Welcome to the 17th Reader Blog Critique. Last weeks critique of JobMob generated some great replies, I’m sure this weeks will too 
This weeks review is on BradBlogging, a blogging tips and advice blog which has been online for around a year.
Here are a few questions the owner Brad would like to ask you all :
- If you loaded this blog in your browser right this second, would you remember the design or logo compared to other people’s blogs?
- The liquid layout (the blog fills your screen upon loading) – Love it? Hate it?
- Is there anything that should be taken away? (Too distracting, unnecessary, etc)
- Is there anything that should be added?
- Anything to recommend about the content quality?
The most helpful and constructive commenter will get $10. Alternatively, if you prefer, I can register a domain for you at eNom and push it to your account Brad will decide who the best commenter was.
As usual, I remind everyone that positive or negative, all feedback should be constructive.
If you have any questions about any of this please let me know in this thread
Blog to be Reviewed : BradBlogging
Kevin,
Are these all paid reviews ….
Giving away $10 is good idea dude.. i love this concept..
Here is my review,
Positives:
1)Logo is the first attractive one here with diff colors
2)Content was good need to look into the image siges in posts.
3)Domain names was good
Negatives:
1)I don't like date showing right side… It would be good to see on left side.
2)No need to show Archives on left bar..its waste of place i think..insted it would be better if you have a Archives page.
3)No need to have a what is RSS? link on main menu…its again place waste..it would be better and usefull if you place under you feedburner chicklet.
4) Always its good to have a About page..telling about your blog and about you.
Thats it..that ends my review
Brad,
Its only my opinion dont take too serious
I think BradBlogging is a good site but need to reorganize things such as the Header does not complement well with the content.
TechZoom – No these are not paid reviews. Check out http://www.bloggingtips.com/reader-blog-critique/ to see if your blog qualifies
Ohh thanks kevin.. will check my luck right now
1) I really like the slanted "B" part of the logo, but the "BradBlogging.com" part bothers me. Not sure if it is due to the colors or because I think it would look better with just the "B" (kind of like a brand)
2) I like that it uses all the available screen real estate. It looks more like a traditional website than a blog which is nice to see.
3) The top part where your RSS icon is, that entire grey box is a little distracting, but I imagine it serves the purpose in getting people to notice and click. Also the "What is R.S.S" link in the top nav area looks out of place to me. Also since your posts are fairly heavy (pictures) I'd considering using an excerpt plugin and just showing the first post in its entirety and then like 45-60 word excerpts of the rest.
4) I'd consider adding an about page. Which reminds me I need to do the same on mine.
5) Good content, informative and easy to read. No problems there from my perspective.
I actually love the whole minimalistic look!!
_ve's
The grey part on top (under the twitter area) the space is a tad bit to small. Increasing it my a few px will look good.
The Archives take to much real estate, as suggested try putting it to one page.
'SEO' wise I know so people disagree with 'sculpting' but if you want to go down that route, No follow the archive links and also the latest 'nit bit' I have picked up is that having multiple full posts on the front page is a no no.
I am currently using 'homepage excerpt' plugin to display 1 full and some excerpts on my front page. I have found that this method actually has helped boost SE traffic by a small fraction on my newer posts.
Thanks to all for your critiques.
Thanks to BloggingTips for doing this as well.
Dually noted about the archives, They are history
I was considering excerpts, but I'm mostly using full-posts for the RSS Readers. I find it tedious for them to have to click over to my blog to read the posts.. Shouldn't they just be able to click the title and read? Perhaps there is a plugin that does both – In which case, I'd use it.
I'll consider about changing the "What Is RSS" link.
I definitely need an about page.
Durant's comment was the most useful comment, TechZoomIn was a very close second.
Thanks for your info about the Excerpt plugin, Donace, I appreciate you posting your experience with using them.
my opinions and answers to your questions, fwiw:
-No, I'm sorry, I wouldn't remember your logo, layout, and I'd click off in seconds because the subject/purpose isn't clear. It doesn't seem to have enough of "BRAD" on the page… like your photo. Or, a cartoon depiction like tylercruz.com. Doesn't show enough warmth or who you are.
-I don't mind that the liquid layout, but I'd prefer to at least see it in a bordered outline to have boundaries.
- the "purpose" or subject of the blog isn't clear to me. It should be clear from the first scroll screen. include a subline under your logo to help define the subject.
- Add more main topic links in the top nav bar, particularly an About.
- move the RSS Subscribe to the top of the righthand column or combine with the Search posts in top header area.
- I would consider using that valuable top area where the Greatest Posts, Sub, and Twitter is now as a Google Ad area, IF you get your blog purpose/subject defined within the first scroll screen.
- the calendar graphics moved to left, or better yet, unless there is a good reason for the date to be highlighted so largely, no graphics for date at all. I really wouldn't highlight the date of the post…
- limit polls to the righthand widget area not inside the main article area.
- I would give the layout a more defined look by separating the righthand area with borders, to separate it from the main post area.
- The checkmark, arrows, plus icons in the righthand area are distracting to me.
- The "Do You Like Polls" icon is too big for the main page. Same with the Jamalq8 graphic. The graphics for the posts should be consistent in size and layout spot relative to the post text.
- some graphics on main page are broken and too large.
- there's too much text for each post showing on the main page, imo. should have a "read more" type of thing at bottom of each post synopsis.
- a good example of a defined layout in my opinion is this template: http://www.quickonlinetips.com/wordpress/quickpre…
I'm not associated with them, btw, just love the clean, defined look. Even with this template, I would tweak the righthand area to only include pertinent areas. And, I like having a top nav bar, so I'm not saying that this quickpress template is perfect, but a good example to show you what I mean by having a bordered outline overall for your blog, and defined righthand menu area.
another good example is bloggingtips — you can see how they do similar things to what I recommend above.
once you have your subject/purpose clearly defined, and the layout literally defined with borders, etc. ……………… then you can work on adding good plugins like the Share, etc.
hth, Alanna
oops, sorry for being long-winded. LOL just noticed your post above mine… Alanna
Actually, Alanna should be the winner.. She went above and beyond.
If you haven't given out the prize yet, give it to her
Ty Alanna.
ah shucks, thanks… well, if I'm too late, that's ok, your comments are prize enough, glad if anything helps. I posted before reading through the comments to not influence my thoughts, but I do notice a few repeated suggestions so that's cool— great minds think alike, and it gives you reinforcement………..
actually, for me, editing/proofing/critiquing a blog is easier than coming up with the starting point. lol
Alanna