Blog critique anyone?

[Libran]

Hi,

I have very recently started a blog and have been really excited about it, it's a big thing for me and I was excited to start a blog that was a bit different (it's about being a mum to two small children in the Bishopston area of Bristol and will talk about our experiences of visiting the various facilities, groups, etc with the kids and discuss them from a mum's perspective).

But I have been looking through some of the blogs on here and am now feeling slightly overwhelmed and am losing confidence a bit in my idea; some of the blogs are very impressive and mine does not look very professional in comparison (though I do understand this will take time).

What's more, I submitted my application to the mumsnet blog list and they would like to see several more posts in my blog to see if it will 'fit'. Is this normal? I do understand that by having my blog centred around being a mum where I live will limit the possibility of followers but don't it only to apply solely to mums in my area as it will be about my experiences being a mum, regardless of where I live.

So, I was wondering, would anyone like to take a look at my blog, what it's about, it's design, the picture I have used, the colours, how it is written and give me some honest (but not too harsh, please!) opinions and advice? Please bear in mind that I am not overly computer literate and this is all new to me!

The blog is bishopstonmum.blogspot.com.

Thank you, I would be very grateful for advice or ideas!

xx

[fiddlerintheloft]

HI Libran,

This is a quickie cos I'm on my way out but didn't want your post to go unanswered for a long time. It's quite a scary business starting a blog, putting your ideas and writing out there and finding out if anyone actually wants to read it, so fret not I think your concerns are all part of the process. As for the MN network, I think one of the criteria for joining is that your blog is regularly updated (there are millions and millions of blogs out there and lots of them just disappear into the ether after a few posts) - so I'd imagine they probably just need to see a bit more than one post to know whether you're actually going to be able to go beyond the idea stage and turn it into an ongoing thing. I had a quick look at your site, I think in principle the idea of a local blog talking about what's on offer for young families in your area is a good one. Ideally it's good if you can give people thoughts/information that they can 'take away from your blog' (I don't always follow this advice myself, also v new to blogging) so that it's actually useful to them in some way. Have a look at the MN guide to blogging, it's got some helpful pointers on what makes a successful blog. Otherwise I'd say keep at it, build up a bit of an archive (even if it feels a bit weird writing when you don't know if anyone is reading it) and see how you feel a few weeks or so. It does take a good deal of time to build up a following. Good luck

(turned out not to be such a quickie after all)

[Tee2072]

Hi!

First comment is that your blurry background is not pleasant to look at, so I would change that.

Other than that it a nice clean design, easy to read. Not a blog I would follow as your area is very far from me (I'm in Belfast!) but I could see it being useful to local mums.

MN Network will need more than one post to approve you so keep writing!

Good luck!

[MmeGuillotine]

Just wanted to say hello as I am in Bristol too! :)

I don't really write about life here though, although it gets the odd mention from time to time if something catches my eye. Are you on Twitter? I know quite a few other Bristol bloggers on there and there are occasional blogger meet ups and stuff. :)

[Libran]

Hi,

Thank you Fiddlerintheloft for your thoughts, that's really helpful. That's exactly how I'm feeling, it is scary, giving something of yourself and putting yourself up for possible criticism and judgement on how you write, etc. I will do what you said about trying to give readers something they can take away with them and think about.

Tee2072, I have changed the background! First thing I did after reading these replies! I think the new background looks much better. Thanks for that.

Mmeguillotine, good to to have a reply from a fellow Bristolian! I actually joined Twitter yesterday, though haven't got the hang of it completely yet. I do have one follower already though! (okay, so what if it's my best friend?!) What is your twitter name? I will follow you. Would be good to be involved with Bristol blog meet-ups.

Thanks,

xx

[MmeGuillotine]

Hey there, my Twitter name is MmeGuillotine - I'll follow you back if you find me. We all have to start somewhere on there. ;)

[Libran]

Lovely, will do :-) I am bishopstonmum.

[MmeGuillotine]

Have followed you back! :)

[ScatCatShoo]

Hi Libran,

I havea couple comments, but will write them out for you tomo, or will send a PM. Am shattered as we've just returned from a roads trip, but just wanted to let you know that I'll be in touch. I've followed your blog, btw!

[OutrageousFlavourLikeFreesias]

Hi there Libran,

I know how you feel (I keep clicking on other blogger-network blogs and wondering what the hell I'm going in their company) but please please don't lose heart.

I agree with Fiddler that MNHQ will need to see that you're actually going to keep blogging before they put you on the network. But it sounds like your blog could become a great local resource for fellow mums in the area.

Blogs get more useful (and hence more visited) the more entries they have, so don't be surprised if your traffic is low for a while. Give yourself a good few months at it to build some quality content.

A couple of suggestions for your blog as it stands -

The photo on the front page looks a bit amateur (sorry). The composition is a bit strange and the date-stamp in the corner looks sloppy. A better photo will make your blog feel much more welcoming.

