Comments on: Has Money Killed Blog Design?

By: i blog too

i blog too — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:38:10 +0000

I agree completely. I definitely enjoy reading blogs better when it doesn’t seem like their main goal is to make money.

By: will creativity save the blogosphere? at living in svensworld - surfing & creativity

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:16:53 +0000

[…] has been a post some time ago that comes across pretty mind changing for a lot of people, they ask if money has killed blog design? Who doesn’t ask himself this question when he sees the next blog. Not only the design […]

By: Gravityone

Gravityone — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 03:05:34 +0000

Even as a web designer for e-commerce sites I hate ads. But in order for me to make money from my clients they all wants the ads. So, I say work with it and see if you can integrate the ads into a great design. Sounds like a very big challenge though.

By: Blogsolid

Blogsolid — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 21:13:57 +0000

Haha milo. Nice analogy…

Uh, thanks Guillermo… I think :) It’s not actually a typeface, but I’m thinking of completing the design of a full range of characters and releasing it as a font.

Hi Kosta. I do believe the indirect benefits pay off in the end!

Hi Danny, I know, Adsense units really throw the whole design and flow off balance, but I think placing them below the title is required in the Adsense terms and conditions. Am I right?

Blog Theme Machine, it seems like there are always “trends” people feel compelled to follow, but at least you get to apply some design creativity once in a while :)

Thanks for the compliment, Milan!

By: Milan

Milan — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:25:23 +0000

Hi you’re so right, but I use AdBlock PlugIn for Firefox so I have Ad-Free Blogs. But in my case I like simple and clear structure and minimalistic styles! I think your Blog is a good example for a well designed Blog, I like it :-) Sorry for my English… I’m a bit of exercise…

By: Bush Mackel » New Design

Bush Mackel » New Design — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:06:24 +0000

[…] 125×125 Ads - These are the little guys that are sweeping the blogosphere. The problem with this is, I’m pretty confident I could fill the spots every month, but then I think that spot would look like everyone else’s… Ay yi yi yi. I think I’ll end up incorporating them in the end, but I still can’t shake that Blogsolid article. […]

By: Blog Theme Machine

Blog Theme Machine — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:57:03 +0000

Yeah, we’ve been paid to design sites JUST like those other “successful” blogs but we’ve also had the chance to give our own personal input on designs and I personally like those better. If John Chow or Shoemoney changed their designs right now to something different, the whole world would skip out on the three box header style and follow them. Sucks for the “originality” of their sites, but hey, they have sheep follow them :(

By: Danny Foo

Danny Foo — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:55:19 +0000

The one thing I detest most is blogs who incorporate a 300×250 adsense (or whatever ad) below the post title. That is just so plain ‘I want to make money’ approach for a blog. They’re literally putting a blind eye on towards their readers. Just because your blog is popular doesn’t mean you should do this. Might as well start a membership and charge them for reading your content.

That way readers have a fulfill their reading and you earn some cash. But of course, you’ll lose traffic because not all your readers are willing to pay you. Seriously, I’d never put a large ad like that on the top of my post. Be it above the fold or whatever excuse. Ew! :P

By: Kosta Kontos

Kosta Kontos — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:13:48 +0000

Hi Imar,

Very interesting question you ask.

I’ve always believed that blogs shouldn’t have adverts. I for one never click on them, and the idea of clicking on an advert to increase per-click-count just to support a good blog doesn’t sit well with me.

But we want to make money. We work hard on our blogs and want to see some kind of return. I guess we could continue giving our brains away, asking for nothing in exchange (I can’t stand “please pay me” paypal begging either), only hoping to grow a loyal audience and thus build up a good reputation.

Reputation = money.

For example, you’d make a great Blog Consultant. So one idea is to use your blog to share your knowledge (which you’re doing very well, keep it up!), and then use your reputation to your advantage for consulting purposes.

I like what you said in one of your other posts, and it is appropriate in this context: each blog needs to evolve to meet the unique style / goals of the blogger. Adverts shmadverts. Indirect income for the win.

Cheers,
Kosta.

