So you’ve decided you need a new look for your blog. Perhaps you are transferring to a different platform, you’ve decided to rebrand yourself, etc. Here are a list of questions you’ll want to ask before getting into bed with a designer. If your designer answers no to some of these, it doesn’t mean he or she is […]
How to Create a Blog Logo for Beginners
Some blogs are built on a topic. Some on a name. Some blogs are born out of struggles and hardship. Others are a strategic business investment. But all of them need… A way to stand out. Logo design is an art form and it’s safe to say that even a few Internet tutorials won’t get […]
How to Make a Header Background that Spans the Width of Your Site
Do you ever feel like your blog is too small? It’s called blog claustrophobia, and I have a solution. People often give their blog more columns, or menus, or footers, but sometimes it’s a matter of simple design. If you look at this blog, you’ll notice the header spans the width of the site. It […]
13 Things I Learned about Blog Design From Working with a Perfectionist
In the last several months, I’ve come into contact with a wide range of bloggers– everything from a bustling photo business blog to someone with an idea but no website in sight. All my clients are memorable for one reason or another, but there is one in particular– she knows who she is– and she […]
Using Canva to Create a Header for Your Blog
Your blog header is the first thing someone sees when arriving on your site. It’s a defining image or logo that tells your reader what to expect from you. A header usually includes text, symbol or image/s, and a tag line. Headers can take up the top 1/3 of a blog or website, or they […]
My Favorite Free WordPress Themes
Having worked with a ton of themes, I’ve decided to compile a list of free themes that are stable, easy to work with, and full of awesome customizations…you know, just in case you are shopping around for a new look. Not all WordPress themes are created equal. Even among free and premium, one wrong choice […]
Creating Custom Social Media Buttons to Match Your Blog Theme
You’ve seen them around. They are those cute customized social media buttons that those fancy schmancy designers make. Now, you will make them! You can pay someone (like me) to make them for you, but if you are feeling ambitious, why not try it out yourself? I’ll give you step by step instructions. There is […]
Can Blogger Make a Menu Bar That Categorizes Posts?
One of the biggest problems with Blogspot is the menu bar. In WordPress, you can easily and quickly create drop down menus. In order to make that work in Blogger, you need to modify your code. However, not all is lost. Maybe you can’t have drop down menus without a lot of headache, but you […]
Getting the Most Out of the Advanced Blogger Template
If you are on Blogger, this post is for you! Blogger comes with standard themes that you can choose from, but further customizations are allowed using the Blogger Template Designer. Have you checked it out? Here’s how. 1. Go to your Blogger dashboard. 2. Click on Template. 3. Click on Customize. 4. At the top, click on […]
Creating a Header Image for Your Blog
So you want to make your header awesome, but you don’t have Photoshop or money to hire a designer. No worries – you can make one for free…today! Depending on your platform and theme, headers can be anywhere from 800-1200 pixels wide and 100-400 pixels tall. (A good reference is 1140 x 300px). The pictures below […]
Designing Your Blog with a Static Front Page
I asked a question on Twitter this morning: On your homepage, do you have the latest posts come up or do you have a static front page (sometimes called a landing page)? I got a great response from @BoschNick. He said, I lean toward latest posts, depends if you want them to take an action when […]
The Best Free Websites for Background Images
The background of a blog is incredibly important. A design, photo, or color can make or break the look of your site. You want it to highlight your content, and not detract from it. Of course, everyone likes free right? When choosing a background, remember that a design that looks “nice” on its own may be […]