Blog Critique: Conversations with Self

In this series I give constructive feedback about the look and function of an author blog from a marketing perspective. As always, I rely on help from graphic designers Tom Barnes (my hubby) and Joe LaRue. To review the blog elements we look at or to submit your own blog for critique, go here.

I'm better! Except for this stupid headache that won't leave no matter how many Advil I take. Though that could be from the virus I call my children. 

But anyway. Thanks so much for the feedback yesterday. It was very helpful. I am sorry I had to push this week's critique to today, especially when the blog comes from the sweetest woman in my blogging world. At least, that's the impression I have of Len Lambert: Sweet and maybe a little crazy :).  Go on and check out her blog at Conversations with Self and meet me below.

Oh, Len, you sweet, mum you.  My husband and I stared at your blog for a long time before he finally said, "It's good." Then, after I pressed him, he said, "I don't know what it's missing, but it's just not right." 

Here's what I think the problem is: I don't know what you want your blog to accomplish. It seems off the bat that you are a rambling blog. You know, a blog for sharing whatever you feel like sharing. Elements of your blog that back this up are your whimsical background, your title, your randomness in posting, your welcome paragraph. Of course, since you write, writing will sometimes find its way into your posts. This is a perfectly fine type of blog to have, and really, anything goes when you blog for yourself like this. So then I would say, "Great blog!" and "Awesome job!"

But I wonder if you are trying to be a writing blog. Or an author blog. You have author interviews and helpful author links and all. If you are, then there are some things we would suggest:

• Your title is confusing to find. It's not your name and then your blog address is also something different. If you are going to be carpediem202.blogspot.com then that should be your blog name.
• You don't have your name at all in your title or subtitle. Who are you? At least put your name in your subtitle.
• You have a nice welcome on the side, but this should be the spot for your profile.  You could blend the profile and the welcome together.
• Oh, and your subtitle is a little hard to read. Maybe try making it bigger. You could also try a rust color there and see if it reads better.
• Okay, I'm going to forgive you for the exclamation marks in your posts because I think it's just you :) But for sure, you don't need it in your subtitle. Headings read so much better without them.
• Joe likes your palette. The background colors, that is. You could really use them well if you incorporated them in the actual blog. Use that rust in your headlines, for example. Use that teal for the inactive tabs (they're too dark right now, anyway - or too close to your font color).
• What is the purpose of the books on the side? Are they fellow bloggers? Friends? Books you like? Let us know or we'll ignore them.
• Your words of inspiration at the bottom are too hard to read over the background. Maybe try a yellow font there. Or leave that section blank. It would be pretty without anything on it.
• And, blog a little more consistently. It's hard. But it will keep you on people's minds. 

I LOVE that you have a Contact Me, Awards, and Writing links. Great job! Mostly, I adore your personality. It's very different and unique and I feel it captured well in your posts. They are honest and beautifully you. Don't ever lose that whatever you change on your blog.

What are your thoughts readers? We'd love your notes!