My First Website Was Hideous by Jessica Ann Mitchell
When bloggers first start out online, there are a few milestones that we have to cross before we get to the Promised Land. One of these milestones is overcoming the ugly website. My first website was absolutely hideous but I thought it was beautiful…until I stepped back objectively. The site was puke pink with frilly large burgundy edges. Horrible.
When we create our first few versions of our website/blog, we feel very accomplished and proud (as we should). However, we eventually come to realize that the site we spent all those painstaking hours on is indeed hideous. Some of us come to this realization faster than others. So if you are wondering if your website fits into the “hideous” website category, look for these traits:
1. Color on every inch of the site – Your website does not need to be blanketed in color. Don’t be afraid of white space. It’s good for you. It does not make your site look boring. It makes your site look clean. Less is more.
2. Bright red or green letters- Just say no! Just because you are Afrocentric, does not mean you should make your entire website have bright red and green text with a black background. It will only make your site look tacky. Do not do it. The only site that has been able to successfully accomplish this has been UjamaaDeals.com and even they changed their layout to be mostly white and black with a dash of red, black and green in their logo. Their site is beautiful because they didn’t go overboard.
3. A busy background that makes text unreadable – I’ve done this before. Being proud of your logo is great but placing the image repetitively on every square inch of the site will make readers avoid your website, because they won’t be able to read any of the words.
4. Using your “I just came from the grocery store” photo – Nothing is more disheartening than a website photo of a blogger that looks like they just don’t care. How are people going to take you seriously if your online pictures look like “who done it and why”. Invest in your self by taking a nice photo. It doesn’t have to be professional. You can use your digital camera and ask a family member to take a few nice shots of you for your blog.
5. The homemade logo- I’ve been invited to a few “money making” websites only to find that the site looks homely because there was no logo or the logo on the site looks novice crafted. I wondered, “How does the blogger think people will believe they know how to make thousands of dollars online when their site looks like they barely pieced it together?”
Logos have a purpose. The purpose of the logo is to embody the essence of the website or company. The site has no essence if the site logo is raggedy or missing in action. Take the time to buy a professional logo. You will be glad you did. If you can’t afford traditional graphic design prices, go to Fivver.com and pay someone $5 to make a logo for you. These will help you get a nice start on your road to hideous website recovery.
These are just a few of the “hideous” website transgressions that have plagued many bloggers and website owners. If you have anything additional you would like to add, please comment below. If you would like an objective opinion of your website or if you need advice, also comment below or email us at info@blackbloggersconnect.com.
