Can somebody tell me how I can improve my blog/website?

29 replies
Hello, good morning. I read a book somewhere that we should keep our websites simple. But something seems missing to me. Can someone take a look at my website and tell me how to improve it? I'm open to all suggestions. Thank you.

www.tristanleesblog.com
#improve #site
  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Maybe I'm dreaming and maybe you're not done yet, but I don't see any "money links" on your pages.

    It also looks very 1990's.

    Perhaps another template will spruce up the site.

    I concur with Tina G., the content looks good.

    Hope This Helps!!

    TL
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    • Profile picture of the author edhan
      Yes. I do agree with others that you have good content.

      Why not use wordpress? It will be the fastest way to get index by search engines and generate traffic. You will then be able to use the pinger services for your content.

      Continue with your article content and you will be on your way to generate good traffic. After that, you can add products or services where you can make some money.
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  • Profile picture of the author MrCruzin
    Another vote for setting something up on wordpress. You can grab some pretty simple themes.

    The design all really depends on what you are trying to do.
    For what it seems one of the newspaper type templates or maybe a personal one.

    Keeping it simple is ok, to simple and people will walk, you have to find a balance.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    I love the minimalist look. Good job.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tristan Lee
      Yikes! I just got back from lunch and got soaked by the rain... Thanks for your responses so far.

      @Tina G - Hello, the blue bands are the page margins. I didn't widen it so far because there would just be too much white space around the text.

      @TL and healymedia - Haha 1990's and 1997? I guess I'm about a decade or two off to date. The reason for this is well, I tried to focus on my writing and didn't want to be distracted by website design. I didn't know it came out old school looking though, heh.

      @Pat Ordenes - That's a good idea. I'm not really sure what kind of visual header might suit the theme of the site though. Or if I need a visual here at all?

      @edhan and MrCruzin - Thanks for suggesting Wordpress. The thing is I bought my web design software for $197. I don't know... I just think it would kind of be a waste of money if I used a free blogging software.

      @Steven Carl Kelly - Thank Steven. Congrats on your 1000th post!

      I guess some people here think, to improve my blog/website, I should change to wordpress...? Hmmm... I've never used wordpress before, but is it something that gives you more control over your website?
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      • Profile picture of the author The Pension Guy
        Originally Posted by Tristan Lee View Post

        The thing is I bought my web design software for $197. I don't know... I just think it would kind of be a waste of money if I used a free blogging software.
        Maybe I misunderstand something... but a web design tool (software) and a publishing system like WP are not excluding each other. Moreover, they have completely different functions, so it not a choice of "this or that".

        WordPress (like any blogging engine) is just that: a specialized content management system (CMS). In itself has nothing to do with the design.
        There is WP the engine of the site.
        There is your content in the database.
        There is the look - in WP called themes, that determine the look of the end result.

        You can use any kind of "design software" to create the look (theme) of your WP powered blog/site.

        I thought it would help to clarify the basics...
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  • Profile picture of the author a1journo
    Hey Steven, '

    since you're not using wordpress, I don;t know if you'll be able to, but its always good to see a blog with a couple of things in a side bar, like scrolling recent posts, or tags - just often leads people to spend longer on your site if there's something that catches their eye.

    And a couple of good images are always pleasing to they eye - even put one in the occassional post.

    Hope that helps!
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    • Profile picture of the author juliana
      I'm considering the site design and content regarding this matter.A blog or site can be arrange the way you think your customer will love to visit it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve L
    Originally Posted by Tristan Lee View Post

    Hello, good morning. I read a book somewhere that we should keep our websites simple. But something seems missing to me. Can someone take a look at my website and tell me how to improve it? I'm open to all suggestions. Thank you.

    www.tristanleesblog.com
    don't forget to submit each blog post to social bookmarking sites using socialmarker.com

    big time saver!
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  • Profile picture of the author zulfnore
    I second all who suggested switching to wordpress for your blog.

