I keep trying to make it better...

[bsd13]

Could use some honest opinions yet again on this blog. Trying to find a good balance between theme, content, and advertising. Please have a look and tell me what you like (and don't like)

Thanks!

[Fred Sanford]

Overall I like your layout, i think once you tweak a few things you'll be great.

what immediately drew my attention were the huge RSS and email feed buttons. I don't think they need to be that big, my personal philosophy when it comes to getting subscribers is, to make the buttons easily accessible, but still out of the way.

Most "regular people" who arent in the blog community dont even use RSS, so when they come to your site, chances are they won't be interested in your big feed button.

On another note, they also look like poor photoshop jobs, there are lots of places were you can find better (and smaller) looking RSS buttons online.

Your sidebar space is precious, and you should treat it as such. Conserve as much of it as you can.

[bsd13]

Overall I like your layout, i think once you tweak a few things you'll be great.

what immediately drew my attention were the huge RSS and email feed buttons. I don't think they need to be that big, my personal philosophy when it comes to getting subscribers is, to make the buttons easily accessible, but still out of the way.

Most "regular people" who arent in the blog community dont even use RSS, so when they come to your site, chances are they won't be interested in your big feed button.

On another note, they also look like poor photoshop jobs, there are lots of places were you can find better (and smaller) looking RSS buttons online.

Your sidebar space is precious, and you should treat it as such. Conserve as much of it as you can.

Thanks for the feedback. I was kinda thinking the same about the RSS buttons. I guess that just confirms it. Thanks again

[shyflower]

Overall a good design, but some of the things you're doing make it look less than professional. Particularly the stumble, sphinns, and zoom buttons at the top of your content. They seem to be place helter-skelter and take the focus from your text.

Why repeat your headline?

Unless myblog log is paying you for that ad, I'd lose it.

I agree with Fred that your RSS buttons are, if not too big, incompatible with the rest of your design. I also think that if you're going to use images for RSS and email, they should be different in some way or another.

What's the deal with the weekly blue ribbon thing? When I clicked it, the page made no mention of your blog or any type of awards process. It looks like just a seedy attempt to get a black link from others. I'd get rid of it.

[bsd13]

Overall a good design, but some of the things you're doing make it look less than professional. Particularly the stumble, sphinns, and zoom buttons at the top of your content. They seem to be place helter-skelter and take the focus from your text.

I'll look into that.


Why repeat your headline?


It's left over from an old theme I tried briefly that didn't have a headline. I've just kept it around and tweaked it.


Unless myblog log is paying you for that ad, I'd lose it.


That leads to an internal page on my blog. Talking about MBL of course, but I'm asking people to sign up in my community.


I agree with Fred that your RSS buttons are, if not too big, incompatible with the rest of your design. I also think that if you're going to use images for RSS and email, they should be different in some way or another.


Those are the new buttons I'm using since Fred posted. I will work on tweaking them some more.


What's the deal with the weekly blue ribbon thing? When I clicked it, the page made no mention of your blog or any type of awards process. It looks like just a seedy attempt to get a black link from others. I'd get rid of it.

It's just a blog I've found and have enjoyed that gets a link for about a week. I don't even tell that person I've linked to their blog so I have no expectations of any link backs. Besides getting back links from others isn't a bad thing to try and do.

[shyflower]

I'll look into that.



It's left over from an old theme I tried briefly that didn't have a headline. I've just kept it around and tweaked it.



That leads to an internal page on my blog. Talking about MBL of course, but I'm asking people to sign up in my community.



Those are the new buttons I'm using since Fred posted. I will work on tweaking them some more.



It's just a blog I've found and have enjoyed that gets a link for about a week. I don't even tell that person I've linked to their blog so I have no expectations of any link backs. Besides getting back links from others isn't a bad thing to try and do.

I didn't mean it looked like you were attempting to get a link back, it looks like they are trying for one. If you are serious in giving a link to a block you like, use a text link that tells your readers where they are going and why. It's also better spider food for the search engines.

[Fred Sanford]

the RSS/email buttons are ten times better than they were before. good job

[Jelena]

I haven't seen the rss buttons before, but they look fine now.
It seems that you lack of few css additions. For example, your social networking icons doesn't look nice with that blue border around them.

First time here? page looked kind of weird to me and not really necessary. As a visitor, I would be offended in a way by it.

Also widgets page is kind of a misleading. Those things I usually expect in sidebar and when I saw the link in navigation I actually thought you have some widgets you created and they are available for download over there.

Those are only my impressions. Hope they will help.