Spring is here, and many of us are talking about Spring Cleaning this or that, and typically these topics are about some room in your house. Well, why not carry that over to your blog as well? Our blogs can get cluttered over time as well, so I wanted to share a few tips on tidying things up and making our blogs look better. Let’s start at the top and work our way down.
Your Header
The header is the first impression – it is the first blog item that visitors are greeted with, and so it deserves to be wonderful. Ask yourself if you like your header and if it fits your blog’s mood. Do the colors work well together? Is the font readable? Are the colors used in your header carried through the rest of your blog? If you can streamline the colors, it really helps solidify your brand.
Your menu is the next step we should work on. How many menu links do you have? Is your menu cluttered? This is an easy place to end up with too many links as we add new pages. You want to have a handful or so links up there, so think about categories. Can any items be grouped and rather than being listed separately, can something be part of a drop-down menu? I had a lot of links on my former menu, but with the rebrand and redesign, I grouped a lot of things.
Be creative with the drop-down headers. For example, I created a header “Motherhood” and listed all the mom and family-related categories there. Then I created a “Lifestyle” header, and everything else goes under that – such as food, finances, blogging, etc.
Your Sidebar
The sidebar is probably the biggest clutter magnet. I feel like I’m constantly making tweaks to mine and trying to clean it up. The sidebar should start with an icon or headshot with a quick bio and social media icons and be followed by various important items, such as an opt-in form. You also definitely want to include a search bar.
A sidebar is also a great place to showcase your best posts (I have a featured posts section) and any projects or campaigns you are affiliated with. I have a few rotating banners with the companies I am an affiliate for or projects that I want to showcase. Otherwise, I try to limit things on my sidebar. You certainly don’t want to list out all and every membership you have, as that list can get very long. A footer might be a better place for some images that may be required on each page. I recommend a separate memberships page (maybe in a drop-down from an about link) to list all the groups you have joined. The sidebar should have good information on it, but also not distract from your main content.
There are things that do not belong in our sidebars. I sometimes still see the WordPress “meta” tags – take that out of your widgets. It looks unprofessional. Also, sometimes I still see counters on blog sidebars. You really should focus on your Google Analytics and not try to display a counter that isn’t meaningful.
Your Main Content
The content area of the blog is the prime location for your visitor’s eyes, so it needs to be easy to follow. I like themes that allow for excerpts of the posts rather than the full post on the front page. This gives visitors a quick view of what you have been sharing and allows them to select where to go.
Doing a quick scan down your main page, we next can focus on spring cleaning our headlines. Can you think of any way to re-word your headlines to make them more interesting? If so, feel free to make some changes (just don’t change the permalink to the post).
Another important piece of your main content is images. Do you have a good featured image for each post? If your theme allows it, you can see a thumbnail of the main image near the headline and excerpt of the post. While you’re at it, are there large, long images on your important posts that someone can Pin? Pin-able images are very important for blog growth, so remember to add a vertical image to your posts.
Now let’s chat about spring cleaning the way we finish our posts. What action do you want your readers to take? Do you want them to leave a comment? If so, ask a question. Do you want them to share – then ask them to do so. End your post with a “call to action” so your readers know what you would like them to do next.
Finally, do your posts have a signature? The bottom of a post is a good place to place your bio and social media links as well as an opt-in form. If someone made it to the bottom of a post, they are likely interested in your blog are likely to subscribe to get more great content.
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What spring cleaning plans do you have for your blog?
Toarizonaandbeyond says
Very useful post thanks, given me a lot to think about on the appearance of my blog. #KCACOLS
Julie says
Thanks 🙂 Share if you make any changes 🙂
Karen says
I’m mid Spring cleaning at the moment. These are some good ideas. I’ve been going two months and i really rushed my header etc. I’m taking time to get a rebrand right for me! #kcacols
Julie says
Sometimes you just have to get it up and working and keep on tweaking later, right? Hope your rebrand goes well!
Pen says
Hi, thanks for this post. My blog definitely needs a spring clean. My blog has evolved over the last year so I have headers relating to topics about which I have only written 2 or 3 posts. The sidebar is less cluttered but I do really like the idea of a favourite posts section. Thanks for the kick up the bum. Pen X. #KCACOLS
Julie says
Yay, glad my post helped inspire you 🙂 Or, if you think those topics are important maybe add those categories to your to-do list for upcoming post writing 🙂
adrian says
Great ideas. I’m always tweaking around with my blog too. I’ve recently increased my font size and started adding bolding, bullets, and highlights to make my text more “scannable”. I think it’s made a lot of difference in making my posts much easier to read. I’ve also included larger subscription boxes that are a bit more assertive. I think the reason I wasn’t getting many subscribers before was because I had a tiny little subscription link down at the bottom of my posts, almost as though I was embarrassed by it. I’m getting a lot more subscribers now.