    As for the expensive web site design software, it wont go to waste. There still landing pages, squeez pages and sales pages you can use it for as you progress.

    I highly recommend using wordpress for your blog.
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  • Profile picture of the author Igor Kheifets
    Hey Tristan,

    the website is too small and too simple.
    It doesn't have any opt-in forms or subscription
    options and that is not good.

    Igor
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    • Profile picture of the author Zack Lim
      Hi Tristan,

      You might want to make use of the wordpress blog so that you will have a more professional looking blog. There are many great looking templates which you will be able to add to your blog.

      I agree with the rest that your content is great. But will this be your own personal blog or it will be your business blog? I am confused as I do not know what is the main topic that your blog is covering.

      You might want to include in your opt in form so that you will be able to build your list and you will be able to send them a email when you have updated your blog with new post.

      Hope my humble contribution helps

      Zack
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  • Profile picture of the author ken_p
    first thing i would have to say, is that its way too simple. it almost looks like a page from a textbook.:-( maybe you should do something about that??
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  • Profile picture of the author Tristan Lee
    @a1journo - I'm not Steven? Heh just kidding. I get your point. Thanks.

    @The Pension Guy - Ah I see. I didn't know this before. Thank for informing me about this.

    @mhutar - Yeah I am lacking content. I will add more! By the way, there is a footer in my website near the bottom. Do you mean site index?

    @Steve - Thanks for the social bookmarking tip Steve! I don't get much traffic to this site...

    @Igor - I don't really want an optin form because I don't want to spam people with emails. I get emails from internet marketers and they are sometimes irritating.

    @Zack - I actually don't know right now. It is a personal blog but I also would like to find ways to monetize it. However, right now I don't get that much traffic. I go to school as well so much of my time during the day is spent on writing content, instead of getting traffic. If I spent my time getting traffic, then my I have trouble producing posts. So I find myself in this dilemma, coming here and hoping to find out how to improve my traffic so at least some people are reading what I am writing about.

    @Ken - "It looks like a page from a textbook." Ouch. I'm guessing I'm guessing textbook to a lot of people equals boring.

    @David - Yes you are right. It is XSitePro. I did not know that XSitePro can publish WordPress themes. I do intend to make income from my blog in the future, but I'm not sure how XSitePro and WordPress mix together (as The Pension Guys above says that you can use any kind of "design software" to create the look (theme) of your WP powered blog/site. Please send me the videos if you can. Thank you.

    @Others - Thank you for your inputs.

    I guess majority of the people think that to improve this blog, it needs to be changed over to WordPress. I'm just worrying if a theme will take away from the content of my blog.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Tompson
    The first thing I know about your site is that it's not attractive because there is no graph or any images. Beside here is some very useful info regarding your problem. How ever take a similar site and compare by your self, and see what you come up with?
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  • Profile picture of the author PaulSchubert
    Tristan,

    Allow me to share a little of my 30+ years computer/marketing experience with you. I was transmitting data (via snail-paced modems) and designing graphics (using X's and O's on a dot matrix printer) long before most of the people on this forum were born. I think I know what you are trying to accomplish, and I believe you are on the right track so far. There are many great suggestions already posted here, as there are many qualified people on this forum to advise you accordingly.

    1. Software - What software are you using? Does it allow you to create your own template? If so, you need to think visually and create a blog based on form, function and color. You have 16 seconds (or less) from when a person first views your page, to the decision they make whether to stay or move on to the next site. Three key words... form, function, color.

    2. Content - Your content appears to be very interesting and current with the times. Your blog design should reflect your ability to know what people want to see as much as what they want to read. Research by looking at that which other successful people in your niche are using for their site designs. Emulating successful people is what successful people do!

    3. K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid, is one of the oldest and most copied marketing methods in the history of marketing. Simple is good, but simple can also be detrimental, depending on how the message is conveyed (through form, function and color).

