Introduction
A big problem with blogs these days is that a lot of them look pretty much like each other so it is hard to tell them apart and worst, it makes them easy to forget. While the quality of your content will have a large effect on whether or not your material was worth remembering, the blog design will either make or break the user’s experience when they are reading your content.
In a previous article in the blog design 101 series, the importance of the peak-end rule was established. The peak-end rule being how a person codes their experience in a memory by taking the most intense feeling during that experience and combining it with the experience felt at the end. In this article, I will take it a step further and show you how to use the peak-end rule to your advantage.
In a study testing usability and the peak-end rule, they found out that a single experience of a particularly pleasant design feature will leave a stronger impression than several experiences of a feature that is less pleasant. (1) What this means for blog design is that if you only have time to do one thing very good or a bunch of things so-so, opt for that one thing. So that it sticks out in the mind of the user.
5 Ways to make your blog design unforgettable
1. Break the “norm”
Breaking the norm means taking something that is generally done in your area and doing something that breaks out of it. An example of this would be taking a color scheme that often gets used in your area and using something totally different. This makes people take notice.
2. Pay attention to overlooked areas
Common overlooked areas that have a large effect on a user’s experience are comment designs and posts’ footer designs. Pay special attention to these and give it more time than usual in order to really bring it out and make it worth talking about.
3. Increase the functionality of your blog design
Blog design is not just a piece of artwork to hang up and admire, but of course there are some you can certainly hang up. A blog design is more of an interface between the reader and the content you have on your blog. An easy way of making your blog design more functional is to add a script or plugin that makes your blog design better. And if you make one that really meets a need of your readers, then it will be noticeable and most of all memorable to the user as you took the extra step.
4. Take one design feature and run with it
First of all, you must bring your overall blog design to at least a basic level of standard. What is a basic level of standard? Make sure it is usable and easy to use. After that, start taking the most important blog design elements and take it as far as you can. Explore the edges of that blog design element. Make it as aesthetically appealing as you can, as easy to use as possible, or as simple as possible. Get creative with this, there are an endless amount of things you can do to make it better.
5. Unique blog design
A unique blog design tailored to your specific needs, message, and audience goes a long way in setting yourself apart from others in a great way. Not only does it speak professionalism, but it also shows your commitment to your blog when you spend that much time or money on it.
Conclusion
Remember, don’t do something different just for the sake of being different. Focus on differentiating your blog design in a positive way. This will make your blog design unforgettable.
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References
1. Pleasure and pain: perceptual bias and its implications for software engineering by Guilford, S, Rugg, G., Scott, N Software, IEEE Volume 19, Issue 3 p. 63-69
2. First photo from J.A.L.E.X. and second photo from tanakawho on flickr.
95 comments
Great article once again Vinh!
Easy to follow tips to get you going
Good stuff..
Cheb.
Sweet article, I love the fact that you are encouraging people to be brave and different, I read too many things where designers/bloggers are encouraging people to follow a trend, and to keep trends in mind when designing. But I like your approach better.
PS. Check your SU Inbox.
That makes a lot of sense.A lot of people should consider bringing der Design to s “basic level of standard”
Great tips. I’m working on an upgrade to my blog design and these pointers are coming in handy.
Great article! I have been looking online for better layouts for my blogs and not finding anything yet that catches my attention enough to try to tackle the blogger html. Hopefully I will find it soon.
I must say that your blog design is one of the best I have ever seen. There was something about the mystical jungle picture you have used which was captivating.
@Cheb: Thanks for stopping by.
@liam: Yes, being different is good if you do it in a positive way.
@Felix: Yeah, after a basic level of standard is achieved, then it is time to let loose and have some fun.
@Syn: Search within yourself! Heh or you can start on paper and create your own beast.
@Web: Indeed it caught my eye as well so I used it.
Hi, thanks for another good article. You obviously have very nice comments, and I like how the author’s are green and on the right. Great touch.
I just had an idea I wanted to throw out there for you for comment design:
When I hover over a commenter’s name, I obviously get a finger pointy telling me I’m going to be linked somewhere. Where is this somewhere? Will it be off your site? Will it open my email client? Will I get a form to reply to that person’s comment? Without looking at the browser’s status bar, I have NO IDEA.
Perhaps you could try a javascript tooltip that says you’re going to visit their site. Or you could have a link that says “Vist Jason’s site” or another that says “Email Jason” or “Reply to Jason’s Comment”.
