Tech Blog Feedback

[applerocks]

Hey,

I've been around MacRumors for years, usually just reading through threads and not posting much. I recently started a blog (called KnowThyTech) with a friend of mine that deals with technology. Instead of posting only news (we have enough spots to look for tech news), we're trying to comment on the news, along with posting articles and tips. iPhonematters even posted one of them on their site, which was really exciting since it happened in our first few days! We're posting about 10 times a day though.

Here's the link: http://www.knowthytech.com and some of our featured posts.

I'm not sure if the design's alright (or how easy it is to improve it with Blogger). If you have any feedback on design, posts, content, etc., I would really appreciate it. I always read all this tech news and it's kinda fun to write about it a little!

Thanks for your help!

 

[theappleguy]

There is nothing wrong with your design as such. It is well structured and easy to read. If you keep it updated with good content, then readers will keep coming back. However, the design isn't unique. It looks just like any other Blogger blog which may mean people won't take your blog as seriously as others.

Take a look at these Mac focused blogs:

http://www.tuaw.com/
http://www.theappleblog.com/
http://www.maccrazy.net/
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/apple/

Each has a unique design and approach to presenting their content. As you are competing for readers with a number of big players and an even bigger number of smaller content providers I would highly recommend working on a unique design. If Blogger doesn't allow you to do this, then I would suggest buying a web hosting plan (while you are small it will only cost a few dollars per month, and as you grow advertising revenue should easily cover a more expensive plan) and setting up Wordpress or an alternative blog system. Even if you don't have a unique design ready to go now, you can start with a standard theme and then add your theme later without loosing your posts or having to copy several months worth to a new system manually. Just something to think about given you say that you are making ten or so posts per day.

 

[applerocks]

Thanks! I think we'll definitely work on our design to differentiate it a bit and maybe look at some other hosting options.

 

[theappleguy]

No worries. Hosting is pretty cheap and it is relatively simple to set up a system like Wordpress, so I would say that's the way to go (most hosts will offer a one click installer such as Fantastico or ScriptWorx, but I'd recommend installing your blog manually so you get a better idea of how everything fits together). When you get to that point, take a look at TJR or ASO.

 

[gamera~]

I like the design, but reading to me seems a little strained. Maybe it's the colors. I think there's too much stuff at the bottom of each post and it ends up muddling the line between posts. Check out http://technologizer.com/ another personal tech blog that I think works quite well.

 

[SrWebDeveloper]

There are 4 lines of text (or something) in the blue bar at the top just above "KnowThyTech" that I can't read, even when text zoomed in FF3.

You also need to work on color contrasting. This means making sure fonts stand out over their background color in your case, i.e. "not enough contrast" such as:

The date above the blog title is too dark
The white text over the light yellow/green is too light
The 897 at the top in the light yellow/green box blow the yellowish star
The white text in the blue box directly to the right of the 897 box at top

It's a valiant attempt to use complimentary colors and minimize contrast for a modern, fresh look, but you go too far when it causes eye strain. You should also note I'm using an iMac in 1680x1050 mode with a calibrated monitor profile so TRUST me on this.

-jim

 

[applerocks]

I like the design, but reading to me seems a little strained. Maybe it's the colors. I think there's too much stuff at the bottom of each post and it ends up muddling the line between posts. Check out http://technologizer.com/ another personal tech blog that I think works quite well.

Thanks. That's a good example. We kinda thought that too and tried to address it, but we'll do more. That stuff at the bottom is FeedBurer, so we'll try to get rid of that and maybe some of the other blue stuff. Maybe messing with the colors would help too. Experimentation time!

You also need to work on color contrasting. This means making sure fonts stand out over their background color in your case, i.e. "not enough contrast" such as:

Jim, thanks a lot for that as well. Some of the strange text and color choices are just the defaults for that theme. I think we'll eventually switch out of Blogger, but for know, I think we'll try to change the colors manually. I'm not sure what that small text is or what the 897 is!! It's just theme data. We're going to be switching that all out with a new logo soon, so hopefully that will help a bit. We didn't want to mess with the default colors too much when we started, but I think it's clear now that we definitely should. We'll change some stuff this weekend and see what you guys think.

Thanks so much!