    Summary - Your thoughts of keeping it simple are good, but your site lacks dimension. You need to think of your site from a current-sophisticated-web-surfers standpoint. People today expect graphics, color, audio, video, advertisements, popups, popunders, etc., etc. Catch them off guard by keeping your site simple (yet complex) by treating them to a simple visual experience which reflects your content and more importantly YOU as the site owner. People actually need places on the internet where they can go and feel relaxed while enjoying reading good quality content... and that you do have. Give your visitors an experience to enjoy and relax at. The internet is a busy and fast -paced environment which needs simple sites to slow people down and make them think. You have a good idea, continue to make it better.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
      Originally Posted by PaulSchubert View Post

      Allow me to share a little of my 30+ years computer/marketing experience with you. I was transmitting data (via snail-paced modems) and designing graphics (using X's and O's on a dot matrix printer) long before most of the people on this forum were born.
      Paul:

      Not to highjack the thread, but you and I sound like kindred spirits. I got my start back in 1976 when I had no access to computer graphics at all. There was none, I was writing code on a TTY terminal connected to an IBM 370 and I stored by programs on paper tape!

      Later I graduated to an Altair 8800 with an 8-inch floppy drive. It was incapable of booting on it's own, you had to flip switches on the front of the box to enter about a dozen lines of hex code and then flip the "run" switch to cause it to boot up.
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  • Profile picture of the author kentaiwan98
    Well, yes it looks simple and 90's but sometimes that isn't a bad thing. You could add a header graphic, some in picture posts, perhaps even a sidebar of sorts. It wouldn't take much to fill out the site. Also, if you focus on mobile phones as your readership, then it could work very well. I know I hate graphics heavy sites on my phone, since the bandwidth is so poor at times.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyrus Antas
    The site lacks identity however it's relatively well structured. See if you can use your photo on your header.

    Adding some social elements might help but only if you really network and build traffic: stuff like Google Friend Connect and Yahoo mybloglog. Maybe add comments but only if you can guarantee participation.

    Tyrus
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    You need branding ... a logo/header, a better theme. You need images to break up all the text. People are turned off by long columns of nothing but text. They look at that and there's nothing to capture their interest and they say ... I'm not reading all that!
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  • Profile picture of the author JonStein
    Tristan,

    My opinion is that what you are doing so far is exactly the intended purpose of your blog:

    Your about me page says:

    "
    My aim in this blog is to enlighten oneself through the mind and physical body. There are more than six billion people on this earth, but only a few percentage of them truely have a successful, dream life."

    To that end, I believe you are doing what you want and that is to help people and enlighten them, which is noble.

    If your intention is to later monetize your site, a few minor changes will be necessary.

    In the meantime, I was truly impressed by the quality of your writing and the format of your posts (except you should have posts link together, so one could navigate your site easier).

    Keep up the good work!
    Jon

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    • Profile picture of the author DotComSecretsTour
      I would suggest using a wordpress blog too. I've had a lot of success when using wordpress and its easy to find someone to build a theme for you, if you do not like the free themes available. Definitely post your project on guru.com once you know exactly what you want to see and I'm sure you will get a lot of quality responses...we always do and have been impressed with the work of most of the designers on that site.

      Jenn
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      • Profile picture of the author Tristan Lee
        Thanks for the tips guys .

        @Crubalo - Thanks! I try to work on words and phrases everytime I write.

        @PaulSchubert - Wow... X's and O's on dot matrix printers? I don't even know what that is. It seems like you were dealing with computers way before I was born. You must be very experienced!

        @sbucciarel - You have a good point. I guess people these days don't like to read long amounts of text.

        @Steven - You and Paul seem to have a lot in common with computer programming .

        @JonStein - Thanks Jon. Thanks very kind of you.

        @Others - Yes, I think I will change to Wordpress even though I'm regretting now buying XSitePro for about $200. Oh well, the past is the past; it's time to move forward. I'm hoping though that the content and date "format" of my website can be transferred to Wordpress? I want to keep what I've written so far... Thanks everybody for your help again.
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