Beautiful Blog
According to a recent survey conducted by American researchers, blogs are the third most trusted source of information, just behind friends and family. The title of this article is quite ironic – a beautiful blog is something entirely different from what one might think.
It’s true that bloggers enjoy more trust than celebrities, journalists, brands, and politicians. But how do you make people fall in love with your blog? (Of course, apart from extraordinary content…)
Well, a beautiful blog, just like the home page of your website, is like the entrance to your company or house. The design of your blog is like the entrance to your business or personal blog.
If you don’t attract people visually, how will you encourage them to take further steps and read (and hopefully subscribe) to your content?
A beautiful blog is about content
When you finish building high-quality content, you still have a challenge: presenting it in a way that clearly defines what your blog is about. Images, text, and links must be displayed properly – otherwise, readers may leave your blog if they are not presented attractively and engagingly.
That’s why we’ve collected some examples of home pages from various blogs to help you design the perfect blog for your audience. Check them out below.
HELP SCOUT
Sometimes the best blog projects are also the simplest. Help Scout is a software company that uses a unique but minimalist project on their blog.
What we particularly like about this blog is the use of highlighted images in all posts, including the banner at the top, which emphasizes the latest or most popular post. These icons are placed before bright, block colors that attract readers’ attention and signal what the post is about. And it works – everything in this project is “clean” and “readable”.
MICROSOFT – STORIES
Is there a better way to revitalize an old brand than with a blog that boasts beautiful, interactive, and inspiring content?
Furthermore, the square layout of these stories resembles the Microsoft logo, ensuring valuable brand consistency.
Microsoft Stories is also a great example of how a business blog can be a key asset for overall rebranding. In recent years, Microsoft has worked on humanizing its brand, mainly in response to competition with Apple, which has mastered it (unfortunately Steve Jobs was unbeatable until recently…). The “Stories” section of the Microsoft website has a simple slogan – “Take a look inside people, places, and ideas that inspire us.” This is a softer side of Microsoft, if you will. Not everyone may believe that hard-boiled businessman Bill Gates has something delicate (:
When trying to convey a brand’s message, your blog can be used to transmit this idea – both visually and in terms of content.
PANDO
Look at the image in the header. It absolutely grabs the reader’s attention – it’s not an intentional play on words.
Pando divides its content into three visible sections on the home page: New posts are displayed on the left side as small thumbnails. “What’s Rising” posts are displayed in the middle column as large thumbnails, and “What’s Hot” posts are displayed on the right side, also as large thumbnails. This triple approach to displaying content may help readers decide which type of information is most important – a prominent main article or other popular posts.
We also like that the number of shares is displayed in a preview of each post – it’s a great way to show how much attention their posts receive.
BRIT + CO
Everything on Brit + Co’s home page says “clean”, “warm”, and “friendly”. It’s free from clutter, making content more digestible, and the site layout is exceptionally organized.
We’re also looking at seasonal features. I mean, lanterns with avocados in the morning in October or adorable pictures illustrating the story’s content.
A subtle “trending” header serves as a great way to promote popular content without being too ostentatious. We’ve also noticed a nod towards Pinterest – this icon is essential when your blog features attractive images.
TESCO LIVING
We love Tesco Living’s colorful, cohesive design – the home page of the UK-based grocery store chain Tesco.
Everyone around was complaining about the brand’s consistency. Check out the diamond patterns on the top banner – they appear in the Tesco logo.
Tesco Living has achieved a perfect balance between simplicity and boldness. The layout is very minimalist but not dull. Warm, friendly colors highlight each content category, while images add colorful strokes throughout the site. This is an excellent example of how proper images can achieve an attractive look according to the “less means more” principle – especially if it fits with the overall concept of the brand.
BARK POST
BarkPost, a blog from BarkBox, which specializes in dog accessories, is an excellent example of design for several reasons. First, take a look at how easy it is to subscribe – the call-to-action is right where it should be, above recommended content. Social media sharing icons are also easily noticeable – and all in a trustworthy blue color matching the brand.
We like that BarkPost draws attention to its sister companies, which are all part of the Bark & Co portfolio. However, the blog does not feature their own products – instead, it serves as a source of information for both parents and dog enthusiasts.
JOHNNY CUPCAKES
To clarify any misunderstandings, Johnny Cupcakes actually doesn’t bake cupcakes. They create clothing. But the company did an excellent job in recreating brand associations with baked goods.
Additionally, people from Johnny Cupcakes know what they’re doing when it comes to consistency across all channels. Simple blog colors and matching fonts help create a unified user interface – from the store to overall content – while bold, colorful images grab readers’ attention.
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