Blogging 101

Blogging is both a science and an art. There are elements that make you calculable and quantified (science) as well as approachable and inviting (art). Finding the perfect balance between the science and the art is what makes a successful blogger.

Example #1 — The Green Mama

Green Mama is an environmentally-focused family blog. This is communicated through both the design and content of the blog. The logo represents a parent surrounding their child with a green leaf in front of them.

The site is easy to navigate. There are a handful of pages on the site including a blog page, interactive questions page, product ratings and reviews page, and a couple pages that are devoted to home ec and services which are niche to The Green Mama.

The blogger’s writing style and content is educational and serves the purpose of informing the audience. It’s not rigid data, the site is still very approachable and updated. The familial element softens the site and makes it inviting.

Example #2 — I Have Cat

Outside of the title, the purpose of the blog is a little difficult to identify. I Have Cat is a blog devoted to the author’s documentation and sharing of her life through posting content with her cat(s). It’s playful, quirky, and relatable.

The design is rudimentary. There’s an obvious structure to the site, but there are a few elements that are suppressing the success of the site. A few type-face embellishments or bolder font adjustments would bring the page to life.

Like most blogs, there are a handful of pages and they can all be located at the top of the main page of the site. The site is relatively easy to navigate, but could use some polishing. It hasn’t been updated in nearly two years and now feels like an afterthought.

Example #3 — William Beem

William Beem’s blog is devoted to photography education. The purpose is identifiable and the site embodies experience and professionalism.

The design of Beem’s site is clean and uncluttered. The photo teasers of each individual post are the primary focus of the site, followed by the titles of each frequent blog post. There’s a defined hierarchy of content and it works well for Beem’s blog.

There are multiple advertisements for other products and services that Beem is selling. While the content feels dry, the blog is effective. The blog could improve if Beem shared more of his own personality within his blog posts.

In conclusion, there are so many elements of a blog to take into consideration. Each of these blogs assume their own identities, personalities, and purposes. When establishing a blog, it’s important to be intentional about how these things are communicated through your text, photos, type-face, colors, design, and layout.