Layout

The layout of your blog is important. The layout is literally the first thing readers will see when they come to your page. The goal of the layout is to present your posts to readers as quickly and simply as possible.

The template is the most important part of the layout. Blogger offers several templates and styles. My advice is to pick a simple template like minima, minima lefty or simple II. If you've ever created a powerpoint presentation, you'll know that the best presentations are the simplest. Flashy animations and eclectic patterns distract the reader from reading your posts.

Color scheme is also important. Some blogs have white text with black backgrounds, others use drab colors with bright text. My blog, Columbia Blog Project uses black text on a white background. Why black on white, why so simple? First off, complimentary colors strain the eyes and shorten the attention span. Look at any online newspaper site, black on white.

Finally look at fonts and colors. Headline text should be bright and attention grabbing, as should link text. When choosing link colors, take care not to make the link or visited link colors too dark or too similar, otherwise readers may skip over them. Try to limit your color scheme to three colors.