You could have observed issues look a little bit totally different round right here. Right here’s how we redesigned our weblog (and how one can redesign yours too).
Why Did We Redesign Our Weblog?
A blog is your home on the Internet. Like all properties, they finally must be tidied up. That was definitely the case for this very weblog you’re studying proper now. Whereas we have been busy engaged on our product and different priorities, we realized it was time to provide our weblog a refresh.
We’re running a blog and design nerds, so a weblog redesign is one thing we’d do for enjoyable. Relaxation assured there have been rather more necessary causes to revamp our weblog although. Running a blog is what we do, so our weblog must be distinctive, proper? With this thought in thoughts, our advertising and marketing, design, and engineering groups collaborated to create the perfect weblog expertise attainable.
Now, you may suppose you’ll be able to be taught every thing there may be to learn about this redesign simply by it. Nevertheless, there are some delicate particulars and enhancements that could be straightforward to overlook. Let’s take a look at some redesign particulars we’re notably happy with and share some easy ideas you should utilize to enhance your individual weblog (with recommendation straight from our personal design crew).
What’s Improved on the WordPress.com Weblog
We all know what you’re pondering: “Okay, however what does all this imply for me?” If we have been you, we’d be asking the identical query. Listed here are some enhancements made to our weblog that make your expertise higher.
A Extra Partaking Look
The WordPress.com Weblog was visually outdated and not matched the branding of the remainder of our website. We modernized our design and put up layouts to convey them as much as our 2025 design requirements.
Right here’s a snapshot of our previous single-column homepage design:
It was clear and easy however bland. The article description font for textual content under headlines was troublesome to learn, and the small picture thumbnails didn’t do justice to our sharp header designs that had already been utilizing a few of our refreshed design requirements. There was room for enchancment right here.
In case you haven’t seen it, right here’s what our new and improved weblog homepage appears to be like like:
The clear header part locations our most up-to-date posts entrance and middle, whereas the multi-column structure makes it simpler to seek out extra content material you may be thinking about. You’ll additionally discover a constant strategy to visible styling, guaranteeing design parts and pictures look their greatest.
| Suggestions for planning your individual weblog redesign:
– Set up constant colours you utilize throughout your weblog. This helps create a extra cohesive look that’s extra instantly recognizable as “you.” |
A Extra Helpful Navigation Construction
Our earlier weblog homepage design featured a single column with a easy search bar. The brand new design implements a streamlined menu for higher group and simpler navigation:
This may occasionally appear to be a easy design, however that simplicity is intentional. Every class has been strategically thought-about to successfully group content material collectively into the fewest buckets attainable.
On the backside of the weblog residence web page, we additionally embody a bit for in style content material. This ensures that posts receiving excessive engagement get further visibility:
| Tip for establishing your weblog classes:
– Choose weblog classes thoughtfully. A smaller variety of fastidiously thought-about classes targeted on core topical areas could also be higher than having a number of classes as a result of it presents fewer, extra intentional choices in your readers. For extra detailed steerage on selecting classes, read this guide. |
An Simpler Studying Expertise
Redesigning the WordPress.com Weblog wasn’t nearly appearances although. We made a number of enhancements that make content material (like this put up) extra comfy to learn:
- Making our font choice in line with the remainder of our web site
- Guaranteeing these fonts are web-friendly
- Selecting colours that aren’t solely constant however assist straightforward readability
Extra Clear Calls to Motion
We work onerous to create content material that makes you say, “This weblog put up was so good, I would like extra of it in my inbox.” Now, each put up has a transparent subscription banner throughout the underside. We’ve additionally made it simpler for readers to seek out the place they will begin a brand new web site or weblog of their very own (for readers who’re simply getting began).
| Suggestions for including CTAs to your weblog:
– Make it straightforward for readers to seek out extra of your content material. |
Six Tricks to Enhance Your Subsequent Redesign Mission
In the event you’re serious about redesigning your individual weblog or web site (or for a consumer), we now have some further recommendation to share.
1. Set Clear Expectations with Shoppers
Our weblog redesign venture required a excessive degree of collaboration between groups and stakeholders. If you’re redesigning a weblog for a consumer, make sure that either side perceive the objectives of the venture. Listed here are some gadgets it’s best to you’ll want to doc:
- Your purchasers’ objectives and priorities
- All high-level duties to implement the redesign
- Anticipated preliminary launch date
- Timeline for enhancements and iterations after launch
Then, all through the venture, recurrently evaluation and replace this doc to make sure alignment and monitor progress successfully. It will assist maintain the venture on monitor and keep away from disappointment.
2. Create a Guidelines of Design Duties
Earlier than you begin working, create a extra detailed guidelines of all of the steps it is advisable observe. Escape this listing into two sections:
- Steps that must be accomplished earlier than launch
- Steps that may be accomplished after launch
It will allow you to prioritize the work that must be performed at a granular degree.
3. Optimize for the Proper Issues
Even the best-looking design is wasted if a website doesn’t perform properly. Prioritize efficiency: optimize belongings, use lazy loading, reduce JavaScript and CSS, and implement caching the place attainable. It will assist be certain that your consumer’s website works in addition to it appears to be like.
To get some WordPress and site-specific efficiency suggestions, you’ll want to use our free Speed Test tool.
4. Take a look at, Take a look at, Take a look at
Throughout improvement, begin and preserve a report of pre-launch and post-launch testing gadgets. It will guarantee easy deployment (and allow you to catch bugs earlier than your consumer or their customers do).
5. Decide How A lot Current Code and Content material Could be Reused
Redesign initiatives will be numerous work. Thankfully, you may not have to revamp every thing in your website or weblog. Clearly outline what elements must be absolutely redesigned and what will be stored or inherited from different merchandise for frequent patterns. For instance, with our personal weblog redesign, we have been capable of maintain the present sample for feedback.
6. Implement a Clear Suggestions Course of
We consider suggestions is a present. When somebody calls consideration to one thing you’ll be able to enhance on, they’re making an attempt that will help you be higher. Set up a straightforward course of in your consumer to evaluation designs and supply constructive suggestions all through the method (and never simply on the finish). This manner, your consumer will really feel valued, and the tip product shall be extra prone to meet their expectations.
Able to Redesign Your Personal Weblog?
In the event you’re impressed to revamp your individual weblog, follow our detailed guide (it’s geared towards full web site redesigns, however a lot of the recommendation remains to be relevant). Or, should you’d like to begin a weblog (or assist a buddy begin one among their very own), we now have another guide that can help you do that too. Right here’s to creating the Web a extra lovely and helpful place, one weblog at a time.
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WEB DESIGNER KUALA LUMPUR
