Comments on: Optimizing Your Blog Design Layout (Part-1) http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/ How To Grow Your Blog Traffic Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:38:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: WordPress Theme Selection | TheLocoMono http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-10112 WordPress Theme Selection | TheLocoMono Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:31:33 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-10112 [...] Column Layout (suggested per BlogCloutA and reader [...] […] Column Layout (suggested per BlogCloutA and reader […]

]]> By: pelf http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-2692 pelf Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:04:25 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-2692 <em>If you still want to go with the three-column theme, please make sure that your two narrow sidebars are not together. Make your wide content column separate both the sidebars.</em> But I read somewhere that if one has the 2 narrow sidebars separated, visitors will have to spend extra time scrolling down both sidebars. But if placed together, visitors will only need to scan the sidebars once. Further, I personally think that sidebars are only for new visitors because loyal readers or feed readers won't be bothered with the sidebars. Or they may have remembered by heart what are the elements on your sidebars =) If you still want to go with the three-column theme, please make sure that your two narrow sidebars are not together. Make your wide content column separate both the sidebars.

But I read somewhere that if one has the 2 narrow sidebars separated, visitors will have to spend extra time scrolling down both sidebars. But if placed together, visitors will only need to scan the sidebars once.

Further, I personally think that sidebars are only for new visitors because loyal readers or feed readers won’t be bothered with the sidebars. Or they may have remembered by heart what are the elements on your sidebars =)

]]> By: Michael from Pro Blog Design http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-1366 Michael from Pro Blog Design Sun, 26 Aug 2007 20:55:18 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-1366 I see what you're saying, and you could well be right. The resolution comes into play as well I think. For instance, your blog is made for 800x600, so I agree entirely that 2 cols is the right choice. Mine is made for 1024x768 though, so if I went with just 2 columns, I might end up with a very large content area, or too much empty space. I suppose, as with all design tips, "it depends" on the blog. :) I also think that for most people, having 2 column can really force them to cut things out of their blog, reducing clutter. Having 3 columns gives them the illusion that they more room to work with, which leads to more widgets, and a messy blog... :( And thanks for the reply. What you said about eye movement definitely makes a lot of sense. :) I see what you’re saying, and you could well be right. The resolution comes into play as well I think. For instance, your blog is made for 800×600, so I agree entirely that 2 cols is the right choice. Mine is made for 1024×768 though, so if I went with just 2 columns, I might end up with a very large content area, or too much empty space. I suppose, as with all design tips, “it depends” on the blog. :)

I also think that for most people, having 2 column can really force them to cut things out of their blog, reducing clutter. Having 3 columns gives them the illusion that they more room to work with, which leads to more widgets, and a messy blog… :(

And thanks for the reply. What you said about eye movement definitely makes a lot of sense. :)

]]> By: Ankesh Kothari http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-1172 Ankesh Kothari Thu, 23 Aug 2007 08:07:36 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-1172 <b>Michael:</b> Excellent question. And you're right of course. Clutter is the BIG problem for blog optimization. <br> But its easier to reduce the perception of clutter with 2 columns than with 3. The reason being, people's eye moment with 2 columns will be a bit more linear than with 3 columns. With 3 columns, people's eyes will wander zig-zag - which adds to confusion. With 2 columns, their eyes will scroll straight down. <br> Saying that, if bloggers have a lot of options and clutter in 2 columns too - readers will just ignore the entire column. <br> The best results come when you give just 1 or 2 specific action steps to readers to do per page - whether you have 2 columns or 3. Michael: Excellent question. And you’re right of course. Clutter is the BIG problem for blog optimization.

But its easier to reduce the perception of clutter with 2 columns than with 3. The reason being, people’s eye moment with 2 columns will be a bit more linear than with 3 columns. With 3 columns, people’s eyes will wander zig-zag - which adds to confusion. With 2 columns, their eyes will scroll straight down.

Saying that, if bloggers have a lot of options and clutter in 2 columns too - readers will just ignore the entire column.

The best results come when you give just 1 or 2 specific action steps to readers to do per page - whether you have 2 columns or 3.

]]> By: Michael from Pro Blog Design http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-1095 Michael from Pro Blog Design Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:50:43 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-1095 Is clutter not the bigger problem for CTR, rather than the number of columns? I could just as easily make a horrible 2col layout as 3col. :? Is clutter not the bigger problem for CTR, rather than the number of columns?

I could just as easily make a horrible 2col layout as 3col. :?

]]> By: Brian Vaughan http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-205 Brian Vaughan Sat, 23 Jun 2007 01:42:16 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-205 Great post, I totally agree with the using the 2 column layouts over the 3, there is just way to much hitting the user at one time with a 3 column layout. Great post, I totally agree with the using the 2 column layouts over the 3, there is just way to much hitting the user at one time with a 3 column layout.

]]> By: Shinil http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-204 Shinil Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:58:32 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-204 Thanks Ankesh for yet another gem of a post. Keep this in mind for my blog to be launched soon. Thanks Ankesh for yet another gem of a post. Keep this in mind for my blog to be launched soon.

]]> By: Pete White http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-199 Pete White Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:32:08 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-199 Good call with the 2 column approach, i never like blogs with 3 columns. Good call with the 2 column approach, i never like blogs with 3 columns.

]]> By: Ankesh Kothari http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-197 Ankesh Kothari Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:34:32 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-197 Thanks Mani. Good article. Although I would now recommend people use layers instead of tables. Thanks Mani. Good article. Although I would now recommend people use layers instead of tables.

]]> By: Jared Schwager http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-196 Jared Schwager Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:16:21 +0000 http://www.blogclout.com/blog/optimizing-your-blog-design-layout-part-1/#comment-196 Great timing! I've just started working on my new blog design. Great timing! I’ve just started working on my new blog design.

]]>