Your blog is the vessel for a lot of your most IMPORTANT content. It’s the place your audience goes when they are looking for something of value from you – and it’s ideally where they’ll find it. It has to look good sure: but it also has to feel good.
Even the best content can fall flat if its layout is convoluted and hard to navigate.
You might be thinking, “Isn’t good content enough?” Well, not quite. Your blog’s design is like the packaging of a product – it’s the first thing people see, and it can make or break their decision to stick around. A well-designed blog:
Makes your content look good (and trustworthy)
Grabs your reader’s attention
Makes key information easy to find
Establishes your brand identity
Good design isn’t just about looking pretty – it’s about creating an experience that keeps readers engaged and coming back for more.
First impressions matter! When your blog looks polished and professional, it tells readers that you’re serious about what you do.
A well-thought-through layout makes sure your content is always presented cleanly and in a readable format. This means:
Consistent formatting for text, headings, images, and colors
Accessible fonts and appropriate text sizes
Good use of spacing and alignment to avoid clutter
People are kind of fleeting nowadays – attention is a currency and you’ve only got seconds to hook your reader. Make sure your most engaging elements are “above the fold” – that’s the part of the page visible without scrolling.
This could be an eye-catching headline or thumbnail, or even an intriguing excerpt from your post.
Your layout should make it easy for readers to kind of “fall into” your article. Gradually immerse the reader, so exploring topics in-depth comes naturally.
Let’s face it, most people skim online content. So don’t hide the key information and help them out by:
Using clear, descriptive headings.
Breaking up text with bullet points and short paragraphs (like this!)
Making quotes and key points stand out.
Your blog is an extension of your brand, so it should look and feel like it. Consistent use of colors, fonts, and imagery across your blog helps reinforce your brand identity. It’s like leaving your signature on your work.
Think about some of your favorite brands. You can probably recognize their content at a glance, right? That’s the power of a strong brand identity, and the way you structure and present your blog plays a big role in that.
At the end of the day, your blog posts are a tool to grow your business. A well-designed layout can help convert casual readers into loyal customers.
This means strategically placing calls-to-action (CTAs) to guide readers toward the next step you want them to take. (customer journey insert link) Whether that’s signing up for your newsletter, checking out a product, or simply leaving a comment!
Leave a trail of breadcrumbs leading straight to your products or services. Make it easy to follow along, with the promise of value at the end (see LINK MAGNETS), and your readers will follow!
Remember, the key to great blog layouts is a balance between aesthetics and functionality. Your blog post template should enhance your blog content, not overshadow it. A simple blog layout should include:
Your title and body text are the meat and potatoes of your blog page. They must be readable and formatted accessibly, or else your audience will struggle to interface with your content at all.
Use a clear, attention-grabbing title (throw in a power word) that accurately reflects your content. For the body, break up your text into digestible paragraphs and use subheadings to naturally guide readers through your content.
A hero image is like the cover of a book – it sets the tone for your post. Choose a high-quality, relevant image that resonates with your content. This could be a custom graphic, a stock photo, or even an infographic.
Remember, visual appeal can significantly impact a reader’s first impression. You can use a video thumbnail to the same effect!
Including author information and the publication date adds credibility to your post. It shows readers that there’s a real person behind the content and gives context to when the information was published.
This can be especially important to show for time-sensitive topics, and specifics that readers would expect to be up-to-date.
In our fast-paced world, readers appreciate knowing how much time they’ll need to invest in your content. A simple “5 min read” can help set expectations and may encourage busy readers to save longer articles for later!
Sticky navigation keeps your menu and key CTAs visible as readers scroll. This makes it easy for readers to navigate your site or take action at any point while reading your post.
For longer posts, a table of contents acts like a roadmap for your readers. It allows them to jump to sections that interest them most (at ANY time if you stick your table of contents in your sticky menus), improving the user experience, especially for those looking for specific information.
Make it EASY for readers to spread the word about your content! Social sharing buttons should be easily visible but not intrusive. Consider which platforms are most relevant to your audience, and include those.
A comments section encourages engagement and can foster a sense of community around your blog. However, you may have to moderate comments and use a third-party commenting system to reduce spam.
Suggesting related content at the end of your post can keep readers on your site longer, reducing bounce rates (going back to the search engine) and potentially increasing conversions. Also, use jump links baked into the article itself to internally link back to relevant topics.
Make sure these suggestions are valuable and directly connected to the article!
Structure your content with H1, H2, H3 tags, etc. This hierarchy helps both readers and search engines understand the organization of your content. Use only one H1 tag per page (usually your post title) and nest other headings logically.
Meta descriptions are the short summaries beneath the page title in the search results. While meta descriptions don’t really directly impact rankings, they can influence click-through rates from search results pages. Aim for 150-160 characters and include relevant keywords naturally.
With mobile traffic accounting for over half of web traffic globally nowadays, your blog HAS TO look and feel great on all devices. Make sure you tailor to different screen sizes, and that navigation and menus are intuitive across the board.
Alt text serves two important purposes: it improves accessibility for visually impaired users and helps search engines understand your images. Write descriptive, keyword-rich alt text for all your important images.
These are some general standardized guidelines – you don’t have to follow them if you don’t want!
Stick with clean, sans-serif fonts for body text. Popular choices include Arial, Helvetica, or Open Sans. If you want, you can do some extra research into contrast and dyslexia-friendly fonts. Save more decorative fonts for headings if you want to add some personality.
Aim for at least 16px or 1 REM for body text. This ensures readability across devices. It’s better to err on the side of slightly too large than too small!
Set line height to at least 140% of the text size for readability. This gives your text room to breathe and makes it easier for readers to track from one line to the next.
Aim for 8-12 words per line (usually 640-800px wide). Lines that are too long are difficult to parse, while lines that are too short can disrupt the flow of reading.
Use the same styling for all standard paragraphs, headings, etc. Consistency in your design helps create a polished, professional look and immerses your readers.
Make sure your headings visually show the content structure. This could mean using different sizes, colors, or weights for different heading levels. A clear hierarchy guides readers through your content naturally.
No fuzzy, pixelated pics allowed! High-quality images reflect well on your brand and enhance the overall look of your blog.
Choose images that add value to your content. Irrelevant images, no matter how pretty, can confuse or distract readers.
Large images can slow down page load times. Optimize your images for web use, balancing quality with file size.
If you overlay text on images, make sure it’s readable. Use a semi-transparent overlay or carefully choose text color to ensure sufficient contrast.
Optimize images and minimize plugins to keep things speedy. Faster loading times improve user experience and can positively impact your search engine rankings.
Ensure your blog can be used by people with disabilities. This includes using proper heading structure, providing alt text for images, and ensuring sufficient color contrast.
Think about what functions readers will gravitate towards, and make them accessible and clear – e.g. a blog homepage button, or scroll-to-top feature
Cluttered Sidebars: Keep it clean and focused. Only include elements that add value to the user experience.
Tiny Fonts: Don’t make your readers squint! Remember, readability is key.
Poor Contrast: Ensure text stands out against the background for easy reading.
Overusing Pop-ups: They can be annoying and hurt mobile usability. Use them sparingly and consider their timing and placement carefully.
Inconsistent Branding: Stick to your brand’s visual identity across all elements of your blog design.
Designing an effective blog layout is about balancing aesthetics, usability, and your actual business stuff. Keep it clean, focused, and true to your brand. Remember, your blog is often the first impression potential customers have of your business – make it count!
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your blog post templates. Use analytics to see what works, and don’t be shy about asking your readers for feedback. Your blog should evolve with your business and your audience’s needs.
You’ve got this! 💪
