Key elements to consider for blogging success.
As a copywriter, you may not be focused on things like fonts, colors and images, but the look of your blog is just as important as its well-written words. Trust us – you can have an exciting, compelling post that you’ve spent a week writing, but no one will read it if the font is too small, the links are invisible or you didn’t bother to break it into digestible paragraphs.
If you’re new to blogging and digital/graphic design, let Ping help! Read on for Ping’s tips on designing your blog.
Ping Tip: Design your blog for your reader’s experience
Take a look at a few different websites and blogs that you like, and think about the reader’s experience when they land on those pages.
- Does the page look organized, put together, well thought out?
- Are the colors inviting?
- Is the font legible and easy to read?
- Is there way too much going on?
- Do you feel like you want to stay?
Now ask these questions of your own blog. Think about the look of your page, and how the audience will engage with your content. Make a list of ways you can improve your readers’ experience, and then make those changes.
Choosing fonts: practical over pretty
A rooky mistake is choosing fonts that are difficult to read, too small, overly ornate or the wrong color on the background.
Remember, your blog is a vessel for your ideas, and you want them to be easily digestible.
Of course beautiful fonts are tempting, but for blogs, readability is the most important factor. Keeping fonts simple and readable instead of ornate and flowery can be the difference between a blog getting shared and people clicking off without even reading the intro.
Our favorite fonts to get you started: Lato, Ariel, Helvetica and any other “sans serif” font (“serif” refers to the extra, extended points or curls on the ends of each letter, such as Times Roman, as opposed to Helvetica, where the letters end smoothly. While there is debate on which type of font is easier to read, san serif fonts are cleaner looking in general).
If you’re unsure where to start, stick with the default fonts in your blog’s template. These are designed to be simple and universal.
Remember, it’s not about having the trendiest font, it’s about who creating a well-organized, legible blog where information flows effortlessly, and where the reader can quickly and easily find the spot that answers their question (yes, Google rewards for that by ranking you higher).
Using images for greater impact
Images are a powerful tool for enhancing your blog’s content and design. They draw readers in, break up text, and make your posts more engaging.
At Ping, we source images from various platforms, but one we love is Unsplash. It’s free, easy to use, and all they ask is that you credit the photographers.
For a 700–1,200-word blog, aim to include 5–8 images. This balance keeps your blog visually dynamic without overwhelming your readers.
There are a lot of great sources for images. Here at Ping, we use a combination of sources, but one we like and use often is Unsplash. You can sign up for a free account and then search away, downloading images that will work for your blog. All they ask is that you credit the photographer by posting their link (like we did in this blog).
Think about color when designing your blog
If you’ve chosen a color palette as part of your brand and website identity, great! If not, it’s time to consider what colors best reflect your brand and appeal to your audience. What colors are most inviting to your readers, and align with your topic or your brand?
Color helps move the reader’s eye along and down the page, and you can use color – or lack of color – to let the reader know where to go next.
At Ping, where our mantra is “less is more,” we use a lot of white space to give the eyes a moment to rest, and to naturally draw attention to the work we are showcasing.
What’s your own style? How can the visual elements reflect your topic?
It’s fun to explore how colors affect each other. Experiment until you’re happy (or email us and we’ll help you!)
Feedback from others
Before you hit “publish,” you can share your blog with friends & family, an editor or a mentor to get further feedback. Online groups like Reddit or Facebook can also provide helpful notes. Take any advice as constructive, and if you feel it’s valid, make those corrections.
Feedback can be tough to hear at first, and it can be scary to ask for a critique of your work, but it gets easier over time, and getting different perspectives is very valuable to your growth as a writer.
Ready? Go for it!
This intro just scratches the surface of blog design, but it’s enough to get you started and moving in the right direction. The best thing to do is just start. The more you work with design elements, the easier it will get, and you can always revise.
Revise your formatting and design elements whenever you want
The great thing about your blog is that it can always be revised. Six months or a year later, you can run a fresh SEO keyword search and revise your blog to attract that new traffic. You can update your photos or change your formatting at any time, or add new information.
So don’t be afraid to get your blog going, and as always, let us know if we can help.