Agree with the comment above that the background isn't great. The hummingbirds are pretty but they don't have anything to do with your subject.

Other than that, I'd just get on with building some content and keep your fingers crossed that MNHQ sign you up!

[Libran]

Thanks for that Outrageous, I have changed the background and have cropped the photo for now so there is no date stamp showing; will change the photo when I have a better one. Thanks for your advice!

[ScatCatShoo]

OK. I can't PM you, but here would be my revisions.

In your right hand sidebar, put 'about you' first, followed by archives, then followers. I would get rid of the labels, perhaps until you have enough posts to fill them up, or use them as a 'cloud' instead of in a straight line for the time being?

Like another poster said, I would also get rid of the header photo, as its a bit lopsided with that road, and its slightly unbalanced and looks skewed with the rest of the blog. Instead, you could make a simple header with your blog name and a tagline for the time being. You could have a look at this site shabbyblogs.com/ and pick out a simple header (also an unusual background), maybe until you get a more professional photo of Bishopston? Use photoshop or microsoft powerpoint to add your blog name to the header.

I would use your photo in your blog introduction. Maybe play around with your fonts as well?

And, have fun! The first few days of your blog are the best, and so experiment like crazy until you find a style that suits you. ANd also, feel free to ignore all this, because in the end its your blog, and you need to feel comfortable with it. These are only suggestions, and not gospel truths :-)

[Libran]

Hi Scatcatshoo,

Okay, I have rearranged the right hand side of the blog in the order you advised, put labels as a 'cloud', got rid of header photo (I included it in my first post instead) and changd the fonts slightly! Thank you so much for all of that, it does indeed look better (well, IMHO anyway).

I did have a look at Shabby Blogs but ended up getting very confused and frustrated so for now have just changed the template of the blog!

Thank you again, your advice really has been invaluable and is very much appreciated:-)

xx

[MmeGuillotine]

Shabby Blogs templates are only designed to work with Blogger but you can adjust the code to use their stuff on Wordpress too - I get my husband to do it for me and he assures me it's quite simple to do. :)

[lowimpactmama]

Have been totally lurking on this thread as I too started a blog this week. I've blogged in the past (using blogger) but thought I'd try wordpress this time and stick to a green/natural parenting type theme...I've been on MN for years though I've set up a new profile for this blog experiment.

Libran keep up the good blogging work!

MmeGuillotine thank you for the shabbyblogs tip! Though I'm baffled as to how to convert their templates to wordpress and though will get DH to have a look at some point (he's the IT brains in our household though I've not yet told DH about my blog...well he knows I've started it but I'm not ready for anyone I know to read it yet!).

[MmeGuillotine]

I could get a simple tutorial from my husband so you can do it yourself? He's always saying that I could do this stuff for myself but I'm terrified of breaking my blog in some hideous way so get him to do it for me. :)

It's so annoying that there isn't anywhere as nice as Shabby Blogs for Wordpress sites. :(

[ScatCatShoo]

Libran, I didn't figure my blog out until like two years into my blogging :) Its all about getting to know the software and you'll eventually figure it out. I love shabby blogs though, my header is from them, and I love how you can customise to suit your blog.

Your blog really looks nice now, more streamlined and once you get a few more posts in you'll be away and running! I love your writing style.

Lowimpactmama, your parenting style sounds just like mine :) Love your blog, keep it up!

[notatschool]

Shabby blogs is one of the only things I miss about blogger, I do think WP is better though.

MmeGuillotine, could you do that because you paid for the CSS upgrade? Have been thinking about that, was debating whether to spend $30 for the benefit of my 6 readers, lol

[MmeLindor.]

Oh, I love new blogs. Will have a look at both.

Am following you both on Twitter. Do have a look at my twitter tutorial on how to promote you blog on Twitter (cause I am too lazy to type it all out here) as you need to do more than just put your blog posts up. Social Media and Blogging tips

Libran
I like the clear lines of your blog. If you want to do a header yourself, you can use Picasa to put your name on a photo that you have taken - or it might be an idea to google photographers in your area and ask if you can use one of their photos, if you link to their blog page.

LowImpactMama
Love the blog and the idea. I often have a no spending day but that is more due to the fact that we live so far out of town with no supermarket in the village, just a small very expensive shop.

[MmeGuillotine]

Notatschool, yes, you need the CSS upgrade to be able to use the Shabby Blogs stuff. :)

[lowimpactmama]

MmeLindor thanks for the twitter advice (and for following me and the #ff!). You just inspired me to send a couple of more tweets . I foresee twitter becoming a little addictive . Your blog is a great combo of funny and informative. Now I must look into tweetdeck this weekend...

MmeGuillotine your blog is so lovely! You have the most comprehensive blogroll I've ever seen [impressed]. I've not upgraded to do the CSS stuff yet but I reckon I will...just need to build up just a bit more content/habit of blogging before I take that plunge!

I can see how MN is going to make blogging even more enjoyable than when I blogged about books years ago!