How to Create a Blog Design from Scratch?

rss_ball_small.jpgI often get asked this question by people who have been blogging for some time, but are new to blog designs. They want to get rid of their blog design templates and take their blog to the next step by having a custom blog design. There is usually just a little problem, they don’t have the money to hire someone or the expertise to build one for themselves. If this sounds like you or you just want to learn even more, then this series just is for you.

In this series, I will focus on how I would learn how to create a blog design if I were to start all over again from the beginning without any knowledge in the area of blog designs, web design, or graphic design. Basically starting over from scratch with the goal of creating an awesome blog design for my blog.

In the process, I will show you how you can create a blog design for your own blog. While there are thousands of ways to approach learning how to create a blog design, I will approach it in a way that I have found to be very efficient when it comes to learning any new skill and getting it to an above average level. These are the basic steps I feel that a person needs to pass through in order to reach a level where their skill is good enough to create a blog design from scratch. I find that a lot of times people new to something tend to take these steps in the reverse order and only after failing a few times do they managed to get all the steps or just end up giving up altogether.

I must warn you though that this method is not for everyone. It is not a method that will get you a good blog design tomorrow; there are actually no methods that can do that unless you can pay someone a lot of money. This method is about building the fundamental skills in order to build a great blog design.

1. Figure out what you need to know and the price you must pay

There are a few skills you need to learn and there is no escaping that. Creating a good blog design is a huge time sink in the beginning, because there is a learning curve. Prepare to invest a lot of time and patience, even more so if you have less experience in something related to blog design.

2. Buy, borrow, or steal the best books

There is no substitute for a good book on CSS/XHTML, graphics design, and typography. Can you get by with online resources only? Yes, you can, but there will be a lot of gaps in your knowledge that can frustrate you. It is just not worth it when your local library is likely to carry a good book. I used my library extensively and purchased ones I couldn’t get through the library.

3. Gather the best online resources

Online resources should be used as a supplement to books and not a replacement. Online resources are often very specific in what they teach so they do not cover everything you need to know.The exception is with php though because you really only need to know snippets of php code to create a blog design unless you are trying to do something very complicated. I found a php book to be very valuable for when I was writing a plugin for WordPress.

4. Learn from the best

Find out what the best are doing and imitate them. This does not mean copy their designs. What it means is to not reinvent the wheel by using what already works. There is a reason blog designs don’t have circular navigations that fly around because it does not work. Learn from others and your skills will grow fast.

5. Experiment with your blog design

There are a ton of good tutorials that will teach you specific skills you need to create a blog design, but after that there is no escaping trial and error. Behind a good blog design are many failed ones that you don’t get to see. Persevere and your blog design will be godly.

To be continued…

In the follow up articles to this series, I will go into detail of how to find out what you need to learn, what the best books are, what the best online resources are, what works, and how you can take your own blog design to the next level. Subscribe today for free to get updates when the articles are published.

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46 comments

  1. Wow this is awesome for some one like me who is just starting to get into CSS coding. (by hand)
    I just bought a sitepoint book on CSS and I’ve customized my blog theme a little. I would love to build my own.
    I guess I should keep looking into CSS and into the files in my theme and see what everything does.

    Thanks for the post. I’m sure this will help a lot of people.

    • JD
    • March 22nd, 2008 at 10:12 am
  2. Yeah your site is really great so far. What is a good book for basics in flash or java. I’ve got CSS down pretty well, but I’m starting to look to add more interactivity. Great site once again, you’re very talented.

    • Francis
    • March 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
  3. Wow this is awesome for some one like me who is just starting to get into web designing resources.Thanks for the post. I’m sure this will help a lot of people.here are some discount Go Daddy coupons that I am sure will come in handy as well. Use Go daddy Promo Code ZINE3 for $6.95 domains and renewals. No limit to this coupon code

    • Peter
    • March 24th, 2008 at 11:32 am
  4. Yeah… nice article, espacially point two ;)

    Ralph

    • Ralph
    • March 29th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
  5. I have also given an simple idea to create an blog with blogspot.com have a look

  6. I love your comment box design!

    • JD
    • May 14th, 2008 at 8:42 am
  7. good….nice….who want to join my bussiness???pm me…!!!

    • xkobar
    • May 19th, 2008 at 1:42 am
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    • me
    • June 20th, 2008 at 12:05 am
  9. I am an artist, and I am just starting to create a website and blog for my art. I’m going to try to do both by myself, although I may be crazy! Do you have any specific advice on creating the blog for a complete beginner like me or does all your great advice above still stand?

    • Lynn
    • June 29th, 2008 at 8:19 am
  10. I just rely on free blog templates because I dont have the fund to customize my site

    • Riyanne
    • July 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
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    • hury
    • July 19th, 2008 at 5:46 am
  12. I think this is article really help who just starting.

    • nipellio
    • September 8th, 2008 at 9:00 am
  13. Great information that encourages folks to just do it. It’s always been a mystery to me why people won’t be more adventurous when it comes to website/blog creation. After all, it’s not like someones going to punish you if you make mistakes. I say…go for it!

  14. Hello..

    • gokhans
    • October 1st, 2008 at 9:03 am
  15. i luv u ng8t

  16. yeah In a few days i shall create some new templates for sure

    • chethan
    • October 7th, 2008 at 2:34 am
  17. Nice job. Keep it up.

  18. Want to know ow to create a blog page using HTML&Css.Can any one helpmein this regard?

    • Jeggie
    • November 3rd, 2008 at 5:35 am
  19. i cant understand wht im reading ,i just want a blog try to help me

    • varun
    • December 15th, 2008 at 4:18 am
  20. It is really useful site, could you please suggest me good book to create/update/delete/view blog through code.

  21. Nice

    • jubiler
    • December 30th, 2008 at 5:09 am
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  23. I searched for how to build a blog from scratch and landed up here. I am new here ( blogosphere). I intend to learn blog design eventually and such posts do help a lot.

    • sheetal
    • January 16th, 2009 at 9:01 am
  24. I came here from Stumbleupon. You blog is awesome and there are many readers who are reading your post regularly, so it means you are a good blogger.

  25. I am here

    • karahann
    • February 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
  26. hello

  27. very nice…

    • ikba
    • February 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
  28. wow

    • padaaku
    • February 25th, 2009 at 4:33 am
  29. Спасибо Яндексу, именно благодаря ему я нашла этот замечательный форум.
    Думаю здесь я останусь надолго.

  30. hello rivrav

    • nc
    • April 14th, 2009 at 10:13 am
  31. >>> 2. Buy, borrow, or steal the best books
    Never in my life have I bought a book about computers. Well I borrowed some, but only occasionally and never really used them. I find online help more useful when you get in an impasse.

  32. Good Articles

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  34. Now i have come to know that what are the things that i need to know to design a good blog, thanks for your valiuable input

  35. Thanks for putting your valuable information to create a good blog design

  36. Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

    • sandrar
    • September 10th, 2009 at 7:52 am
  37. I love your site. :) Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that I

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  40. Great Blog very useful to all webdesigners, I suggest all designer to share this blog

  41. Nice resources, Thanks

  42. i want this to go somewhere and work

    • lana
    • November 10th, 2009 at 9:11 am
  43. Nice Blog ,I’d like you to visit my website

    • Crusher
    • January 20th, 2010 at 1:56 am
  44. it’s a great blog on Blog Design from Scratch

  45. Nice resources, Thanks

    • mahmut
    • March 5th, 2010 at 11:03 am

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