I have always been resistant to adding things that clutter up my blogs/websites. Recently I added Entrecard so I could give an honest review. What I have noticed is a huge surge in sidebar widgets on blogs. It is really driving me crazy! I hate when I go to a site and see 10,000 different things. It really discredits a site in my eyes. Be careful about what you are presenting to your readers. Present a more professional appearance. This is not accomplished by adding another widget.
Keep it clean. A couple of things you can get by with, but always ask yourself what you can get rid of when adding something. If there is something you can live without, then do. Dump it. Keep it clean. Learn something from Apple and Google. Clean is good. Simple is even better.
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I completely agree with you – simplicity is where it’s at!
Good point. No one gets a chance to look over all of the widgets and gadgets anyway. I have a few on my site, but I don’t think they interfere with reading.
Thank you! There seems to just be an explosion of widgets, ads, and sidebar stuff. They slow down the pages and clutter up the entire experience. On a few blogs, I can’t even find the content. Truthfully, it may not be there. I am currently using Entrecard, but I think the jury is still out on it too.
I agree. In fact if a blog takes too long to load I’m gone. One thing I am doing is under the Entrecard badge I’m adding one of the recommendation quotes for the blog that is advertising. I feel they support me when they advertise so why not support them? Also I learn a little more about my advertisers by making this extra effort.
I just wrote about this a couple of days ago too. If there’s too much stuff, I just leave. To me, a page with too many badges and chiclets just looks like a clunky old car with too many bumper stickers.
It’s curious that there are so many widget cluttered blogs around, and yet no-one who has one has piped up here to give their side of the debate.
Due in part to dysfunctional comments thingie on my site, I’ve just installed a new theme, which I had to select in bit of a hurry, but I think it’s clear and easily readable, tho I still have to customise some elements. Perhaps if you have a few moments spare, you could pop over and give me your feedback?
For me, I will read up the posts of the blogs regardless it has many or few widgets…if the post aren’t interesting enough, I may leave and not come back,(yes, again) regardless it has many or few widgets..
I seem to plant my feet on both sides of this issue. I still believe that content is King or Queen depending on the target market. But I also believe in simplicity. An occasional widget is fine, but please stop the flash and glitter. I will leave a site with excess flashing before I have even read the content; but I will also stay to read the content if it is good quality stuff.
So for me it is good content, some pertinent widgets; but NO flash, NO glitter and NO flying pop-ups.
Great post and subject, Jake. Thanks.
I recently changed my theme as it looked cluttered and busy, Now im hoping the change is welcomed.
Very simple and Clean I think, I like your advice
Dale
http://dzrbenson.com/blog/