Julie says
Yes, font size and adding white space to make it scannable – great ideas. I try to do that, but sometimes I ramble on. Like this post actually. I didn’t bullet too much now did I?
becca farrelly says
Great ideas! I’m always tweaking bits and pieces on my sidebar as it drives me mad sometimes! Its good to have a look at your blog every now and again and see what you can improve on 🙂
#KCACOLS
Julie says
Definitely, and sometimes asking for a peer opinion helps tremendously as well.
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi) says
Love this – I’m definitely looking to spring clean my blog a little over the next few weeks. I need to update my category pages and things like that. x #KCACOLS
Julie says
Oh gosh categories, great call on that one. Mine are a mess.
justsayingmum says
This is such excellent advice – and I was really excited to click on your post – my blog is relatively new so it’s not too cluttered but it does look a tad messy in sections so need to have a look through and sort You’re so right about headings as well because they can really be what draws the reader to your post and hopefully like the post! Thank you for some great pointers #KCACOL
Julie says
Thanks JustSayingMum 🙂 🙂 I’m constantly tweaking something, so even if you are new and haven’t gotten too much stuff accumulated on your blog, you might still find something to change. Although, again, we can keep tweaking forever and at some point need to let ourselves stop and focus on actual blog content hahaah
Squirmy Popple says
Some good ideas here. I’ve been meaning to work on my header for a while but keep getting distracted by writing instead! #KCACOLS
Julie says
I feel ya. Writing is quite important too! I feel like I’m always making tweaks, but not writing enough new content. So yea it is a balance.
Natasha Mairs says
my blog need a really good spring clean. will be doing over the next few weeks #KCACOLS
Julie says
Have fun with your blog spring clean 🙂
Sarah-Arthurwears says
Had a quick scan and I’m saving this to read for later! Thanks! #KCACOLS
Julie says
Thanks Sarah 🙂
Fi - Beauty Baby and Me says
Very handy post – I do try to keep on top of all these things, especially the sidebar! Thanks for sharing xx #KCACOLS
Julie says
Thanks Fi! Yea the sidebar can get crazy sometimes heh.
Jules Pondering Parenthood says
I really need to spring clean my blog! I’d love an interesting header but my design skills are somewhat lacking! Will definitely remove the meta tag too – I wasn’t sure why this was there in the first place! Thanks for the tips #KCACOLS
Julie says
I don’t know why the meta section is there by default either. I don’t think a designer-quality header is required, just something simple and cute that represents you 🙂 Thanks Jules!
Lori @savedbythemommy says
Awesome post! I have definitely been meaning to change some things around on my blog such as my header and some of the images. This is giving me the push to get to it! Thanks!
Julie says
Awesome 🙂 Glad you found this helpful. Let me know what you end up changing and improving. Blog makeovers are fun!
tori says
This spring, I am hoping to increase my SEO ranking, and will have to go through every post I have written to spruce them up, I also want to update many of the featured images. Hard to find the time to clean up when you have posts to write! Thanks so much for your tips!
Thanks for linking up with #KCACOLS. Hope you will come back again next Sunday!
Tori
http://www.themamanurse.com
Julie says
That’s a lot of work for sure. I updated a few of my best recent posts when I rebranded and it was exhausting.
Gayl Wright says
I think I definitely need a blog makeover. I do like the design but it’s been the same for about one and a half years. I’ve thought about switching from blogger to wordpress but still thinking on that. Thanks for your tips! I’m visiting from #LMMLinkup.
Julie says
Thanks Gayl! I think it depends on how satisfied you are with Blogger and whether you need the specific features of WordPress for your blog. If you do like the design then it doesn’t need to change. Having that consistency helps your visitors know where they are. Just sometimes a good clean up to find things that don’t belong anymore or maybe some freshening up even with updated colors/fonts can do the trick.
Tiffany @ A Touch of Grace says
Great suggestions! I go through and “spring clean” my blog every few months or so. But there are definitely some things that need some TLC.
Thanks for sharing at the Shine Blog Hop!
Julie says
That’s awesome that you do a blog clean up every few months! That keeps things neat and easier to maintain.
Mother of 3 says
Great suggestions! I’m going to pin this for later.
Sandy Sandmeyer says
Super suggestions! I know I marked some posts private or changes links inside of the post when the old ones I found were irrelevant. Thanks for sharing your post at the Over the Moon Link Party.
Julie says
Ooh I’ve marked a ton of my former velvet-rose.net posts as private. They were rambly and I was not blogging seriously heh. Marking things private is a great way to not have to delete stuff.
