Blog sidebars reconstruction tips were provided two weeks ago so that your blog sidebars can help to bring out the elements of your blog which you would like to show from now on but at the same time, keeping the risks of spoiling your blog design and causing frustrations to your readers low.
In this article, I will be giving out more tips on how you can maximize the utilization of your blog sidebars without having blog readers letting them out in the cold again.
Don’t Neglect Blog Sidebars
A blog needs to have at least one sidebar and even traditional static sites will normally have one. It is an undoubted fact that sidebar enhances navigation and provides more space to fulfils visitors’ information and visualization needs.
One of the reasons why blog visitors no longer pay much attention to blog sidebars is that most blog sidebars are not properly managed and as time passes by, the neglected sidebar will slowly flows into the blind spot of blog readers.
Use Images for Attention
A text-based sidebar like what you see on this blogging tips blog is too common on the blogosphere. One way to make a sidebar element, such as the "most popular posts list" stand out is to use images rather than text for the representation.
One good example that shows the implementation of this tips will be Skelliewag.org (shown above) owned by Skellie. The popular posts list on her blog sidebar are narrated with images and clearly, they seem to be more appealing for a click at first glance.
Load Main Contents First
Some blogs, due to the preset codes in their blog themes, load the sidebars first instead of the main content, which is the core of a blog. Although blog sidebar is a layout element that cannot be neglected, blog contents are still on top in the priority list for a blog.
Shifting HTML codes representing the contents section to a spot above the codes representing the sidebars (which will normally be <?php get_sidebar(); ?> for blogs powered by the latest version of Wordpress) should solve this problem.
Switch Elements Periodically
Capturing the attention of returning visitors is something hard as they are already familiarized with your blog. They seem to be only focused on the contents only during their visit.
Again, your contents seem to be the attracting factor, but why? The reason is because they change. If you frequently visit a blog and when the title of the first post seems familiar to you, will you wait until the whole post finishes its loading? You won’t!
A change will refresh the whole sidebar and when something on the sidebar is out of a visitor’s predictions, he will be paying attention to it.
Use Prominent Headings
I am sure as a blog reader, you have seen many blog sidebars that the elements in it are all over the place. The reason for this is that the elements are not separated using prominent headings, which will make groupings of elements within the blog sidebars neat and tidy.
The headings will also help the sidebars to stand out within a blog. A sidebar which has headings almost alike to the text used in it will not grab much attention as most attention are given to the main contents. To stand out, the sidebar needs something strong, which can come from the headings.
Avoid Blinding Banners
An attempt to seek for attention that is too strong may not be good. Having images or banners that is blinking, flashing and moving all the time placed all over the sidebars is not a wise move. Even though the banner might be given a glance, a visitor might be "chilled" with the overwhelming effect given by such banners.
I do admit that some of these banners will get clicks as different readers have different preferences. Set yourself a standard which can be divided into five for acceptance of banners on sidebars:
- Matching colors, no animation
- Non-matching colors, no animation
- Matching colors, animation
- Non-changing colors, animation
- Banner with sounds
Which standard will you prefer and what you think is the acceptance level of your readers? This question should help you identify and filter out those banners that bring in bad effect for your blog.
Closing Blog Sidebars Enhancement Tips
Do you find the 6 tips that will help to enhance your blog sidebar useful? What will be the point which you are agreed to, implemented and has brought you results in terms of usability? Also, what are the other blog sidebars enhancement tips that you would like to add?
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March 6th, 2008 at 3:00 am
Great tips!
I just have my doubts about putting images rather than text in the sidebar. Wouldn’t it seem like ads then?
March 6th, 2008 at 5:18 am
I will second what robojiannis has to say, I believe they will certainly be mistaken for ads and ruin the whole point of using it.
March 6th, 2008 at 5:53 am
Good Tips Wayne. I am going to focus on displaying important content first. Stumbled.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I don’t know about most visitors Robojiannis, but in skimming this article I first thought the images in that screenshot were ads, so you’re probably right that it is a big risk.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I’ll certainly look into using the sidebars more after readin this. thank you for this tips, but like a few people above me i have my reservations about the images…
March 9th, 2008 at 3:38 am
I need to get some of them 125 by 125 blocks for my sidebar too
March 10th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Great tips just in time as I plan to update my sidebar soon as well. I’ll try and find ways to rotate my advertising on the side and include more images as well. Thanks.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
@ robojiannis, Troy, Ian & Vinh Le
It is up to your blog style that you are having on your blogs. If you are planning to have them within your sidebars, you should not have any more banner ads around them.
@ Madhur
Contents is no doubt the most important element for a blog. However, a blog will not be complete without the sidebars.
@ seo blogger
Do you mean that the 125×125 blocks will be resembling your popular posts? It will make your readers more likely to have the mindset that they are ads instead of your contents.
@ Jon
Images will only stand out if most of your sidebar is currently filled with words. Do remember not to make your sidebar a gallery for images.