How do you make your blog look appealing?

codeyeti · 10-22-2009, 09:59 AM

This is really more of a graphic design/web design question, but it's something I can't seem to figure out. I look at other sites on the internet, and they look really good (well, not all other sites...) but if I make a site, it doesn't look very good. Are there some secrets you guys have for making your blog look really nice? Is it all about the colors, the fonts, the graphics, or the layout that make a blog (or any website) look nice? Do you design your own site or just use a theme for wordpress or another CMS?

Will · 10-23-2009, 09:02 AM

Wordpress has some amazing themes that frankly looks better than 50% of the newspapers and magazines out there.

Check out Woothemes and Smashing Magazine for examples.

moneymatters · 10-23-2009, 10:43 AM

There are a ton of free and premium themes out there for wordpress that can make your site look amazing.

Personally I bought the thesis theme for wordpress because it is so flexible and easy to upgrade, and then customized it to my liking through my graphic design service that I run.

some themes that I think are extremely good (but not free) include headway, thesis, and the themes by Brian Gardner.

hermione · 10-24-2009, 07:56 PM

Another vote for WordPress. Ever since I started blogging in Feb 2008, I've been touting WordPress all over this forum.

I personally prefer to create my own look, even though my skills aren't as advanced, because I just like for my sites to look like my own. I suggest installing a sandbox version of Wordpress and just playing around with different themes and CSS. CSS takes a little time to get the hang of (took me a year or two to really get the hang of it), but once you do, the possibilities are endless.

dallaskid · 10-25-2009, 05:48 PM

i prefer wordpress layouts too. usually i find a basic template and tweak the colors and logos a bit or add codes together from different templates.

codeyeti · 10-27-2009, 01:02 PM

haha yeah, wordpress is probably the way to go I suppose. It seems like 99% of blogs I see now say "powered by wordpress" at the bottom. Thanks for the advice!

10-22-2009, 09:59 AM	#1
codeyeti Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 31 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	How do you make your blog look appealing? This is really more of a graphic design/web design question, but it's something I can't seem to figure out. I look at other sites on the internet, and they look really good (well, not all other sites...) but if I make a site, it doesn't look very good. Are there some secrets you guys have for making your blog look really nice? Is it all about the colors, the fonts, the graphics, or the layout that make a blog (or any website) look nice? Do you design your own site or just use a theme for wordpress or another CMS?

10-23-2009, 10:43 AM	#3
moneymatters Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Shakopee, MN Posts: 125 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (15)	There are a ton of free and premium themes out there for wordpress that can make your site look amazing. Personally I bought the thesis theme for wordpress because it is so flexible and easy to upgrade, and then customized it to my liking through my graphic design service that I run. some themes that I think are extremely good (but not free) include headway, thesis, and the themes by Brian Gardner. __________________ Bible Money Matters \| Logos For Websites \| Follow me on Twitter

10-24-2009, 07:56 PM	#4
hermione Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: California Posts: 761 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Reputation: (300)	Another vote for WordPress. Ever since I started blogging in Feb 2008, I've been touting WordPress all over this forum. I personally prefer to create my own look, even though my skills aren't as advanced, because I just like for my sites to look like my own. I suggest installing a sandbox version of Wordpress and just playing around with different themes and CSS. CSS takes a little time to get the hang of (took me a year or two to really get the hang of it), but once you do, the possibilities are endless. __________________ My business: Franga Designs ~ My blog: Pecuniarities ~ My CafePress Shop: Mozartini ~ Follow me on Twitter!

10-25-2009, 05:48 PM	#5
dallaskid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 415 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (11)	i prefer wordpress layouts too. usually i find a basic template and tweak the colors and logos a bit or add codes together from different templates. __________________ Visit Free Freebies OR Free Samples Online For Free Samples And Free Stuff Updated Daily

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10-23-2009, 09:02 AM	#2
Will Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 381 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (23)	Wordpress has some amazing themes that frankly looks better than 50% of the newspapers and magazines out there. Check out Woothemes and Smashing Magazine for examples.

10-27-2009, 01:02 PM	#6
codeyeti Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 31 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	haha yeah, wordpress is probably the way to go I suppose. It seems like 99% of blogs I see now say "powered by wordpress" at the bottom. Thanks for the advice!

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