Which One Is More Important - A Blog Design or Its Content?
August 7, 2007 by Gaman
I’ve been using this current theme called “What’s your solution?” by GFXedit.com. While it’s not the prettiest in town, I like it so much I’ve never really bothered looking for an alternative since this blog went online.
The original version has a corporate feel to it. But I dislike the small font so I increased its size. Other than that I’ve changed the colour of the links to make it closer to a standard link colour and tweaked several details to suit my needs.
This is how it looks like in its original form.
I am a fan of a fixed width, two column theme. It’s even better when it’s combined with minimal and clean design. That’s why I use this theme.
While a blog design is important, it shouldn’t get in the way of conveying your message as I always believe bloggers should put more emphasis on the content.
Imagine your favourite blog with everything but the fancy graphics; will you be able to understand its message? Now imagine visiting the same blog with all its bells and whistles and beautiful graphic, but now without a single post in it.
Would you say it’s the content that matters more than the design?
Realistically, I think it’s important to find a balance between content and design. Bad design destroys usability and prevents users from enjoying and understanding your message. Likewise, good design doesn’t mean it has to be littered with bloated code and high resolution image files.
That said, I think it’s no harm trying a new theme, perhaps it’s about time. I’d like to give Sabahan.com a fresher look that’s more up to date.
Several users have voiced their dislikes over my current theme, can’t blame them because obviously it’s a matter of preference. However if more people request a change, I’ll see what I can do with. Yea, it’s all about the users.
Now I need your opinion.
Please leave your comment why I should or shouldn’t change my theme 
gaman,
for me it complement each other..no content no visitor.
You may want to further divide it into layout, i.e. placement of content, menu, ads, etc., and design, i.e. colour combo, font combo, etc.
I like the layout you have now, it would just be a matter of using different colours to enhance the content. Simplicity doesn’t need to be bland
Sorry, I meant to say “define”, not “divide”
i would say that content is much more important…but for someone to read your content, you must have a pleasent reading environment (which is your theme). But there is no need for super artistic theme
Yes, to a fixed width 3 column design, they’re all the rage you know.
gaman, i like your site the way it is now..but maybe the link color need to be a bit darker(blue) to improve readability..
just my opinion..
I think CONTENT is most important as i surf through lots of BLOG. I also find out that blog design can affect the value of your CONTENT. So i would say , CONTENT=70%, DESIGN=30%
–blog for dream–
http://ahtim-theblogger.blogspot.com
Today’s web visitor rarely enters through the front door of your blog (design, navigation, layout). They come in through your posts (content). As important as the blog title, post title, content, and other contextual information is, if the visitor cannot move where they arrive to other places on your blog surely they will not come again.
But it all depend on personal taste, that is more important because you want to use it.
To gaman if you want to change you will not lose anything since there are loyal readers that read your blog.
My blog was actually a theme from wpdesigner but you would never guess that now
Honestly, your theme looks fine for ‘make money blogs.’
Unlike personal blogs, I don’t think having lots of colours or bling bling will add credibility to your site. This is just nice.
SO’s your content.
The content is definitely more important than the design. Having said that - I have viewed sites that were so poorly designed that they distracted me from the content. Yours is of course not the case.
I have never been a fan of a 2 column site, it’s nearly impossible to get everything you need in that one sidebar. I think 3 column pages are much more effective, and more like the newspaper style that most people are used to.
No, you shouldn’t change your theme… This theme has become your “online face” i am already familiar with… I can easily identify Gaman’s site just by a look at the front page.
Moreover, your contents are good for me to talkback at! So, you should keep up with your contents as it is… This blog theme has white background with wide looking feel which is easy with my eyes when I browse…
By the way, I also like fixed width too! Back in 1999, i used to use 640 or below because of the commonly used 640×480 resolution… Now, the fixed width is between 800 to 1024… which is much more variety and easier to squeeze more things in that number of pixels..
Percentage width tend to make the graphics nice to a certain extend only… I would rather “force” the user to scroll horizontally if the graphics cannot make it through lesser resolution…
Gaman, it’s your choice now! I see a 10 positive votes against 6 negative votes…
This is great post. I have been thinking about paying for a custom design, but my current one seems to be doing just fine. I say that content is more important!
How long you’ve been using this theme? Your site has huge traffics.. that’s better enough, although this theme looks *ehhh pale..
Over one and a half year
He he.. i’m one of those who gave less favorable remark about your theme in my review… I am actually interested to know what changes you observe if you tweak the theme a bit. You can tell us your experience.
Change the theme but not the content quality.
Im really curious to what kind of theme you gonna change. For me, this kind of blog, need not be that fancy. This is the best theme for you gaman. Simple and direct all eyes to the content. I vote “No”, I think you should not change sabahan.com theme.
both are important Gaman…..
Superb content with acceptable design. Acceptable doesn’t mean it should be pretty.
It just need to be readable.
hello,
i find some topics at your blog that are great and useful for me, keep your work.
This just comes up in my mind, i think u have to make a LOGO for sabahan.com, Just a small one to be put on the top left hand corner..
just my opinion..:)
I’ve thought of that before. May be I’ll create one in the future but for now I think the Sabahan.com will do
maybe You can check Problogger new theme design and get some ideas about it there..
Yeah.. i thought i gone to the wrong blog. I prefer his old logo though.
i think sabahan stay with 2 column … this is sabahan trademark!
70% content 30% design