You know me. Normally, Fridays are for some type of feature or discussion post. Today I’m taking a bit of a back seat and teasing you with an article about how to make your website (read: blog) work for you and your visitors. It’s an article I wrote for my business, and because I’m lazy, I felt that I could cross-post it here. And, we can discuss things if you like. Ready? READY? HERE WE GO!
We are in the Internet age where websites are a necessary and vital part to our existence. If you don’t have a website of your own, you likely use websites to connect with people, find information, or shop. Websites come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. If you’re a frequent Internet surfer, you know that there are good websites…and then there are not so great websites. Today I will talk about three ways to help you improve your website: content, navigation, and stats.
Content:
The purpose of your site will determine what needs to be there.
Navigation:
Simply put, every page you created should be easy to find.
Stats:
Knowing how people interact with your site can also help you with your content and navigation.
For the full article and tips for improving your website, visit Language Management, LLC’s blog.
Now tell me, my dear readers:
What do you think makes a book blog effective and successful in terms of content and navigation? What tools do you use to track stats?
Amy @ bookgoonie November 2, 2012 at 4:43 am
I blog hop from my phone. So font, font color and background color are HUGE issues for me. Cursive script is difficult to read. Black background or busy is hard to read off of. Lots of crazy font color changes, especially that don’t add emphasis or of the neon variety. Busy sidebars.
I’m lame. I just use WP stats.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 2, 2012 at 8:36 am
Oh! That reminds me that I should look into putting a mobile theme on my business site. I think even blog hopping on the computer (though obviously more so on a phone) can be influenced by font, font color, and background color.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I honestly don’t know if WP.com allows Google Analytics and StatCounter. When I was using it, I could have Google Webmaster Tools, but not Analytics. And I didn’t install StatCounter until very recently.
Hannah @ Once Upon A Time November 2, 2012 at 9:15 am
I love WP stats. I use Jetpack’s version of it for my hosted Wordpress blog. :)
Much easier to understand than Analytics imho.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 2, 2012 at 11:27 am
Analytics really isn’t very intuitive. StatCounter is better, but it doesn’t cover everything Analytics does.
Jenny November 2, 2012 at 9:34 am
This is definitely something I know I should put more thought into. I should work on increasing SEO among other things, and really sit back and think about the blog overall. But I’m lazy Amanda. I’m lucky some days to get a post up and books read at all, so the thought of analyzing the blog’s effectiveness makes me want to cry a little. I do try to make sure the blog is easy to read and navigate, so that’s something. I know if I land on a site that has hard to read type and colors that make my eyes hurt I just click it closed and don’t go back:)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 2, 2012 at 11:35 am
For me, it’s important for my blog to be pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate–I can’t NOT do this–but as far as increasing SEO and stuff goes? Eh. This is a hobby and I’m doing it for fun. As far as stats go, I like to see how people interact with my site (StatCounter, for example, let me know that my Related Posts plugin is effective) but I don’t tailor my posts to what gets the most traffic. I’m too lazy for that. I just want to write about what I want to write about. :)
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) November 2, 2012 at 10:07 am
I like what Amy said about fonts and colors. It’s easy to think that with ALL the selection out there that the only way to be different is to add a different background color or font. BUT, there are so many other ways to be different and unique on your blog, with graphics, headers, and by just being you in your posts. I can’t stress enough that having a simple font and an easy-on-the-eyes background will save your readers from headache.
Navigation is also something that needs to be easy on a blog. I tried to be as simple as I could with drop-down menus that still make my site easy to navigate AND keep it looking good (because NO ONE likes a lot of clutter!). I’m sure there are things I could still do, but since some people don’t even have a search bar on their blogs, I think I’m doing okay.
Stats are one thing that I don’t check a lot … I do look at how many page views I get, what pages are most popular each day, and what outgoing links are being clicked, but that’s about it. Maybe I’m doing that wrong?
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 2, 2012 at 11:42 am
One thing I don’t like is when navigation is primarily by category. In theory, it’s great, but if you’re looking for a specific post, it’s a bitch to wade through all the posts. (Like when I’m searching for a specific CR post of mine, I have to use the search bar or guess the date.)
The benefit to something like StatCounter is that it allows you to see the path your visitor’s take. So, do they leave after arriving? Do they click around? If they do, where do they go? And so on.
Smash Attack November 3, 2012 at 8:37 am
Navigation is one thing I would like to work on, but can’t do it myself. Would need to involve Cialina, and I don’t want to bother her. lol. One of these days…
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 3, 2012 at 9:47 am
What did you want to do with navigation?
Smash Attack November 3, 2012 at 10:24 am
There is a lot I’d like to add to my menu. I’d like to do the drop-down lists, but it’s not set up to work with my current design.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 3, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Is your menu part of your design? I have a plugin that controls my menu. I would if it would be as simple as installing a plugin?
Smash Attack November 3, 2012 at 3:19 pm
I think it’s part of the design. When I try to add something new to the menu, it screws up the design. Moves everything over and it gets all all funky. I am not sure if a plugin would help, but I could always try. Which one do you use?
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 3, 2012 at 3:20 pm
JQuery Drop Down Menu
Looks like it might require some PHP stuff, though. :(
Smash Attack November 3, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Yea, I think I definitely need help. Maybe T can help me. If not, I will ask Cialina…at some point. :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 3, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Cialina is a good resource. So is Mandi, if she has time right now.