For a blog, I will definitely say that content is top dog. That's why people will read, subscribe to your RSS feed, and keep coming back. Aesthetics are secondary, however, they are not to be ignored completely, which is why most blog packages like WordPress or Movable Type have at least some default styling included. If your blog is a graphic/web design blog then it may play a much more important factor, but otherwise content should always rule out in the decision. There's a spectrum here between almost completely unstyled sites (a la Scoble) and sites where the style almost competes or tries to supercede the content. Since blogs vary so widely on topics discussed, the part aesthetics play will always be different. I wouldn't expect a political blog to be the pinnacle of design excellence, but at the same time I feel that a web designer's blog (if the topic is web design) should have some oomph to it.
Marc James
· 5 years ago
As usual, this doesn't effect my Powerbook. Windows suckers. :P
Carol
· 5 years ago
For me, it's definitely the content. I don't expect everyone who has a blog to also be web-savvy or particularly adept at creating the graphics. Blogs are a way for each of us to have our own corner of the internet, so to speak -- a way to interact with the world, whether it's the world at large, or your own little world of family and friends.
Yes, we could go on and on about standards and aesthetics...but why? Unless it's a corporate blog, are any of us all that worried about who drops by? I know I'm not. My blog is my "open house" -- a never-ending verbal cocktail party where people can come and go as they please. If they come back again and again, great. If they choose never to come back, that's okay too.
I spend so much of my time on what my *clients* want/need...my blog MY space. I can write as often as I like, about anything I like.
Aaron Brazell
· 5 years ago
I realize I differ from you on this, Carol, but I do care if anyone reads my blog and if visitors come back. I do however, agree that it's a personal touch of yourself. But I do actually care if I have readers and what they want. :)
All Comments
Yes, we could go on and on about standards and aesthetics...but why? Unless it's a corporate blog, are any of us all that worried about who drops by? I know I'm not. My blog is my "open house" -- a never-ending verbal cocktail party where people can come and go as they please. If they come back again and again, great. If they choose never to come back, that's okay too.
I spend so much of my time on what my *clients* want/need...my blog MY space. I can write as often as I like, about anything I like.