By: Guillermo

Guillermo — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:44:01 +0000

Dear sweet jeebus your design is sooo rad.
I skimmed through the article. I just want to hump its (font) face

By: milo

milo — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:14:40 +0000

Ugh, the top five blogs/sites looks similar to a Nascar:
plastered with ads and a small window for the driver/writer…

By: Forest Parks

Forest Parks — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 04:42:09 +0000

Your design is awesome. I want to keep my sites monetized in the future but will also be aspiring for great design (something which I don’t have right now) so will be looking for that middle ground.

Anything can be achieved!! I’ll let you know if I see any.

By: Saturday Speedlinkin VII

Saturday Speedlinkin VII — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:53:52 +0000

[…] Has Money Killed Blog Design by Blogsolid - This is a blog that I stop by every once and a while, and it just about always gives me something to think about. This time Blogsolid asks whether the ever popular right ad space (and premium ad placement in general) is killing blog design. If you liked this post, do the world a favor and share it! var addthis_pub = ‘HFD04246WCU7F8PG’; […]

By: nomad-one

nomad-one — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:24:33 +0000

Hey dudes, don’t get me wrong, I love the design of BlogSolid, has it’s own special personality bar a few legibility issues with the white text on dark bg. I too hate ads but have found that after a short while the ads on certain sites i use just fade away and I hardly even see them anymore. I think as long as ads are in plain view on the screen your argument will not be solved.

By: Robert Eilers

Robert Eilers — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:44:00 +0000

I can’t stand those sites that seem to be nothing but ads. Especially Adsense ads. Do you want some content with those ads? My philosophy has always been to keep it simple. That’s why I only have one area of Adsense ads.

People can really over do it when it comes to ads. Remember, content is what gets visitors to your site, not ads.

By: Bush Mackel

Bush Mackel — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 13:48:09 +0000

“Is the design centered around prominent ad placement?”
Oh those sites that you pointed out, yes.

I mean, it does suck from an design point of view, but then again, I don’t think those sites really care two cents about design and the like. Which is ok. My site, which is an odd hybrid of the two things, design and revenue, doesn’t accomplish either particularly well. Hopefully I’ll have the time at some point to focus on a solution that solves both problems.

Of course I’ve been saying that for quite a while now. (#);)

By: Blogsolid

Blogsolid — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:46:44 +0000

Hey julia. Haven’t seen you in a while, welcome back. I know what you mean, i usually avoid clicking ads like the plague. It’s just my natural reaction. But… I have been thinking maybe I should click interesting ads on other blogs. Many of them work on a ‘pay per click’ system, so my clicks will be helping other bloggers earn money.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:44:54 +0000

Hey there, great blog. I’ve been annoyed so many times by ads, I cannot count. I never click! There’s something in my brain that just blends out all things that don’t belong to the content. However, you still see them, and it disturbs the flow of the content. Worst are those ads placed directly under the title of a post. When I see that, I usually don’t even read the post anymore, cause I don’t want to scroll past blocks of ads. (I have a laptop, so screen size is an issue!)

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:10:41 +0000

Its pretty obvious that Blogsolid has the best frekin design ever, and all other blogs need to be redesigned by Blogsolid.

By: Blogsolid

Blogsolid — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:37:08 +0000

Hi sbpoet. I think good web design means enhancing the usability of a site through layout and graphics. You’re right, that is a tough balance! As soon as you add design elements, there is a risk of “getting it wrong” and fighting the content. That is probably why minimalist design is often advised, but even the simplest of designs can have a unique flavour though.

Hi Cameron. Firstly congratulations on acquiring NxE! Thanks for dropping by. I find it very interesting that NxE is not making a profit, after all it is obviously designed with monetization in mind. Would the solution be placing more ads, or is it a case of getting more readers? I would be interested to read your analysis of the situation!

Danny, keeping the content king is important. I believe that the first few blogs I mentioned all do this pretty well, and that is why they have a similar approach to layout. Smashing Magazine is crowding their content with that Adsense unit, but maybe they can get away with it since their content is in such high demand?

Hi nomad-one. You are right in saying “ads are a regular part of the blogosphere so it’s about how everything else comes together around them” - that is my point exactly. Is there another way or will all blogs conform to a standard layout?
Oh, and I don’t think BOG Solid is 100 times better than any other blog. More like 150 times… ;)