Tech Vixen Website Feedback
Posted by Lindsayanng on February 23rd, 2009
My first impression is a good one. The site looks nice and clean and you have consistent colors and style through out. That means that when i see an image that has that style and color, I will think of you. And that includes advertisements, so you should make sure that your ads coincide with your colors and theme on your blog.
I like how the colors change when you click on the different categories, but you maintain consistency with the purple and design.
However, your navigation leaves a little to be desired. I commend you for not adding every widget on the plugins page, but i think you went almost TOO simple. I always look to the right for my categories, so it took me a minute to realize yours were on the top. But that’s ok, you do not have to change it. What you should consider is adding a featured post, most popular post, or some other list of your favorite posts on the side. Most people who land on a blog’s main page are going to scroll through your main page posts, and then if there’s nothing worth clicking, they will leave. But what if you have a blog that’s 2 weeks old that is AWESOME but got pushed off your main page? They will not be able to find it without going through all of the posts in that category, and chances are, they won’t know it’s there. So show off your good stuff!
Your writing is good, you need to get that across to people, and you really want them to see what you are capable of PAST your first page.
Ya know, I just had a thought. Keep your main categories on the top, but add a categories widget and allow it to show sub-categories. Then you can separate your content in each main category. Just from looking at your “computing” category, you have a LOT of good content, but it spreads SOO far across the different area of computing, that the category ends up useless. Create sub categories called “Windows OS” “Mac OS” “Fun Stuff” “Hardware” “Software” and do the same for the other categories. This way, people can choose and target directly where they want to go, and will be likely to see MORE articles that they want to read about. Maybe someone ONLY wants to read your posts based on windows, and they don’t really “get” the onion’s WHEEL video and they think it’s real. They click COMPUTING and there are 3 posts that are Windows based, and 5 that are Apple based. and the 2 that are windows based are something they aren’t interested. The one that they WANT to see is actually on page 4 of category “computing” The will not dig that far.
So I think with that addition, you will probably gain a lot interested readers that click further into your website than just the main page or main category page.
You can probably add one or two additional widgets of your choosing. Dont over do it though. Think about what is nessecary to keep readers. I would think that maybe a FEEDBURNER e-mail subscription widget (like I have here) would be a good addition. It helps your readers and does not clutter the screen in any way.
I would put your categories w/ sub categories on the top of the column, then the image ads, then your subscribe and then your adsense ads.
And you’re a computer VIXEN. Ever think of putting a little “About Me” page like I have here. When you are a girl and you like computers and are basically a self proclaimed “computer geek” then you should flaunt it. People like to see girls doing a typically “guy” thing. My sister is one of the hottest gamers i know, and the guys eat it up when she gets on Call of Duty and kicks the guy’s butts. If she told them that she had a blog, bet your BUT they would be on it. Add an “about me” page with some pictures. You can be a girl, flaunt it, AND still be taken seriously.
And ONE LAST THING you have NO contact page!! What if i wanted to contact you about one of your posts, or want to offer my services as a guest poster on your blog, or just want to contact you. You REALLY should have a contact page WITH an email form. I created a tutorial that you can use to create your own, or if you have wordpress, there is a good contact page plugin that I use on this blog.
Want to know who is offering this awesome content? Here it is! Someone who is relatively new to web design. I am new enough to still remember how absolutely frustrating it was to try and get anything done in this field, but have also been around long enough to be able to help those that are where I was a year ago.
Aside from web design, I run the office of my dad's engineering business, and do book keeping by trade.
I love my pets.. All 6 cats, 1 peg legged dogs, and 1 hedgehog. LOVE THEM!!
Oh yea, and my husband. He lets me chase my dreams and I let him do the same. We are happy people because of it. Read more from this author
