If you are reading this post, you are doing so while looking at the new design of ChrisBlogging. What do you think? Even though it took a while to get the new theme up and running, I am quite happy with the final result. I really wanted to add an updated look and feel, and in my opinion this was accomplished quite nicely.
You will notice that this design is nothing like the old one. Just a few of the major additions include a 728 x 90 banner, as well as six 125 x125 buttons. If you read other blogs, which I am sure you do, you have probably seen similar set-ups.
Additionally, you will also notice that I have added a search box and the ability to subscribe to ChrisBlogging via email. Both of these tools should definitely help readers. If you don’t use an RSS reader, taking advantage of an email subscription is a great way to stay up to date with all my posts.
All in all, I am happy to finally be working with the new design. It is my hopes that this will make for a better experience for me, as well as all my readers.
If you have any opinion or question on the design, be sure to leave a comment or send me an email. Of course, Stumbling this post and/or subscribing to my feed are also greatly appreciated!
As you may or may not know, the design of this blog is not unique. In fact, I have come across several other bloggers who use a similar design, if not identical. While I did not have a problem with this at first, as the blog has grown so has my desire to see how far it can go. And the only way to take things to the next level is to get a custom design.
Of course, like always, I am going to have to do some heavy research before deciding on what the new blog should look like, as well as the designer I should hire. With that being said, I have some solid ideas on where to start.
I have a couple of goals that I am hoping the redesign can accomplish. First off, I want ChrisBlogging to look different than everything else that is out there. Not in a hard to navigate, complicated way, but in a unique way that readers will remember. In other words, I want the design to fit in with the future branding of this blog.
Additionally, I want to add more space for links, featured sites, and sponsors. But at the same time, I do not want to clutter the site and take away from the content.
Do any of you guys or gals have experience designing WordPress blogs? If so, please send me an email with your ideas for a redesign. Since I love to help out my readers, hiring one of you to do the work would be ideal!
As I have openly admitted, I do not know much about web site design. In fact, that is why I am using a free theme for this blog. While I am happy with the way that ChrisBlogging looks, I would not mind paying for a custom design in the near future.
Over the past couple of years I have hired several web designers. But with that being said, I have not been overwhelmed with any of them. Maybe I have been unlucky, or maybe I am not asking the right questions.
So how do you hire a web designer? If any readers work in this capacity I would love to hear what you need to know before you take on work with a client.
Here are the three questions that I usually ask before hiring a web designer. There is a good chance that there are other inquiries that I should probably add to this list.
1. Just like most, I always ask how much money I will be charged. This is never too big of a problem because I do not have any issue paying a bit more if high quality is sure to follow.
2. Can I see some samples? Before I hire a web designer I always like to study some past work. As a freelance writer I am used to sending out samples, and figure that web designers probably feel the same way.
3. What is the process for making changes after the first draft? Even though it would be nice to get exactly what I want the first time around, this very rarely happens.
These three questions have done alright for me in the past. But with that being said, I really want to get this hire right. A new layout for this blog could really help in the near future.Â
