Add content or design site

[Gewyne]

Hi,

I would like to ask peoples views on site design. I have compiled a few articles (only one published) as generic information for my site. I have however not been posting anything and it has started to make me think if I am doing things right.

I have been trying to research and read on how to get my site as I want it (I purchased Thesis), menus, layout etc... should I ignore these elements and just post ? Is it possible to change posted content to fit into whatever site / menus / categories I end up with or will I create problems for myself...

I just feel I am currently concentrating on style and not content (which is not what the aim of doing this was) however I do not want a messy site (like currently - where nothing really works - banners / menus / teasers and image sizes (no idea what I did there :-) ).

Any ideas ?

Many thanks

Gewyne

[Kaie]

Link?

[Gewyne]

The site is at BS13.org but there is not anything really to see currently.

[Clint Cora]

The most popular sites out there are functional and easy to read. Don't put too much fancy stuff on your site, especially if you want Google to track it. Keep it simple so that people can easily find your content.

[nzmegs]

I started my blog with the opposite mindset. I wrote some good content, posted it and then started playing around with the layout. If you get a few regular readers, they won't mind if you alter the layout or play around with themes at a later date. But you won't get readers, if you don't have content.

In fact you can't really say that you have a blog or a website if there is nothing on it.

Getting people to visit your website is probabaly what you should concentrate on ahead of playing about with the way it looks.

[Gewyne]

Originally Posted by nzmegs

I started my blog with the opposite mindset. I wrote some good content, posted it and then started playing around with the layout. If you get a few regular readers, they won't mind if you alter the layout or play around with themes at a later date. But you won't get readers, if you don't have content.

In fact you can't really say that you have a blog or a website if there is nothing on it.

Getting people to visit your website is probabaly what you should concentrate on ahead of playing about with the way it looks.

Thanks nzmegs, that is what is going through my mind. I was just concerned that people may have expectations of site layout that may put them off. But you are correct, I can tweak all that as I go along.

Time to edit some articles and finally publish them.

[elgringo]

I also say you should focus on content first. If you design everything first - the menus, layout, etc. - you'll end up either having to go back and change things or else (probably) have subtle pressure to conform your content to the design.

[ron7519]

I focused on design because I felt irritated by not having the design first. In the end I don't think it matters. I guess if you write content first google can start picking up your site but is a month or two delay that important? For some maybe, but for me I wanted the design done first...just me,

[deluxethree]

I really find web design very important in a web site. You will get more visitors and prospect customers with an attractive appearance and design. I see it form my experience. A beautiful design will leave a good impressions to the visitors.

[Swifthawk]

Originally Posted by Gewyne

Hi,

I would like to ask peoples views on site design. I have compiled a few articles (only one published) as generic information for my site. I have however not been posting anything and it has started to make me think if I am doing things right.

I have been trying to research and read on how to get my site as I want it (I purchased Thesis), menus, layout etc... should I ignore these elements and just post ? Is it possible to change posted content to fit into whatever site / menus / categories I end up with or will I create problems for myself...

I just feel I am currently concentrating on style and not content (which is not what the aim of doing this was) however I do not want a messy site (like currently - where nothing really works - banners / menus / teasers and image sizes (no idea what I did there :-) ).

Any ideas ?

Many thanks

Gewyne

I always have the same problem when trying to get a site started up. I found the best way is to put 10 or so articles on it before worrying about the design.

This is because without any content you really don't know how the site is going to look or feel when the content does arrive and you may find yourself wanting to change to something else.

Presentation of the content is really what matters most, so you need at least several articles up to really be able to see how they are presented. This way you won't work day and night on a design only to find out that it can't handle the bulk of articles you want to produce.