How and why the new blog layout is created?
The move to the new layout went. I have connected that equal to moving to a new hosting package. The move went relatively smoothly from provide even though there were a few minor problems.
But why do I have the layout at all revised and what considerations were behind it?
The old layout – an inventory
The old layout really well I liked. It had already clearly changed since the original version. Many things I had learned in the first months of blogging and designing a blog already gradually included in the old version of the layout.
So has proved the color spectrum, a look blog. I have improved font alignment, color and size in the vote with my readers.
The navigation was simple and clear, even if I had a few improvements in mind over time. The placement of advertising has played well and was criticized as not. The often very long posts have contributed safely.
Because there were so many good and good elements in the blog, was that for me from the outset that there will be “only” a revision and optimizing the layout. Under no circumstances I wanted to take existing on the pile.
But there were also various trouble spots I wanted to clean with a new layout out of the way.
The right column was quite crowded and contained elements that were simply unnecessary. So, for example, the monthly archive out is flown. It simply makes no sense.
Even long has testing of the Blogfever plugin at the end led to that I have removed this plugin in the new layout.
Navigation should get more PEP and more visitors in the stand. Also I wanted to leverage the header area because he was fairly empty and unused in the old version.
A few other things such as the design of the comment form and some code problems (different H tags were partially repeatedly used elsewhere and thus came several times before on a page) have been fixed during layout transformation.
Objectives for my new blog layout
But before I myself have plunged to the code I wanted to be clear about the objectives of the new layout me. I think much of “Should be fine, just so that it is good”.
The new layout should have clear objectives and which should of course be reflected in the design.
The objectives were:
1. Increase the PageViews per visitor.
2. Create alternative advertising places that can be used for the ad sales.
3. Optimization of code, better search engine optimized to be and load faster
These were the 3 main objectives of the new layout.
The most important elements of the new layout
Have built to approximately one month to the new layout. Mostly in Photoshop. Actually implementing the code took a relatively short.
We but once the objectives and how they have reflected in the layout look:
Objective 1: increase the PageViews per visitor
PageViews per visitor increase was really my main objective. The easiest it would be natural I would break my very long posts and the reader should click. But since I don’t like that myself, I have except.
My goal was clearly more to present other posts (which thematically fit or are generally very popular), the readers. You should immediately run on other interesting links to readers of current posts and read more.
I have created on the one hand a new three-part area under navigation, which may include a variety of texts and images. Currently “the 5 most popular posts”, “the most popular article series” and “You make with money” are there.
In the old layout, were the top items on the footer and seen only from one part of the blog reader. Now, every reader sees this top posts.
Another way to find an interesting post, I included a tag cloud. It is generated by the recommended WordPress plugin “simple tags”. There, the topics of my most-used find themselves.
Tag cloud thus complements the still existing category list. However, I think now more pleasant than long category list tag clouds. But that is certainly Geschmackssache.
I made the third improvement under the text. The similar items appear directly below the text (or the Google ads). This should help that these are wargenommen by more readers because these links were previously under the dunkelroten “social” area.
Finally I introduced again forward and back function. You can jump directly so to the nearest newer and-alteren post.
Goal 2: alternative create advertising places
Perspective I would like to sell yourself advertising spots on “Independent network”. So banners, buttons etc.
for I have several times and thus the reader designed to assemble without the text area to charge possibilities, so to annoy you, unnecessarily.
The header now has an area that is already now colour highlights. This button can I use for internal teaser (as currently), both with external advertising.
Here the advantage of color selection of blogs is total noticeable. Because the blog as a whole is in a range of red, other color areas fall, of course, very much in the eye. More certainly, than a colourful blog.
An additional placement option for advertising button and banner is the sidebar. There I have accrued now extra areas flexible equipped with affiliate banners and TKP banner ads.
Also, it would be possible of course to populate the 3 areas under Navigation with advertising. However, I would not overstating it.
It already disturbs some readers to find any advertising blogging is clear to me. But because I want to earn money with the blog, I need you at least a little Argern. Therefore I will try also never too much assemble banner.
Objective 3: optimization of code
As well, the code had some problems. There were in the sidebar headings H tags also. I have now removed all them, to occur the H tags in the content.
There is now also a few code passages which were no longer necessary. Therefore, I have removed them. I could facilitate the CSS file to some definitions.
As a help tool, I have taken me the YSlow add-on for Firefox and analyze load times. This, I found for example that my old survey – plugin CSS – loads files, even if it is not active. So out. I have disabled also some more plugin.
I have also made me again all graphics and won to several kilobytes.
Extreme but the WordPress cache is important. WP Cache reduces the setup times for new pages to a multiple. This is why I have must remove unfortunately also displayed the “users online”. This number can no longer update themselves for cached pages.
I made a few other changes which would go into detail here but certainly too far. It is important that these code changes, especially the speed improvement served and better prepared to work with the pages.
The code is not perfect but and I will be sending again this me on occasion.
My hopes are the next version of WordPress, because announced a special attention is paid to performance improvement.
Problems and optimizations
There were problems with the new layout a few. Semmelstatz wants to Yes usually work with WP Cache. Now, I’ve found a hack which continue to function Semmelstatz can even if the cache is enabled. However, Semmelstatz the new Web space, and with the new layout seems not correctly work. I will need to analyze again this.
Some plugins had to be configured also again. But nothing exciting.
The MySQL database made problems during my testing. The various character sets (which I know UTF-8, ISO) had zerschossen my text when the test runs. However, I could find then a Variant, where all easily worked and the texts have been applied correctly.
It took a very good MySQL scripts to transfer the now very large database between the hosting packages. Thus, the export and import of my database was a breeze.
Otherwise everything went around, one sees on times blog half a day not was reachable. But if you are a domain between different hosting packages (or much worse between different things) transfer must, then you can not prevent almost such blackout. At this point shows the great advantage of a hoster independent domain management. Such a thing is possible Yes via United domains.
What next?
Currently I try my eMail address to the running to get. Here seem to be any problems and the support is working. Ansonten I of course again regularly bloggen and more resources pages (like page
“earning”) gradually build.
I have even ideas for some interactive online tool. However, I know not so true whether I will find the time. Well let’s see.
I will keep you of course also informed whether I have reached my goals with the new layout. I will inform you further optimization measures.
Should discover problems with the layout you only connect to.