This seems to be a rather easier topic to blog about isn’t it? Well, I too thought so before sitting down to write this article, but in fact, it is a difficult topic to write, believe me. So what are the things that will make you not pay a second visit to a new blog?
A lot of things actually, it’s difficult to categorize and prioritize each but I’m sure all of us can give ‘n’ number of reasons from our own experience.
- The Layout and template
Having a bad template affects you negatively more than anything else. People don’t like to visit poorly designed pages. Even if the content is great people will not find it attractive because the template does not look good or simply it doesn’t allow them to take a good look at the content. We’ve seen lot of blogs that use stupid templates with lot of decorations and pictures that really obstruct the content(unless if it’s a radio station, port folio etc..). A template should be able to promote your content more than anything else. It’s graphical part should be secondary and should complement the content, rather than being too bright and not selling the content properly. (Having said that, please note that I’m assuming that you have a blog that has lot of content and is intended for reading.) - Less or no content
Another factor that fails to attract readers is the lack of content in the blog. When there are lot of quality websites around, if someone has to really come back to your blog looking for information then you got to show them that you have the info with you. Having less posts and articles is the first and foremost thing that will give a bad impression about you. Also, there are some blogs that fails to show-off their content. they may have great content in their archive pages but none of them would have been displayed properly. Hence they fail to impress the readers. - Number of feed subscribers
If you have less than 100(It depends on what you think is a healthy number) RSS subscribers it’s better that you don’t show off your feedburner status to the world. Wait until you get more than 100 or a healthy number of RSS subscribers and then you can show off the feed count. Provide a feedcount of less than 100 and your visitor can easily make out how successful your blog is.People don’t want to come back to a blog with less subscribers, if people have not been subscribing to your blog, there’s a valid reason to it and a new visitor would like to stand by them unless he finds something very compelling. - Too many ads
Yes, we all are in the same game and would love to put all those affiliate links and ads to the blog. But have you ever wondered why Darren Rowse or John Chow does not put them all together? Or if they do, they arrange and categorize them in to a corner or in a non- obtrusive place. Reason – they value the readers and don’t want to take away their comfort. But young inexperienced bloggers try to put in as many ads as possible and spoil the whole show. A visitor can easily make out that the blog is a struggler and the blogger just want to earn some money from the ads and does not really care about what you read or how comfortable you are. - Less links to resources
A visitor can easily make out if you are an island or not. If you are not linking to other blogs, where ever resources are available, you might not be seen as a credible person by the visitor. Especially when they know that there are more info on the topic you just wrote about available elsewhere. So refrain from linking to genuine resources and it will help your visitor to know if you are a credible guy or not.
There are more factors that helps you to shoo-away your first time readers, and many of us do it just so cool !
I’ve shared my experience (Didn’t have to try too hard! ). Do you know of better ways to drive away visitors?
Did you anyone else notice #5 and that you didn't link to anybody in this post?
I don't agree with #1. I see a lot of poorly designed blogs out there and they are doing just fine.
I mean look at some known blogs like Shoemoney, old Problogger, John Chow and many more.
I work as a designer and I must say that these blogs doesn't have good designs. They have average design at best but it doesn't matter because they are all too popular by now.
I recently redesigned my blog too and commendation came from all corners but my statistic was terrible. I'm tweaking my old design now, because I'm thinking to change it back.
This is just my personal opinion.
I have to disagree with Marko on Shoemoney, Chow looking bad in regards to design. I think Chow has WAY too many ads, but the design is bright and fits his market.
Designers can always have their opinions
, but the end result is what the visitor appeals to.
I've had many designers re-design my sites and conversion NEVER went up. I do agree that ugly sights can still do very well if they have the hungry market to support it!
Design can only go so far as I can attest to it with my sites.
I think the subscriber numbers depend highly on the audience. I average around 50 subscribers, but consider that number high because I don't really attract the "computer" junkie types. Most of my readers probably don't know what RSS is, let alone use a reader.
I still have over 300 visits a day most days.
As always great article…
Automated or scraped content will drive me away in a hurry.
Personally I feel a well-designed [uncluttered, sparse layout, etc] is just an added advantage. Eye-pleasing that's all. Normally we discover a new site thru' search engines, a link, its catchy title, interesting content or incisive comment found in other's blog. We don't actually see the design in the first place.
Hi Marko – I think we have to rethink on what exactly is a "good design". For designers it may be a XHTML complaint sleek looking, clean coded standards based design, but for visitors it may be simply an easy to navigate, user friendly design.
I think Darren and Chow both have excellent designs taking into consideration their user behavior. The designs are just right to deliver what the user needs and it makes them do just what the bloggers want them to..like subscribing to the feed or newsletter.
Kumiko – You proved once again that you are unlike others. You find what others miss.
( No that point was not a deliberate loophole 
)
Kher, Imagine you landed on about.com searching something on Google. If it had a messed up template, not highlighting its contents – would you stay long as you do now on it? Would you remember it the next time you are searching for something? I think most of us won't. (Hey I didn't say that about.com has the best design – it's scrap wrapped beautifully well.)
Jennifer – I think you have a healthy subscriber number taking into consideration your audience.
And Michael – That's a good point indeed.Thanks.
What do mean by "messed up"? Poor layout? But then again, if a particular blog is rather messy or seems "busy", I'll still stay on to read or even come back again to check for its content. I don't give a hoot about its bad design. It's not my blog anyway. Same for About.com. I visit there for its content and not its design. It is too "clinical" for my liking and I find the Sponsored Links and ad quite obstrutive.
Kher – I was trying to lillustrate with an example.About.com has good content, and whats interesting is that they present it very well with a well good layout.
When I say good layout I mean, it isn't easy for a normal visitor to stay away from browsing more topics on About. The content is very well highlighted.
As you said, you come back for it's content (which is very well highlighted with the layout).
John – I think design plays a bigger part than a lot of people realise. I've read some great posts on new blogs recently but their blog design was awful ie. full of advertisements and countless widgets. I agree with you, content is king. However, it doesn't matter how good your content is if there are a lot of factors sending your reader away
Personally, I think if you really want a most minimal answer to this, it all drops down to content. The other points are essential yeah, but sometimes if the content is there, quality ones, then mediocre design or poor number of subscribers, etc won’t make a dent, maybe a little, but you get the point.
what the fuck , were the visitors . i cant see anybody.
can help me please