What Does a Blog Look Like? (Basic Structure of a Blog With Examples)

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Imagine you're about to start a blog. You sit down, ready to type, and then it hits you: What does a blog look like? Panic sets in as you realize you don't know where to start. Relax; you're in the right place. Blog content creation begins with understanding its basic structure, and learning how a blog works helps you craft something that doesn't just look good but connects with your readers, too. This article will break down the basics, offering insights into crafting engaging blog posts.

If you're wondering how to make this journey easier, Feather's notion to blog helps you create blogs that look great and read even better.

What Does a Blog Look Like (The Basic Structure of a Blog)

When you decide to learn how to make a blog, you have two options: your website is solely dedicated to your blog or a separate section. Either way, the core purpose of having a blog is to entice people to read your posts.

Therefore, your written content must be the sole focus. No flashy animations or complex imagery are needed here; simplicity will help you expand your readership much further.

Here are the different elements of your blog design:

1. Design an Eye-Catching Homepage

If your website were a house, the homepage would be the front door, the primary gate to your online space. Your published posts may be featured here or on a dedicated page, but either way, your homepage needs to convince visitors that your blog is worth exploring. It should grab their attention and inform people immediately about your website's core purpose.

Consider your web design, including layout, font, and colors. Because your blog is central to establishing your online presence, you’ll also need to consider how to best navigate visitors to it from the homepage using a menu bar.

2. Include Headers

Another way to draw in people’s eyes is to utilize headers on your homepage and blog page. A header is the top strip of each page on your site, and it helps set the tone and convey what readers can expect from their experience. You can even customize your headers for each page if you want to.

You should include your website's name, logo, and even a high-quality image if appropriate for its tone. Use a navigation menu so visitors can easily navigate from page to page.

3. Create a Logo

Creating a logo is an essential part of professional branding. Whether you want to start a fashion or food blog, associating your name with a logo helps solidify your brand identity and makes your website more memorable. It visually represents who you are, what you stand for, and the content you create.

Strategic Logo Placement

You can use a logo maker to generate the perfect emblem representing you and your blog. Then, incorporate it throughout your site, most importantly, on her headers. You can also include it on the footer of each page along with other valuable information, such as contact details, so people are sure to remember you.

4. Incorporate Empty Space

Within a few seconds, a person visiting your site will decide whether or not your blog is worth exploring. While you may have read articles about what features to include in your blog, it’s also worth emphasizing what not to include. This is where space, also known as white space, comes into play.

Strategic Whitespace

Space refers to areas of your blog that you simply leave blank. Too much text and an abundance of images can appear messy and unorganized. Your blog should flow seamlessly so visitors can easily navigate from one page to the next. Space allows readers to make sense of the components on each page, guides their eyes, and helps frame the written content.

While some websites, especially those in the UX or web design sphere, may incorporate complex design features, a blog design should remain simple. This allows your written content to shine through as the star.

Reader-Centric Design

If your entire website is dedicated to your blog, your primary goal is to attract readers. They need to be able to find your posts easily and navigate the various pages on your site. Don’t steal focus with too many fancy features, which can distract potential readers. Let the quality of your written and visual content speak for itself.

6. Display Article Thumbnails

The page of your blog site that houses your articles needs to be engaging, colorful, and easy to explore. The best way to do this is to display thumbnails of each article in a grid or listicle format. This keeps your content organized and accessible, allowing readers to scan the various titles.

Include a title, date, and image for each post. Visuals are going to be a key component in drawing readers’ attention.

Include a Related Posts section to keep visitors engaged on your site for longer. You can include this in the middle of an article so readers are sure to scan past it while reading or at the bottom of the page.

Including your most popular articles is a strategic way to leverage this section because this is where readers find the most value. You’re, therefore, more likely to get the attention of new visitors from these identical posts.

Giving readers the ability to share your articles on social media is one of the easiest ways to reach new audiences and build your reputation as a thought leader. It’s also easy and free built-in marketing, particularly helpful if your goal is monetizing your blog.

Content Depth as a Catalyst

An additional tip is to write more long-form content, referring to blog posts with 1,200 words or more. These articles generate three times more social media shares than shorter content, and enabling sharing capabilities allows you to leverage this opportunity. If your blog is part of your business website, doing so will bring in new site visitors who have the potential to turn into customers. It’s a no-brainer for any blogger.

9. An About Me Page

One of the core purposes of creating any blog is connecting with your readers. It’s essential to make your content personal and share who you are so they can get to know you. Without a trustworthy source, online content becomes far less relevant. With over 31 million bloggers in the U.S. alone all vying for readership, connecting with visitors will help your blog thrive and stand out amongst competitors.

