What Might a Few Tweaks Do for You?
Dave Olson and I were having an email conversation. We were discussing the state of the blogosphere and other important world-saving, super-hero stuff, when in the middle he said this.
I’m wondering if you might be able to help me out. I paid attention when you highlighted my post last week and you said:
“Bet you can apply that to design, branding, and marketing your blog”
I’ve posted an article asking for some feedback on the design and branding of my site. I would really appreciate it if you had a few minutes that you could take a look at it and give me any feedback you might have.
So I invited Dave to get tweaked Above the Fold.
Here’s how the Above the Fold Tweak Process works.
- I make a ââ¬Åbeforeââ¬Â screenshot.
- We talk through some changes for readability.
- The blogger makes the changes.
- We talk while the tweaks are in process.
- I take an ââ¬Åafterââ¬Â screenshot and share the results in a post.
Tweaking DaveOlson.ca
The blog: DaveOlson.ca
URL: http://www.daveolson.ca
Blogger: Dave Olson
Before
This is the before shot of Dave’s blog that I took on the day that we tweaked his blog. Click to enlarge.
Three Tweaks that We Agreed Upon
In this series, we concentrate only three important tweaks for each blog that is featured. These are the tweaks that Dave and I agreed upon.
- We’d change the main type face to serif.
- We’d change the color of the links in the sidebar.
- We’d adjust the spacing of the headings.
We made other changes. Can you see them?
For the results, turn the page now.
After Tweaking DaveOlson.ca
This is DaveOlson.ca now. Click to enlarge.
Dave’s Turn to Talk
Dave, tell us about your blog.
My blog really started off as an experiment to see if I could improve my writing skills. As I meet so many great people in the blogosphere, I’m finding it’s more about relationships, connecting and learning together. The theme is primarily personal growth but that branches into money, relationships, self-discipline and such.
What advice do you think made the most difference? In what way?
Probably the changes we made with the fonts. By changing the size and face of the main font it became a lot easier to read. Changing the colour of the links in the sidebar and the fonts size also really helped.
Actually we tweaked quite a lot. It keep me going for a few days after we talked, trying to see things from a readers perspective. So even though the site kinda looks the same, it feels different. In a good way.
How have your readers responded to the changes?
Any comments I’ve received have mentioned the increased font size. I’ve also seen a slight increase in traffic, especially more return traffic than before. As well there’s actually more subscribers by about 10%.
Remember we only committed to three tweaks in this process. But three tweaks can sure make a difference!
The best part always is getting to know the blogger! Hey, Dave, thanks for letting me be part of your blog’s transformation. The conversation was definitely a benefit. My regards to your boss.
Other folks had input on little tweaks on Dave’s blog. He’s got it to where he’s seems happy with it.
Anyone want to offer Dave a word or two moving forward?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related
Above the Fold: BRAINPRINT — bytecomics.com/blog/
Above the Fold: 11 Things Right about Escape from Cubicle Nation
Above the Fold: SmartWealthyRich.com
I see:
–an Archives link up at the top that wasn’t there.
–I don’t see a link for comments just under the post’s title. Appears that the design now simply shows the comments when you’re on the permalink page for the post.
–The U Comment, I follow icon is new.
Stupid touchpad…Submit Comment got activated before I was ready (I didn’t know that passing your hand an inch over the touchpad was the same as actually touching it on this PC…).
My last line was meant to be…
So that answers Liz’s question “We made other changes. Can you see them?”
Whitney,
You have a great eye and you obviously have a magic touch!
Hello Liz and Dave! 🙂
well i must say i’m a big fan of Daves’ blog, i visit almost everyday, changing the font type was definitely a good move.
I also noticed the “let’s talk” or “join the conversation” link at the bottom of the posts, which i think is way better than “no comments” i don’t know if that was there before, but i noticed that a couple days ago. Also, before the changes the post area was something like 400-450px or something now it seems to be a little less, so it breathes more and is not too close to the sidebar 🙂
Nice job Liz and Dave 🙂
Hi Jon!
You noticed a lot of the more subtle changes. I think that the “more room to breathe” is what I find the most visually helpful. I visit Dave as often as I can too. 🙂
I like the way Jonathan put it – there’s more room to breathe. The color changes are easier on the eyes, too.
Why do you like the serif fonts, Liz? Personally I like them better. They seem to have more character. But I was under the impression that sans-serif fonts are supposed to be easier to read on the computer screen.
Everyone,
I’m glad that you can breathe around my place. It’s much more refreshing that the previously claustrophobic layout.
When Liz suggested the larger white space I was actually a little sceptical but it turned out great. I did however widen the whole layout by about 50px to allow the same amount of post space. A little optical illusion Jon. 🙂
Liz, it was a lot of fun. Thanks again for the help. 😀
Hi Dave,
It was a lot of fun! Now I need to thing of an other reason to get you on the telephone. 🙂
I’m curious about the serifed-font thing, too.
I, too, have seen the studies that say “serifed for print; sans-serifed for screen.”
And personally, I prefer the sans-serifed…
Hi Rick,
They say that san serif fonts are easier to read on the screen and I believe that there is some research to back that up. However, I’m not sure the research still holds true with today’s technology or that it holds true wit the amount and size of text taht we are currently putting up compared to the websites that were studied when the research I know about was being done — in the 1990s.
I know that in print the reason serif type is easier to read is that the serif (the little lines that extend each letter) make the letters seem to attach to each other. So, it would make sense that as our technology became better that serif type would become stronger and more likely to hold its own.
And yes, I like it.
🙂
Hi Adam,
Sorry about not making your preference. I think some of it is what we are used to reading. I find I make less, yes less, mistakes in this typface. You should have seen it before. 🙂
I didn’t realize the research was that old. Maybe I can change over without feeling guilty. 🙂
Hi Rick!
That’s only the research that I know about. There could be newer research since then. It’s only the last time I had the . . . ahem . . . conversation about it. 🙂
“Hi Adam,
Sorry about not making your preference. ”
Don’t worry, it’s not as if I’m attached to it or anything! 😉
It’s funny (this whole research thing) how we attach to certain ideas… for example, I know Verdana was a font created specifically for the web. It’s been proven to be the most legible on-screen font there is.
But, I can’t stand it. (I’m a Lucide Grande man)
When I first launched Monk at Work, sporting Lucida Grande, I got chastised (seriously) on a forum I frequent. “Verdana, Verdana,” the chants went out. Studies were quoted. Maxims raised. My intelligence brought into question.
Sheesh. So, I change it.
And for months, I can’t stand the way my site looks. I know it reads easier, but I don’t even enjoy reading it. And I wrote it!
So last week, I changed it back. Lucida Grande, it is. After all, if Steve Pavlina, David Seah, and Apple Computer (among countless others) all use Lucida, how ‘off’ can it be? 😉
New Motto: Do as you please. Be yourself. 🙂
Yea for you Adam!
Every study has it’s flaws. The biggest being, if you don’t like reading it — it’s not more readable for you. Any literacy teacher will tell you that’s is so.
You know you have reached your own feet, when other voices become opinions. 🙂