The advent of Web 2.0 and the vast increase in recent years of user generated content has opened up the web to a whole range of quirky and eclectic blogs, as well as revolutionising the world of news and opinion. Making your blog a success is not just about the content, however. Branding your blog with unique blog templates is a surefire way to keep people coming back and help you establish a formidable online identity.
The Web 2.0 is revolutionizing the way we create and access content, making possible the kind of democratization that the web's founders could only imagine. To get your voice heard in the blogosphere, as well as creating killer content, it's important that you brand your blog to make it accessible while at the same time helping it to stand up and get noticed in an increasingly crowded room.
Firstly, you need to decide on the type of blog you want to create. For example, if you're going for a current affairs or news blog and are attempting to create something which you hope will speak with some authority, you might want to opt for something clean and simple. Although web-based content is providing a serious challenge to print, a lot of news blogs use very simple, traditional newspaper-style templates to convey a certain gravitas and air of respectability.
Even though blogs and the internet are putting many papers out of business, the old institutions learnt a thing or two about legibility and style in their years at the top. Think about the magazines and papers you like to read and the authority they convey in their style and don't feel bad about borrowing a few ideas for yourself; these are the lessons of centuries of human history, so while it may seem a little old fashioned to imitate, it can often be smart to learn from the masters.
On the other hand, if you're putting together a particularly personal blog, you'll want to really make it your own. Think about a snappy tagline, header and footer which will 'brand' your page, and don't be afraid to experiment with a few different templates when you start out; react to feedback and remember that your readers are your masters!
One tip that applies across the board is to avoid any crowded background images. Don't layer text on a family photograph for instance, or layer red text on a picture of a sunset! Think about what would actually be enjoyable to look it. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so don't be afraid to copy and adapt styles from some of your favourite blogs. Often, other people's ideas work for a very basic reason: they are simply attractive and effective.
There are many sites on the internet that offer existing templates for your blogs; often these are fully customisable and save you the hassle of getting bogged down with the finer points of HTML coding. Make use of the web's resources and, if you have the time, help fellow bloggers by giving them feedback on their blogging styles.
Experiment and play around with a host of styles and see what works for your content, but always keep in mind a few basic rules; your blog should be readable, eye-catching and, with time, uniquely yours. Try and balance all three objectives and, provided you've got something to say, your blog could be the next web sensation!
The Web 2.0 is revolutionizing the way we create and access content, making possible the kind of democratization that the web's founders could only imagine. To get your voice heard in the blogosphere, as well as creating killer content, it's important that you brand your blog to make it accessible while at the same time helping it to stand up and get noticed in an increasingly crowded room.
Firstly, you need to decide on the type of blog you want to create. For example, if you're going for a current affairs or news blog and are attempting to create something which you hope will speak with some authority, you might want to opt for something clean and simple. Although web-based content is providing a serious challenge to print, a lot of news blogs use very simple, traditional newspaper-style templates to convey a certain gravitas and air of respectability.
Even though blogs and the internet are putting many papers out of business, the old institutions learnt a thing or two about legibility and style in their years at the top. Think about the magazines and papers you like to read and the authority they convey in their style and don't feel bad about borrowing a few ideas for yourself; these are the lessons of centuries of human history, so while it may seem a little old fashioned to imitate, it can often be smart to learn from the masters.
On the other hand, if you're putting together a particularly personal blog, you'll want to really make it your own. Think about a snappy tagline, header and footer which will 'brand' your page, and don't be afraid to experiment with a few different templates when you start out; react to feedback and remember that your readers are your masters!
One tip that applies across the board is to avoid any crowded background images. Don't layer text on a family photograph for instance, or layer red text on a picture of a sunset! Think about what would actually be enjoyable to look it. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so don't be afraid to copy and adapt styles from some of your favourite blogs. Often, other people's ideas work for a very basic reason: they are simply attractive and effective.
There are many sites on the internet that offer existing templates for your blogs; often these are fully customisable and save you the hassle of getting bogged down with the finer points of HTML coding. Make use of the web's resources and, if you have the time, help fellow bloggers by giving them feedback on their blogging styles.
Experiment and play around with a host of styles and see what works for your content, but always keep in mind a few basic rules; your blog should be readable, eye-catching and, with time, uniquely yours. Try and balance all three objectives and, provided you've got something to say, your blog could be the next web sensation!
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