It's Time to Talk Blog Again

 

A few days ago, my friend, La La in the Library, suggested I write a post about blog fonts, print size, and readability. So that's what I'm doing!

Funnily enough, this is a subject I have more than enough to say on. I have so many feelings about these things. Let's get into it.

Blog Fonts

A common mistake for beginning blog designers and even some more experienced ones, is to give blogs super fancy fonts.

Unfortunately though, most fancy fonts are unreadable. They're too curly or loopy or whatever. Sadly this puts readers off what you're actually writing.

Your posts might be amazing, but people like me won't even attempt to read you blog if you have a too fancy font!
I do understand why you would want to use these fonts though, but instead of using them on your blog, trying using them on your pictures, in titles or special details of your blog, but not on the main part of your blog, because that's where you want people to read!

Print Size

 

So this is another very important part of designing your blog. It's not quite so badly misunderstood, but there are still those blogs out there who get this completely wrong.

 

When you're trying to pick the print size of your blog, there are too extremes: super small and super LARGE!!!

 

The problem with having a too small print size is that it get's far too dense and you need really good eyesight to read it. Isn't this much harder to read than what your were just reading? See my point?

 

On the other hand, don't make it too big. That way it takes up too much room on the page and readers have to scroll on forever. Can you imagine what it'd be like if I wrote a whole post like this? Reading a long post like that would take forever.

 

So try to get something in between, don't go too large and don't go too small. Try to remember what it'll look like on other computers as well. Everyone's screen is a different size and shape, just keep that in your mind.

 

Readability

 

There are only a few other things to think about when talking about readability is: paragraphing, image placing and abbreviations and editing.

 

Paragraphing: This is something that often seems to be thrown out the door, but is really super important in your blog. If you write everything with no paragraphs it's really dense and hard to read, where as if you wrote this paragraphs it turns into a nice light easy read.

 

Another thing to think about is how long your paragraphs are? The longer the paragraph, the harder to read. Ask yourself, could this be shorter? Should bits of it be in another paragraph?

 

Taking just a little bit more time will do a massive bit to help your blog!

 

Image placing: This always bugs me. It's something really simple, but no one seems to pay any attention to it.

 

When placing your images, try to leave some space in between it and the words. Also, when images straight after each other, make sure there is a gap, otherwise the images seem to blend into each other.

 

Abbreviations (i.e LOL, JK, OMG): You might think yourself super cool for using them, but please don't! Think about if future generations, way in the future read it. Do you think they'll understand all the abbreviations?

 

Everyone wants they're words to live on, so try to write everything so that they'll be able to understand it.

 

Also, even I have a hard time getting my head around some of the abbreviations, so not only will you puzzle the future, but also your readers.

 

Just keep that in mind. And while talking about this, can I mention emoji's (?). For some reason, finding these in posts really annoys me. It ruins the look of everything.

 

I use them while commenting and everything, but if you've noticed, never in my posts. I've thought about using them, but if people need them to know what you mean, there is something wrong with your writing.

 

You don't need them in a post and they ruin the look. You can use them, but I personally don't like to. I know some people do though, so it's personal preference.

 

 Editing: this one is short and simple. Reread posts at least three times before publishing, if not more. Make sure you've gotten it as close to perfect as you can.

 

There is a big difference between an edited post and one that isn't. So take that time!

 

Well that's all folks! I hope you enjoyed this and I didn't offend you. I'm so sorry if I did. And once again, I didn't mean to preach so if it came across like that, I'm sorry!

 

If there is a post you'd like me to write, please tell me either in a comment or over on twitter. I'll try to write it as best I can for you! For now, write strong.

 -Kat