- April 19, 2013
- Posted by: Vishal Shah
- Category: Web Design
Deciding how to design your blog is a major step when getting started with WordPress. Design can be a big difference-maker when it comes to attracting and keeping readers, so you should put in some thought about how you can construct your site to be best for your visitors.
In general, it’s important to remember that including too much on a page is usually worse than including too little. Your design approach should be focused on improving the reader’s experience. That could mean adding more or taking elements off the page.
Here are some tips for developing a WordPress site with strong design.
Allow for Easy Navigation
The first thing you should consider is how your visitors will be using the site. Having easy navigation is important for any site, so think about which features your visitors will want to have access to on your site.
This part of the process is easy because of all of the Premium WordPress themes available. Choose a theme that you think makes sense for your site. If you have multiple pages, for example, you need a template that allows you to include clear navigation links in the bar at the top of the page.
In addition, think about what components you would like to include in the sidebar of your site. Sidebar design is a vital consideration, because it can be easy to get overly cluttered when it comes to menus and widgets. Simplifying your sidebar is a vital step in improving the design of your website. Think about which components you need and which you might be able to include in other areas of the site. For example, if you have a Twitter feed but don’t post on Twitter too often, there is probably no need to include a widget for your feed in your sidebar. Make sure you are including the components that are valuable to your readers, and get rid of the extra stuff.
Don’t Go Overboard
Flashy design can be tempting, but when it’s not done correctly, it can be a major turn-off for visitors. It pays to be ambitious, but it’s also important to recognize when subtlety may be a better option.
An example of this is in your color choices. Consistency on a website is key, and that applies to your color scheme. Most WordPress themes will come with built-in color palettes, but if you are designing your own site, make sure you are picking a limited palette that isn’t too hard on the eyes. Combinations like blue and orange don’t tend to be so friendly on the eyes, which is a big reason why all of the major websites on the net have subtle color palettes.
Your graphics should also match your color choices, if you decide to include your own features and infographics. Design these with the whole site’s brand in mind. That means using the same colors and fonts throughout, to give your visitors a sense of continuity.
Think Outside the Box
As stated, conservatism is smart in some cases, but it’s also important to think outside the box sometimes. WordPress allows for a lot of flexibility in designing your page (giving you the option to fully modify the coding of your template), so you should explore the options that you think would improve the quality of your site’s aesthetics.
An example is to look into custom fonts for your page. Most of the internet uses the same fonts, but if you use font plug-ins, you can allow readers to view different fonts on your page. That can be great for solidifying your blog’s brand identity.
Post By
Anny Solway is a dedicated writer at ThemeFuse – a leader in the Premium WordPress Themes area. She likes to discover new ideas about internet marketing, social media and blogging.