Deflated

Nothing like a conversation with your mother to make you feel like you've been punched in the gut:P Now, don't get me wrong, I have a good relationship with my mom. This is not a trash mom post. She does however, have the tact of a bull in a china shop at times...

Mom called me up today to tell me another story of a blogger who had been discovered *poof* movie deal. I said "quite frankly, I don't know how to take my blog to the next level." To which she replied..."Well, the way your blog looks now, I think you've lost your appeal to the mommy blogger market." Ummmm.....What?

First off, as a person who spent the last year designing over 60 blogs...that is really a blow to the ego. I mean, I am proud of my little bloggy business. I think I've learned a lot, and cranked out some really good work. That being said, I gotta tell you, my personal blog design was not intended to "appeal to the mommy blogger market". I never even thought about it. Should I have?

The design of my blog has evolved over time. I started with two columns, then went to three. I felt like my sidebars had gotten cluttered, so I figured out how to utilize the footer (I parked a lot of blog stuff there). Tabs, full page header, split sidebar...it all came one piece at a time. I really think my blog is clean. Have I stumbled into some bad lighting? Have I lost readers from my appearance? Is there something wrong with my look? I can feel my ego deflating like a punch balloon...plllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllt!

This conversation came about over my new header. If you are in a reader, click over. I felt like changing my header (I do it almost monthly). The thing about knowing how to design...it is both a blessing and a curse. It means no matter how your blog looks, you are never satisfied, and you always come up with new things to do. This current look...I felt the need to go sketchy. You know, kind of a deconstructed look. Me personally, I really like it. I added texture to give it kind of a designer paper look (although, I want to tweak the texture on the character a bit...see what I mean...never done).

Bottom line, and I know it's ironic for a blog designer to say this, I don't think design matters if you have good content. That being said, if you can get a great look for under a hundred bucks...why wouldn't you? I think it is fun...like getting a new pair of shoes:)

Which leaves me right back where I started...Is there such a thing as an offensive design? Is there anything about my look that turns you, the reader off? What appeals to you in the look of a blog? Who am I? Will I ever feel like a grown up? Are Jack and Kate going to blow up the island (oops...that's another post)...let 'er rip, I promise...I can take it (excuse me while I go sit in the corner and bite my nails...)

31 comments

  1. NW, my hubs works in the QA department as an auditor and has a copy of a demotivational poster on his board. Something you said made me think of it: "The race for quality has no finish line - so technically it's more like a death march."

    I did graphic design a very long time ago in school, and I can completely understand your feelings on never being finished. I've wanted to change my header for a long time, but haven't, I can't come up with a design that fits where I'll be content. I think yours is great, in fact, I love all the changed you've made. It looks really nice. I don't think you need to be famous to be successful (does your Mom think that?), I think your design work is an ingenious idea and is a great way to always keep you up-to-date with stuff, and, it's lucrative. Keep doing what you're doing.

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  2. Nothing about your blog turns me off as a reader - in fact, your entire header and your 'supermom' cartoon, with your name, Nap Warden, makes your blog just awesome! I noticed the change in your header today and I like it, a lot. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE what you did with my blog and I look at it all day long! :) I've also received lots of compliments about it, all thanks to you. Good content, of course, will keep a reader coming back for more. But a nice design helps, too!
    I hate when blogs are too 'messy' looking.

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  3. I'm a reader "reader" and I prefer it that way. For every well designed blog there are countless hideous ones. This way my impression of you is based solely on content and not on any visual attraction/distraction.

    That said, I see nothing wrong with your template.

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  4. I LOVE the new look to your header! I've been reading your blog since before you added the ads and it was kind of odd to see them at first, but they are not distracting.

    Yes, you are a mommy and yes, you are a blogger, but I don't necessarily see you as a "mommy blogger". You write about a lot of topics and I don't think its right to pigeon-hole you.

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  5. I love your new look!!

    I think long time fans EXPECT you to change the look of your blog a lot -- because THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

    I'm not sure I understand the 'lost the mommy blogger' audience thing...at all.

    (((HUGS)))

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  6. It's great that your mom is that interested in your work. I don't think a single member of my family (besides my husband) has even LOOKED at my blog :-)

    Okay. So not the point, I know... Criticism sucks and it always stings the most coming from the people who are supposed to support you no matter what.

    I think your blog looks great!

    My idea of an "offensive blog design" are those that offer nothing at all. Just the basic (free) template. Plain. White. Boring. No photos. No extra info. No personality. In other words, SO NOT YOURS.

    hugs!

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  7. I like the new look. I've liked all your headers, to be perfectly honest. And also, if I'm honest, I don't read your blog because of how your blog looks. And I don't think that is why someone gets a "movie" deal (does that really happen to bloggers? hmm. didn't know that) either.
    Don't change a thing. :)

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  8. I'm a SAHM but I don't read blogs specifically because they are by other moms - I read blogs that have content that entertain me, inform me, etc...
    I agree that your desgin has little to do with your audience or content. Unless it is difficult to read (teensy tiny font, harsh colors, faint font, etc...) or is unsuitable (aka Rated X) for your audience then I say Pfffft, do whacha wanna do with it!

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  9. I love the way your blog looks! But- I agree with you though, its not the look of a blog that makes you read it, it is the content...I do like to look at things that appeal to me and it may make me like (or continue to go back to a blog more) if it is appealing to me but that is not the most important thing! Yours look great though!!!!