Michelle says
Thanks for sharing such great tips 🙂
Erin @ Stay At Home Yogi says
Love the idea of spring cleaning headlines! My headlines are often an afterthought! And you are so right about the sidebar being a clutter magnet, I’m always tweaking mine too 🙂
Julie says
My headlines can use some work too. I often draft a simple headline just to get the post started, but then I don’t go back and analyze it, or fix the slug. I need to get better about that.
Samantha says
Great tips, Julie! It’s absolutely the perfect time of year to give our blogs a once-over. Plus, it helps procrastinate actually spring cleaning the house! 🙂
Julie says
Oh totally, anything to avoid housework!! 🙂
Sam @ Living The Dutch Dream says
Great tips! I really need to get round to this sooner rather than later.
Julie says
Do one section at a time so it isn’t too overwhelming 🙂
Tori says
Lots of great ideas here to clean up your blog! A bloggers work is never done!
Tori
http://www.themamanurse.com
Julie says
You’re so right Tori! Never done!
Leslie says
Great tips! Changing up my header is on my to-do list. Our blogging community would be blessed if you shared these blogging tips at the Literacy Musing Mondays Linkup. #LMMLinkup http://www.foreverjoyful.net/?p=1018
Julie says
Sure, I’d love to link up 🙂 I’ll link up to this week’s post since I missed last week’s.
Karyl Henry says
Thanks for these tips! I switched platforms over Christmas from Blogger to WordPress. It’s given me a great opportunity to slowly go through all of my old posts, updating pictures and editing text. And since I only started pushing on social media about a year ago, I can give my old posts new life. I like the idea of a signature at the end of posts. I don’t have one currently, but I’ll definitely be adding one. Thanks for sharing!
Julie says
Thanks Karyl 🙂 Ooh yea moving platforms like that sounds like a lot of work, and yet it really lets you evaluate and update each post as needed.
Emily says
Great points here! I am realizing that this type of spring cleaning is a constant process. I feel like I’m always cleaning up my sidebar…it’s much better than it was when I first started though. Yes, I had the tag clouds for a few months. 🙂 It’s gone now.
This was a good reminder to take another look at it. I have been cleaning up my sidebar recently. I just started offering advertising on my sidebar and beneath my posts, I had to clean up my blog so that the advertisements/sponsorships are able to be seen!
Julie says
I have a lot of stuff under my posts too. It is hard to decide what is really necessary sometimes. Thanks Emily!
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says
The sidebar is an area that I regularly have to clean up – it tends to be the front closet of my blog home! LOL
I like cleaning things up though.
Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
Julie says
Ha, I like how you equated it to a front closet!
lana says
Good one! Probably need to take a look at mine too 😉
Sue at Book By Book says
Wow, excellent post! And I just realized you are the same blogger I “met” on Twitter last week (fellow engineer, mom, wife, blogger, reader, etc.).
I need to do ALL of the things you recommend here – an update is way overdue for my blogs. Part of my problem is time and part is know-how. I have written 2 blogs for almost 10 years (and a 3rd one for many years, too), yet, my technical know-how is still minimal! I know I need to update and freshen up my blogs – I need to just set aside some time. I tend to prioritize my writing time for paid work (which makes sense!) but I do need to update the blogs, too.
I would add one more note to your great suggestions – not to overwhelm your blog (and especially the sidebar) with too much clutter, links, images, etc. Not only is it distracting and difficult to find the real content, but I find that blogs with too much stuff really slow down my browser – it’s just not worth it sometimes!
Thanks again – I am bookmarking this post & setting aside Blog Improvement Week this month!
Sue
Book By Book
Sue at Book By Book says
Forgot to mention…I found your blog through the Small Victories Sunday link-up!
Sue
Julie says
Hi Sue!! Yes definitely focusing on paid work makes sense, but I don’t think you really need to know the ins and outs of coding and blogging details to be able to clean up a few things. Most can be done with your theme settings in your dashboard (or whatever Blogger options there are). Yes that’s a great point – you definitely don’t want too many trinkets and images that slow down the page loading. Or have music playing! People will leave quick. Thanks for stopping by and yay for connecting on Twitter and then on the blog 🙂
Kalli says
I can honestly say I’ve never thought to “spring-clean” my blog, this is so helpful! I’ll definitely be applying these soon 🙂
Julie says
Thanks Kalli! I think we can become blog-blind and taking a fresh look at details can help us improve. I think I learned and changed quite a bit on my blog during my rebrand.
Healing Mama says
I’ve been slowly spring cleaning my blog. I love these tips.
Julie says
It is kind of fun making slow tweaks here and there, isn’t it?