Anyone fancy critiquing a blog?

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   Ryan Kettposted 14 years ago

   Just telling me whether the layout is ok? And whether it looks ok? If you dont mind doing so, you can find the URL on my profile page.... its my first attempt over at blogger. Cant post a link, but dont worry all of the posts are just backlinks to my hubpages at the moment so I'm not seeking any kind of gain, just a yes or no to colours and stuff really.
   
   My profile is here:-<snipped>

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   cosetteposted 14 years ago

   it looks really good! when i blog i like dark colors too...i think it just makes it look sleek and professional.

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      Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thank goodness for that, defo looks ok then? I went through about 50 layouts to find one that I liked.... its a nightmare trying to find one that suited my taste (and then you find one and its got something faulty with the code etc etc...).
      
      Think I will stick with this one.... do the ads look ok? In those positions? Its a nightmare trying to get those to fit too! What is your blog URL if you dont mind me asking?

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         r2moo2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         It will be pretty good to blend those ads into your posts, as when I try to read your blog I tend to not notice your ads at the top and the bottom of your page. That's my opinion anyway.
         
         The side ads on the toolbar are okay.

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            Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I havent got a clue how to blend adsense into posts on blogger to be honest, it doesnt let me drag and drop adsense blogs into the middle of the text capsule... only at the top and bottom.

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               sunforgedposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               you can directly insert the js codes into your posts that are created from the ad designer within the adsense console - but blending usually refers to making all your link and text colors universal throughout the blog, so that people are less likely to notice they are clicking on a link.

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         cosetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         i didn't have any trouble seeing your tweets...must be the browser...the font is black but the BG is a dark gray.
         
         i don't have an acocunt on Blogger anymore. mine is at WordPress. maybe i will start up at Blogger again. will you link to me?
         
         and your ads placement looks fine to me.

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            Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Sure I will give you a link, whats your blog URL? I am going to add a links box under the tweets and stuff...

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   r2moo2posted 14 years ago

   In your twitter section, your fonts are black, and it is against a dark layout. So it is difficult to view that section.
   
   Otherwise your blog is okay.

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      Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not sure how to change that yet... but you are quite correct. Need to look into that.

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   Lady_Eposted 14 years ago

   Mmmh Classy.
   
   Its a nice Blog Ryan but.......... will we ever get to see the front of you? - I mean your face. Would be nice to see another pic. (most blogs tend to show the face of the Blogger)
   
   ps. I like the comments on your profile ref: Plagiarism.

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      Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Well you can see a little bit of the front of me right now, albeit with scruffy hair and a big shadow. I will sort it out dont worry.... sometime soon, I will post a big smiley photo of me.

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   deartfuldodgerposted 14 years ago

   Looks good all round -
   
   2 important suggested changes.
   
   Lose the date posts, so your work is never old!
   
   Pick a link color that pops - currently the dull gray is not enticing
   
   
   blogger lets you create post templates that are added to every post - you can add retweet and share me buttons there, so every post has that promotion option.

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      Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Cheers for you suggestion, I will leave the date for now... as it can always be removed later on. I agree with you regarding link colour. Will change that.
      
      As for retweet and share options, I would be all over this.... but just cant find this part of blogger? will have another look when my headache has gone. But would love to add the share options.
      
      Many thanks for your suggestion.

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   sunforgedposted 14 years ago

   I dont see you as a dark themed fella!
   (..plus stats show harder to read for most and doesnt convert as well, i know your just using for backlinks now, but you never know how youll grow)
   
   But if you must - then change those links to a dark red or standard link blue
   
   i see you as a more clean:
   http://www.template-godown.com/2008/04/ … plate.html
   
   

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      Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Cheers for the helpful advice sunforged (as always), I might give some lighter themes a go then..... have to say that I have always been a dark person when it comes to design, maybe I need to brigten up my life a little

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         sunforgedposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I prefer dark also, but apparently the world at large, our markets responds well to site design - well, like hubpages - im sure a lot of research and trial and error went into the clean white layout - people dont read as long on dark themes, they are best reserved for art based sites

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            Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Ok cool, I will give white layouts a go sometime in the next few days... I just spent 3 days picking the one I have, just not ready to go anywhere near google search with the word 'template' again Cheers for the advice

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   Ryan Kettposted 14 years ago

   So much to take in!! Sincere thanks though for your comments, I will get there in the end.

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   sunforgedposted 14 years ago

   retweet
   
   http://www.solidblogger.com/add-retweet … blog-post/
   
   one way  of social bookmark options
   
   http://blogknowhow.blogspot.com/2009/02 … ogger.html
   
   
   these codes just get placed in your post template (settings)

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      Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent, thanks a lot for that, going to make a big difference. Like you said, I am just using it for instant backlinks and a bit of traffic through alternative search terms, but..... I may as well put everything in place just in case it is a winner.

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   lrohnerposted 14 years ago

   Great job! I think it looks perfect except for the input you've already gotten on a different color for hyperlinks and tweets.

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      Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Awesome, thank you for your feedback lrohner

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    tantrumposted 14 years ago

    I think it's too dark. It lacks appeal, for my taste. the content it's all right though.
    I'm sorry. I hope my sincerity doesn't annoy you

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       Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Lol, didnt think anything could be too dark for Marilyn Manson! On a serious note, I appreciate your honesty.... I will give white a go at some stage in the future. Doesnt matter too much right now, blogger templates are dead easy to change.

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          tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          for me it's not dark enough! But knowing you're not the type....
          

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          lrohnerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Don't count on it, Ryan. The logistics of it are easy enough, since you're just basically copying and pasting an xml file, but you'll lose lots of customized things like blogroll links and basically any sidebar and heading stuff you customized. It takes me hours and hours now to change a template.
          
          Check this template out that I've just started working with. Its primary colors are black and dark brown, the the white space is there where needed:  http://best-consumer-product-reviews.blogspot.com/

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             Ryan Kettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             You know what, Im just going to stick too fingers up to statistics and go with dark. I like that colour, and Im writing under my name, so if people dont like reading it they can press the 'x'. I have plenty of time to develop commercial blogs with white templates

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    Ryan Kettposted 14 years ago

    Right, thanks to comments I have now:-
    
    - Got rid of my Twitter feed. Will replace with which I can work out how to customise.
    - Stuck a 'Share me' link on the sidebar.
    
    And will hopefully work out how to put tweet and share me stuff at the end of each blog post.
    
    Thats a great start, so thanks everybody for your input their. I also managed to find out the colour code for my blog background, enabling me to colour coordinate my ads to my dark grey background.... which has made it 10 times better looking.
    
    This blogging business takes a bit of time! but im proud of my efforts so far, so thanks again.

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