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  10. I love how your blog looks. Is there any chance that we can figure out what your mother is talking about? Because that would be fun for us!
    I have to laugh that you mentioned Julie Powell--it was her book that got me blogging. She has a great story!

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  11. I love love LOVE the new design! Rock it, girl. :-)

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  12. I've loved every stage of your blog design and think that you have made great decisions as you've refined it to what it is now. You mom is nuts. ;-) And I want to know more about this Julie person. Marinka started because of her?! She must be fab!

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  13. I love the design of your blog and I love reading it. Enough said.

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  14. Listen by the time I get your email to post a comment you almost always have a at least 10 comments, and you arent giving away something. that says a lot missy. I really don't think design has a lot to do with being "discovered" or becoming the next big thing. whatever that means. I think your blog looks great though anyways, I think if you were constantly pitching yourself to PR companies it would still work. It is YOUR design and shows you and I think it is fantastic.
    my turn on the couch. I have never wanted kids, yet my mom looks at me the other day and says out of nowhere that I wouldn't make a good mom? WTF, srsly wtf? 2 months ago she was telling me how good I am with my nieces and nephews. I would call it menopause but that isn't it. I think moms just need to learn that old fashion saying that they taught us a long time ago, if you cant say anything nice don't say anything at all. (sorry Mrs. Mommy Chronicles of Sahm!)

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  15. I LOVE the new header.

    I think your mom is wrong. There I said it.

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  16. Nobody can love you like your mother. Nobody can deflate you faster than your mother. You put up with crap from your mother that you would not put with, no way, unt uh, from anyone in the whole wide stinkin' world. Ignore your mother and go elsewhere for business advice. When it comes to performance and mothers, you either can't do anything right or you can't do anything wrong. Neither extreme helps you improve or grow. Find objective counselors and keep your mother in the mothering role, whatever that is in your own life. If you have to tell her to keep her opinions about your work to yourself, then do it.

    Unfortunately, since you have a public forum, you can't hide it. As a writer, it has been years since my mother saw ANYTHING I wrote. She is 2000 miles from me, so she does not see any of the local pubs for which I write and she is not internet savvy to even see my blog posts.

    My mother is hypercritical. It just pisses me off and then I don't want to talk to her for about two months, so I keep my work separate from my relationship from her and we are happy. Funny thing is, she never asks, "So have you been doing anything with your writing lately?" or anything like that. Fact is, I do pretty well with it. ha

    Best wishes to ya!

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  17. i love the new header. as far as i'm concerned, your mom can ... uh ... fold her opinion five ways and put it where the sun don't shine.

    so there.

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  18. I noticed that new header immediately and liked it instantly! You don't need to listen to your mom anymore.....

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  19. Before I started reading today I saw your new header and thought, Wow I like that. And I really do. I like that you change you header often. It keeps it fresh and interesting.

    Sorry to NW mom but I think she is wrong. Your work is very good. It keeps me coming back almost daily.

    Now get up out of the corner and don't bite your nail. It's not good for them.

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  20. I like the new design. As a mommy blogger, I guess, you have not not lost the appeal with me...*sticking tongue out at your mom* I love the way you change the look so often, never boring here. heh!!

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  21. The layout and header seem fine to me. I have noticed that you change the header up a lot and it has never bothered me because you always have the basic theme the same. In fact, it seems like a good selling point for your graphics business!

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  22. I think it looks great! Maybe your mom just liked one of your other designs better. I say stick with it! And if I was a blog designer and could change my header myself, I would be doing it all the time! I like that the super hero character is always in your headers. It adds continuity even when the rest of the header is different.

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  23. You are the bestes blog designer ever! I should know, right? LOL

    I think your blog rocks -- end of!

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  24. I completely agree with you about being a blog designer! I'm the same way. Every time I design a new header I find SOMETHING wrong with it. There's always something I want to tweak. I think your blog is fine though, try not looking at it so much! :) That's what I have to do!

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  25. I like the new header.

    I think mom's have a hard time knowing the right thing to say. My parents show no interest in my blog or my photography. I send them pics and I get NO comment on them, but on my blog...people love them. It is hard to know what that is about. I try no to think of it too much.

    blog to make YOU happy. that is really all one can do.

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  26. Well I'm glad you told me to click over because I hadn't seen your new header. I.LOVE.IT. it's clean and crisp and you did a fantastic job. I'm all about purging cluttery sidebars and such. Now I'm totally jealous and will keep you in mind for the next time I get the itch to make a change.

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  27. See, I was just thinking how GREAT your header looks! I love the texture and the font you chose. I've always adored the name "Nap Warden," too.

    I'm curious to hear what your mom's reaction to this post was....

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  28. I like your design - I like clean designs and something easy to read - anything too busy and I just can't focus

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  29. this header, i think is my favorite, so far. i like that it is more subtle in it's mommy blogdom. it has a smart look, to me.

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  30. I love your header! And not that I'm biased or anything, but I think you're a great designer. Which reminds me...I'm thinking about an overhaul at my place. I'll be in touch. ;-)

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  31. I like it! Your blog is much better than many I have seen I can't stand the magazine layouts, with 30 posts on one page and all crazy- I like simplicity, I want to read the posts not the titles! Great post and great job!

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