For the javascript tooltip, see my example at http://anderson.binghamton.edu , a site I worked on for my internship. I tell users that if they click on an image, they can view the full pdf.
I realize adding all that text to the link will certainly take away from the simplicity of the comment boxes, but will drastically decrease ambiguity. Maybe theres a compromise somewhere in between.
I would code this myself, but I am way too busy with school, and haven’t had time to work on my wordpress blog.
Hope this all doesn’t sound crazy, looking forward to hearing what you think!
Best,
Jason
The tips are gfreat and are easy to follow.
Thanks
Im still learning wordpress and just installed xamp. Its really hard to tweak and make unique blog designs.
great advice, thanks for the direction esp regarding the “underlooked” areas
Dumbest shit I ever saw. All that, and not a single link to where can I get plugins to make my design better?!
thanks for the great tips, your website was a real inspiration for my blog !
I second what your note regarding Comments design being overlooked, yet important — and add to that my strange fascination with the way Social Bookmarking is handled on each blog.
great post. I think a unique design is important in the memorability of a blog. If it looks the same as everyone elses people get confused!
nice article Vinh, I am going to apply your rules, to my blog, soon…hopefully
well browsing throught various sites on the internet i can say that the rule number 1 is to keep it clean. its amazing on how many blogs i jump on to to follow various articles or techniques about web design and only very little of those blog designs help me follow the info. Its the sites that are clean and easy to follow that stay in my bookmarks and i keep visiting them back. I found many stunning blog designs but i must admit that they were not the ones i kept going back to since the did sacrifice simplicity and ease of use for something that would make them unique and unforgettable.
Thanks for the good suggestions. I’ve tried to incorporate some into my blog. It’s great too to look at the sites of commenters to see what theirs look like and to see how their sites correspond to their comments.
Nice article. Refreshing to see a blog that has sensible advice. I shall be returning this site again.
Well put. I really like the peak-end idea. And you’ve got some great pointers to make a unique site… And I can see you’ve put it to work on your own site as well! Good job.
Great tips. There are quite mane site which provide free or paid templates which can be downloaded for blogs. These can also be used to make your blogs exceptional.
I see that all 5 tips more or less have to do with the look and function of a blog. But in my opinion, the single most important thing about a blog is the content. I’ve seen plenty of blogs that have mediocre blog designs become very successful because they offer great content.
As someone who blogs quite a bit, and worked with a lot of companies and individuals who write online, I’ve come to learn that the ones that are successful are the ones who focus more on providing something worth reading.
The ones who focus more on the way their site/blog looks and have little to offer in the way of great content generally fail fairly quickly.
The advice you offer is great. All five tips are definitely worth paying attention to. I just submit that if your content isn’t worth commenting on, then beautiful, easy-to-use and clever commenting systems and appearances are pretty much useless.
Like the design!
Quite the irony. Your design is very forgettable and poorly designed.
Oh, this damned internet - the blind leading the blind.
wow, you are the real blog d-signer…. I like designing too, hope someday I can make my own great blog design….
Thanks for your tips. I’m not designer and am always asking for advice.
I love YOUR comments design ! really sweet
I have an ability to translate from English to Indonesian. I think your tips here is so interesting for Indonesian bloggers, especially the new ones. I want to offer a new relation while I am also learn something from you. I am still new in blogging, though. I have read your tips for sometimes.
This is a good methodology. If you don’t make yourself unique, then chances are you won’t be looked at again. The last thing you want someone to say, “Oh, I’ve seen that.”
Certainly agree with the last comment - take one design element and run with it. I get the feeling that sometimes, a designer has too many design elements for the design, and ends up cramming them all in to one!
I totally agree with the other comments. In fact, I wrote the last chapter in Joe Vitale’s book “The E-Code” explaining this very principle of positioning for unique awareness and power.
Everyone is unique - the trick is to put yourself into your work. That alone will make you ’stand out.’
Jason Mangrum, Author
The Official Internet Business Q & A Report
http://InternetBusinessReport.info
wow, nice article thanks for the Good job.
“Remember, don’t do something different just for the sake of being different.”
I think this is the key to the article. I whole heartily agree a blog or any website for that matter should be unique but keep in mind your visitors and your market. Designs that do not fit the expected functionality or simply are not functional for their niche are failures.
