elements of a website that are most important to you.
This was really helpfu to read! I used to do that “read more…” stuff but that has been a long time ago. I agree. I don’t like it either. I love easy-to-read posts, like this one!
Thanks! I know that some people choose that format because that’s the blog template they like – or to increase their pageviews, but overall it really just bugs me.
I took down my intro box when I added an about me page. I guess I should bring it back.
Don’t necessarily bring it back based on what I have to say!
In the comment after yours, Liz made a good point that it can be redundant as well.
I know a lot of people like the partial bio on the sidebar, but I don’t. Nine times out of 10, it’s holds, like, 70 characters and then breaks mid word. And if you click it it takes you elsewhere. Also, I find that most people have the same exact thing in their bio box as their About page, so then, it’s duplicated.
So, for me, I think it needs to be not-truncated and not identical to your About page to be worthwhile.
I do not like the partial post either. I have already arrived AND I think it can be harder to get people to click through. You really have to grab them in the first few lines or else they will click away.. .
After reading your comments, I think I would agree. It would have to be different (which you are right, in most cases it isn’t) than the “About Me” page that they have on their site.
I’m up in the air over the about section being on the main page. I think I’m okay with it there or on a page, as long as I can learn more somewhere.
I do not like partial posts as the first post though. I know some do it as a way to increase their page visits so knowing that just makes me not like it even more.
Great list! So glad you linked up.
Thanks – I’m starting to see why people don’t have the partial or abbreviated about section on the home page because it could be redundant. And I’m glad I’m not the only one that doesn’t like partial posts/feeds.
Good lists, definitely got me thinking. Thanks! ;0)
Glad that I could help… and maybe create a little inspiration too.
The music! The dreaded music.
I agree completely with your whole list. And my blog lines up with all of it, except for the disclosure in the menu bar. But you make a great point – I’ll be changing that in the morning.
Oh yes, the music!! I don’t visit many (if any) blogs anymore that have music on them, but if they do… I close them up right away. Definitely a great addition to the “not so fond of” list.
Very helpful to read, thanks so much. I’ve been waffling about whether or not to truncate on the first page, guess I won’t!
Glad that you found it helpful. And so glad that you won’t be doing post excerpts!
Oooh really good tips! I feel the need to run and check my blog now!
The most recent post should definitely be full and ready to read without clicking through. After that, though, I don’t mind if they have excerpts. It could make it look less cluttered. That said, I very rarely click on ‘read more’ links, though.
Added the search button thanks to your recommendation! I still have my labels cloud, but it’s been majorly sized down to only include the more blogged about topics. Hopefully with the search feature someone could find the others.
I’m glad that you found my post helpful!
Yes, the search button has helped me (and others) on more than one occasion when looking for a long-lost post. Haha!
I agree with almost everything. With my BIGGEST blogging don’t being the excerpt. OH HOW I HATE THAT. Sorry, pet peeve, much? If I have them in my RSS and it’s an excerpt…goodbye. I disconnected a blog I really liked for that very reason. Oh well.
The ONE thing I disagree with is the disclosure policy in the heading. I have read so many places (including Darren Rowe….ohhhh, big guns) that we should have it there.
Great post. Wish I would have found this sooner, as I would have joined in!
I don’t doubt that the “big guys” definitely say to have your disclosure policy front and center… but for someone who is trying to read about you and learn what you are about, it’s still in my pet peeve list.
Glad that you found it helpful though!
Not a big blog here, really a teeny tiny one, but I’ve been around the blogging world for 6 years now and you hit every peeve ( and “like”) of mine with the exception of the big flashing ads. I really don’t like those. I get why people have them, but it’s really distracting and it’s generally for a product I don’t use from a company I don’t buy from. And sponsorships are great for advertising, but too much going on in the side bars is really a turn off for me. And the automatic music. Hence why you have to click on my music player to get it started.
Yes, the flashy – in your face – ads is on my list too… I just didn’t know how to word it properly. And I totally forgot about the music… I have stopped visiting anyone that has music on their site.
Thanks for these great ideas!! Instead of a label cloud what do you suggest? I had it in a list but it got too long and looked really cluttered.
Someone said it up there as well, but I cannot stand music on a home page.
I really really like your social media buttons at the top, they’re sooo cute and easy to navigate. Ive been searching for cute buttons that all match but I’m about to give up and pay someone to design something for me!
I don’t even have a category thing on my blog. I’m not sure how much traffic it would bring around to certain posts. Check with your readers/friends/twitter peeps and ask them if they find it useful on your page. Then you can decide what to do with it.
As far as social media buttons – all I did was google “free social media icons” and I found THOUSANDS of them that were available. But you really do have to like what you choose (as well as have it match your brand.) Let me know if I can be of any help with it!
I just started making my posts smaller – my most recent one is full but I wanted to save space and have more posts on the main page so I make the rest of them smaller…maybe I need to reverse that..crap
I wouldn’t say reverse them all – definitely have one or two posts as full on home page, but the rest can be click through!
(at least that’s what I do!) Sorry if I confused you on that… 
These are all good. I have to say that I agree almost entirely with what you said. I do agree with Liz, though, that having an About Me box AND an About Me page is a little redundant. But it can be done well if your box has just a tiny bit of information. I don’t have one anymore, but I do sort of like when other people do.
I have to admit that there’s one thing I don’t love on your blog. It’s totally a personal preference, but I don’t love the calendar format for the archives. I’d rather be able to click on a post title than on post dates.
Such a great blog hop! I wish I’d been around last week to participate.