On the heels of my post about why I titled my blog System 13, I now want to dig a bit deeper in regards to how the title affected the looks of my blog.
After moving my blog to system13.wordpress.com, I wanted to get a nice custom theme up and running. This is just my long-running tinkeritis rearing its ugly head. Luckily enough, the WordPress.com folks had just recently made a cheap CSS upgrade available, so I was able to indulge my inner demon.
Due to the science fiction slant of the title, I made the theme have a science fiction slant as well. I think it turned out well enough, considering I’m not a designer of any sort. All in all I think it gives off a science / science fiction impression.
However, I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. I say this in part due to reading Does your site have curb appeal? I think my blog looks alright, and if nothing else, it stands out a bit from all of the premade themes available, at least a little bit. I guess my concern isn’t that my ‘house’ is ugly; it’s that perhaps my house’s exterior gives off the wrong impression. Kind of like a building looking like a toy store, when in fact it’s a book store, or perhaps a beauty salon. It’s also kind of like books; while the old adage is, “don’t judge a book by its cover”, I think just about everyone does, at least to an extent.
So, what’s the first impression newcomers get when they see the science ficton-ish title, coupled with the science fiction-ish theme? Do they think it’s a blog mostly about science and science fiction, or do they see the theme for what it is: just another pretty wrapper?
What’s your take on it? Should I perhaps make the header a little more generic, to match the random nature of my blog, or should I leave it be?
Oh, and a personal note to Slone: no, I’m not getting back into the obsessive compulsive tinkering with the design. I’m not talking about an all out overhaul; just a header image swap, most likely. 
Comments 6
Nope, I’d leave the theme be. It tells readers a bit about who you are and what you like right off the bat. When I first saw your site, I could tell that you were into SciFi, but I also quickly noticed that you blogged “normally”. By that I mean that you write about a range of stuff (SciFi/fantasy stuff such as Stargate and Vikings to stories about your blog title/theme)…
Anyway, I’m not totally sure if I’m making sense, so to clarify, if you want my opinion, leave it as is.
Posted 04 Oct 2006 at 12:58 am ¶Thanks for the input, Jay. Nice to have an outsider’s perspective!
Posted 04 Oct 2006 at 12:54 pm ¶If I were to change it in any way, it would only be to add in a depressing head with two faces.
Seriously, though, you yourself said a few days ago…
“8. What is your primary blogging motivation?
I like it.
9. Do you care much about the amount of visitors?
No.
10. Does the total account of visitors on your blog count more to you, than the amount of visitors who comment on your blog posts?
I’m not really sure if I understand this question. Is it supposed to be ‘does the total amount‘? If that’s the case, no. If I had to choose between tons and tons of traffic and few comments, and low amounts of traffic but with lots of discussion, I’d choose the latter.”
which if you were being fully truthful probably means you’re not TOO worried if your current image frightens away a person or two who judges the book by the cover and assumes your blog is written in Klingon.
If you make your “store” look like it sells toys, books, and everything else… well, I guess you’ll end up with a Wal-Mart image?
Posted 05 Oct 2006 at 9:33 am ¶More really good points, Slone. I’ll leave it as it is.
As an aside, there actually IS a blog written in Klingon.
http://bologh.blogspot.com/
Posted 05 Oct 2006 at 9:38 am ¶Hi,
Posted 18 Oct 2006 at 6:12 am ¶just to say I stumbled across you while browsing through Technorati and I was attracted by the blurb.
But that’s me; I’d choose the words over style in most situations!
If I’d looked at your header I would not have continued because though I like Sci-Fi I probably wouldn’t go for a sci-fi blog. Not sure if that’s very clear but I’m late and have to dash.
By the way, I enjoyed it..
Angela,
Thanks for your input.
Glad you stopped by and enjoyed the visit.
Posted 18 Oct 2006 at 9:48 am ¶Post a Comment