People try to get creative in design (which is fantastic) but they end up forgetting the functionality and the site which may be beautiful isn’t usable.
Great article. Really, cheers
Mike Farley
yea i agree i think blogs need to be unique or nobody will remember it or come back to visit
Paying attention to overlooked areas is an excellent point. Without a smooth commenting area - you’re taking away the ability to discuss, create community, and bring friendship to your visitors.
Great post. I agree with everything you’ve said. Besides, your blog certainly speaks for itself.
i agree, unique design is very need for blog
Who, a nice article, i am gonna use it for my new blog.
Ronald
Hi,
I liked the post.
will come again.
thank you
Brooke
You have mention some great point to take any blog on top. I think if yo mention about the pictures and header design, because i am great blogger and when ever i visit any blog first i look there and header design and images. Becasue as you know image can speak thousand words. WE should also give some times while choosing image so it can catch the user eye.
Your articles is very good. Thank you for your sharing.
Sweet article, I love the fact that you are encouraging people to be brave and different, I read too many things where designers/bloggers are encouraging people to follow a trend, and to keep trends in mind when designing. But I like your approach better.
Thank you so much for sharing wonderful thoughts about how to make an unforgettable design. I love the way you explain things. Easy to read and easy to follow.
Very good article. Keep up the good working
Basically, have a niche. If your blog talks about everything, it wont be very successful. Start out small, and grow gradually. Having a design that complements your theme would be a sure way to decrease the bounce rate to your site as well.
Really nice and much informative posts here its really an interesting blog I appreciate your work thanks.
These are great tips to follow while designing the blogs, thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing such a useful information about web design with attractive look and feel then only will be in visitors mind forever.
Hey,
I was just surfing the web and I came across this page. I really liked the info, keep up the good work.
Peace
tesekkurler.
I think i will follow your advices, it must be great. thanks for this useful contribution for webmasters, bloggers and others..
Great Blog very useful to all webdesigners, I suggest all designer to share this blog
Nice resources, Thanks
thank u
,..] http://www.blogdesignblog.com is one interesting source of information on this issue,..]
I’d sweetie to enough undeviating with that too!
Excellent site very interesting, thanks for the info.
Vinh Le - a BIG respect to you!! THANK YOU!
What you want to say…
i found matt mullenwegs blog page hard 2 read cause of the lines on the background paper,maybe its just because i wear glasses
and great site,i have you bookmarked to read slowly while on holidays thanks
Good tips keep sharing..
Thanks for information to me very useful for my work.
Thanks chap
Ive forgotten it already
masterhimanshu.blogspot.com
masterhimanshu.blogspot.com
see my blog……..i can tell u everything
nice tips to make our blog unforgettable
Great post very informative, thanks !
Great site, good info, thanks.
I share your point of view.
All this is rubbish !
I can see you’ve put it to work on your own site as well! Good job.
good informations, i agree with you
very diffcult to thinks as you
Thak u 4 this advices
This is a great post, i was looking for a bit of help and this is exactly what i needed. Many Thanks for your post!!!
hanks for sharing nice information with us. its really nice post
great post, it is so easy to follow your tips ,thanks.
Thanks for the great tips,I can see you’ve put it to work on your own site as well,Many Thanks for your post.
Awesome posting,very informative as well. thanks for sharing…
toujour en forme a ce que je voit
Great article and great tips. I could definitely use these tips when I start to design my blog and I think that all blogs should use these tips when they are designed.
Great article and great tips. It is very useful for me, thanks.
it is too late to find it , great post, I like it. Thanks.
I’m working on an upgrade to my blog design and these pointers are coming in handy.
Thanks. I think I should work a lot the design of my blog. First “break the norm”
We really thank you for your wonderful article. You have created your page, I believe really helped us a lot…..
thanks for the great tips, your website was a real inspiration for my blog !
I generally don’t post in Sites however your blog forced me to, amazing work.. gorgeous. I will ask for your help when I get my blog ready.
This way of creating a blog will gonna really unforgettable. It will really makes your blog more unique to others and artistic. It will be interesting to all of your visitor.
Drew
great article, thanks a lot
It will really makes your blog more unique to others and artistic.
I do agree that a well styled blog should make it easy for the reader as well as good content of course.
thank you so much, for the article
In that way of designing, that would really unforgettable artwork.
Jane
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this. That really helpful to us for blogging.
Sean
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