Comments on: Being Unique in the Blogosphere http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere/ Custom Design & Blog Consulting Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:47:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Missing in action. « Make money Blogging? Let’s find out! http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere/comment-page-1/#comment-167 Missing in action. « Make money Blogging? Let’s find out! Sun, 09 Sep 2007 00:33:34 +0000 http://wordpressthemes.com/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere.htm#comment-167 [...] http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere.htm [...] [...] http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere.htm [...]

]]> By: Nathan Rice http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Nathan Rice Wed, 02 May 2007 15:31:52 +0000 http://wordpressthemes.com/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere.htm#comment-9 I think myspace's popularity is due to the massive group solidarity. Myspace has neither function nor design in its favor, yet it is incredibly popular. One of myspace's most popular feature (its customization features) is its greatest flaw IMO. I think that there are obvious exceptions to this rule. Design matters *most of the time*, but every once in a while, it doesn't. Take Kevin Rose for instance. If digg didn't look pretty, it'd still be popular, because it had a "celebrity" endorsement, ie Kevin. Myspace is popular for being popular. One of the reasons people won't jump ship on myspace is because all of their friends are on it. Windows is another one. Macs are prettier, but Windows is popular. These are indeed exceptions, but don't count on joining the ranks of such players as microsoft, newscorp and google. Your best bet is to have good content and good looks. I think myspace’s popularity is due to the massive group solidarity. Myspace has neither function nor design in its favor, yet it is incredibly popular. One of myspace’s most popular feature (its customization features) is its greatest flaw IMO.

I think that there are obvious exceptions to this rule. Design matters *most of the time*, but every once in a while, it doesn’t. Take Kevin Rose for instance. If digg didn’t look pretty, it’d still be popular, because it had a “celebrity” endorsement, ie Kevin.

Myspace is popular for being popular. One of the reasons people won’t jump ship on myspace is because all of their friends are on it.

Windows is another one. Macs are prettier, but Windows is popular.

These are indeed exceptions, but don’t count on joining the ranks of such players as microsoft, newscorp and google. Your best bet is to have good content and good looks.

]]> By: Brian Gardner http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Brian Gardner Wed, 02 May 2007 15:21:13 +0000 http://wordpressthemes.com/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere.htm#comment-8 Nathan & Ed - now figure this one out. Myspace's design is less than boring, but in this case, content far exceeds design. To me, the Mypace site looks like anybody could have made it up. Functionality, I'm sure behind the scenes it's very complex, but the overall look of the site is pretty bad. Nathan & Ed – now figure this one out. Myspace’s design is less than boring, but in this case, content far exceeds design. To me, the Mypace site looks like anybody could have made it up. Functionality, I’m sure behind the scenes it’s very complex, but the overall look of the site is pretty bad.

]]> By: Ed Sutherland http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Ed Sutherland Wed, 02 May 2007 14:44:31 +0000 http://wordpressthemes.com/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere.htm#comment-7 I totally agree. Another way to think of the melding of design and content is art. The breath-taking response from viewing the Mona Lisa can be dulled if the painting is framed wrong and hung in a dusty corner. Just the same, the most ornate frame empty cannot draw the same number of viewers as a well-designed border for masterful art. Design and Content are co-dependent. The best examples of design and content aren't the flashiest or the ones with the latest bells-and-whistles, but those which complement. Take Cutline, for example. The white background and sparing use of graphics highlights words well-suited to the theme. On the flip side, if you just had canned content and a bunch of Adsense, visitors would say 'nice design, but I don't think its worth my time.' Ed I totally agree. Another way to think of the melding of design and content is art. The breath-taking response from viewing the Mona Lisa can be dulled if the painting is framed wrong and hung in a dusty corner. Just the same, the most ornate frame empty cannot draw the same number of viewers as a well-designed border for masterful art. Design and Content are co-dependent.

The best examples of design and content aren’t the flashiest or the ones with the latest bells-and-whistles, but those which complement. Take Cutline, for example. The white background and sparing use of graphics highlights words well-suited to the theme. On the flip side, if you just had canned content and a bunch of Adsense, visitors would say ‘nice design, but I don’t think its worth my time.’

Ed

]]> By: Nathan Rice http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Nathan Rice Wed, 02 May 2007 14:06:29 +0000 http://wordpressthemes.com/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere.htm#comment-6 Great Line: "If content is king, the designer serves the role as landscaper and architect." I don't think your comment was contrarian at all. Obviously, there are tons of blogs out there to help with your content, but one must not forget the importance of the design. A bad design (I didn't say simple) can ruin even the best content. Nathan Great Line:
“If content is king, the designer serves the role as landscaper and architect.”

I don’t think your comment was contrarian at all. Obviously, there are tons of blogs out there to help with your content, but one must not forget the importance of the design. A bad design (I didn’t say simple) can ruin even the best content.

Nathan

]]> By: Ed Sutherland http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Ed Sutherland Wed, 02 May 2007 13:49:59 +0000 http://wordpressthemes.com/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere.htm#comment-5 A customized theme is important (surveys show users within seconds judge a site's value), unique design alone does not ensure return visits. We've all encountered lovely-looking people who open their mouths and our opinions instantly change. If design is the foot in the door, content is what gets you into the living room and a comfy seat. Some of the most-trafficked sites are often the most plain and appear out-of-the box. Chris Pearson's Cutline site attracts loads of users with the plain theme and a wealth of information. I agree a design can initially determine whether users will trust your content, but it is the content (or lack thereof) which cements your worthiness. There are some areas where design trumps content. For instance, a user must quickly scan a site and determine who is operating the site, its purpose and how to subscribe or obtain a feed. For that, a professional designer can greatly help. A design can also make easier locating content. If content is king, the designer serves the role as landscaper and architect. A castle is of no use if people are eaten by alligators in the moat while searching for an ill-placed drawbridge. Then there is the subject of the increasing use of RSS to syndicate that content. As people read headlines, content becomes more important than design. A few comments from a contrarian content person. ;) Ed A customized theme is important (surveys show users within seconds judge a site’s value), unique design alone does not ensure return visits. We’ve all encountered lovely-looking people who open their mouths and our opinions instantly change. If design is the foot in the door, content is what gets you into the living room and a comfy seat.

Some of the most-trafficked sites are often the most plain and appear out-of-the box. Chris Pearson’s Cutline site attracts loads of users with the plain theme and a wealth of information. I agree a design can initially determine whether users will trust your content, but it is the content (or lack thereof) which cements your worthiness.

There are some areas where design trumps content. For instance, a user must quickly scan a site and determine who is operating the site, its purpose and how to subscribe or obtain a feed. For that, a professional designer can greatly help. A design can also make easier locating content. If content is king, the designer serves the role as landscaper and architect. A castle is of no use if people are eaten by alligators in the moat while searching for an ill-placed drawbridge.

Then there is the subject of the increasing use of RSS to syndicate that content. As people read headlines, content becomes more important than design.

A few comments from a contrarian content person. ;)

Ed

]]> By: Brian Gardner http://www.wordpressthemes.com/blog/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Brian Gardner Tue, 01 May 2007 15:12:18 +0000 http://wordpressthemes.com/being-unique-in-the-blogosphere.htm#comment-2 All great points, Nathan, especially for those who are new to blogging to consider. I agree a lot with point #4, in that the "popular" themes may not necessarily serve one's site the best. All great points, Nathan, especially for those who are new to blogging to consider. I agree a lot with point #4, in that the “popular” themes may not necessarily serve one’s site the best.

]]>