Authorial Transparency

This is why your blog design should include an About Me section. It will inform your visitors who you are so they can know who is authoring your content. Include a picture of yourself and a short bio, including the motivation behind your blog. This will help retain visitors and keep them coming back.

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What a Blog Post Looks Like

Creating a blog post involves more than just writing; crafting an experience for your readers. Here’s how you can do it effectively:

Grab Attention with Your Title

The title is your first impression, and it needs to be strong. Use numbers to make it pop and promise value or insight the reader can’t ignore.

Write an Engaging Introduction

Your introduction sets the tone. Keep it simple and relatable. Explain what readers will gain from your post and why it matters.

Use Headings and Subheadings

Divide your content with clear headings and subheadings. This makes your post easier to navigate and more visually appealing.

Keep Paragraphs Short and Sweet

Short paragraphs help maintain reader interest and make your content more digestible. Break information into bite-sized chunks.

Include a Table of Contents

A table of contents is a roadmap for your readers. It helps them find what they’re interested in and improves your post’s SEO.

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9 Best Practices for Blog Design

To get started on improving the design of your blog, study the points below and think about how they can help improve the appearance of your blog.

1. Fonts are More Important Than You Think

When changing your fonts, remember that they are one of the first things your readers see on your page. The titles (with fonts) help someone decide immediately if you will stay on your page. Use only 2 or 3 fonts as a maximum, as too many will clutter the page's look.

2. Have a Color Scheme in Mind

The color scheme of a blog is critical. Think about how it matches or complements your webpage. Are the colors the same pattern (or at least complementary) to your main website? Think about your favorite dishes. Do the saucers match the larger plates, or are they exact opposites?

Your website and blog are a pair; they complement each other and work together to get your message across to the people you want to reach. Don't pick more than two or three complementary colors.

3. HTML Tweaks

If you know code like HTML and Javascript or other programming languages, you open the door to several changes you can make to your site. Changing up the HTML even slightly can make a big difference in your Google rankings over time.

The algorithm is set so that the "bots" scan the web for new content every few days. Even changing your font or background color can increase your visibility with your audience.

4. Arrangement on the Page

Mark Cuban once told a budding online tech company that it needed to change one thing on their blog or website and let it run for a few weeks to see what happened. By doing this, one asset at a time, you can see a pattern in what is driving more traffic. Once you figure out what that is, you can keep doing what works to keep the traffic flowing.

Iterative Optimization

In other words, don't do too much too soon. One thing at a time, then check the results. Owning a website and blog is a continual adjustment experiment based on the changing market and the individual needs of your audience. Take a look at some blog website examples to get more inspiration.

5. Embrace the Blank Space

One mistake many blog owners make is thinking every space should be used. Instead, they should do the opposite and embrace the space on the page.

This idea can also apply to your blog design. Don't feel like every bit of webpage space needs to be used. Use the most crucial space for content, but leave the rest a place of retreat. Embrace the blank space just as much as the used space. I know your visitors will, too.

6. Always Include Subheads

Breaking up your content into sections is always a good idea. It keeps readers engaged and keeps them from getting tired when reading your text. The top heading (as we've done in this article) should be an H1 heading (the largest), the subheading below would be at an H2, and so on.

The listicles of items can be written as an H3 heading. But don't forget to resume the H2 and H1 headings to close. This is just one format, but it is a great way to emphasize your blog's main topics and subtopics. The brain needs organization. If you make it easy for your visitors to do this, they will have a more enjoyable experience.

7. Learn the Importance of CSS

CSS, short for Cascading Style Sheets, is just another type of HTML. But it is arranged differently on the page. Below is a simple example of CSS in HTML.

CSS: a { text-decoration: none; }

What this will do is remove the underline in previously underlined text. In pure HTML, it would look like this:

<u>I am underlined text.</u>

The first "u" symbolizes the open text to underline, and the closed u tells when to stop underlining.

CSS as Creative Liberation

CSS is a shortened form or a command that tells the browser what to show you when interacting with web pages. But at the same time, especially if you don't have the time to learn the entire HTML code as I did. Remember that a true CSS is a whole "sheet" or line of code written in shorthand HTML (CSS) format. It is more or less a "laundry list" of commands telling the browser how you want your page to act and present itself to your viewers.

Beyond HTML

If you practice CSS and learn how to use it, you will be amazed at the creative opportunities it will open for your site or blog. Now, you can change whatever you want on your page without restrictions through code. Code may seem boring to some, but it is freedom for those who own websites. It allows you to make your blog or website anything and everything you want.

8. Include Images But Don’t Overdo It

Placing images on your pages (including your blog page) is a great way to entice your visitors to want to learn more. We are, by nature, visual beings. We want to see and experience things up close so that we appreciate them. If you choose your images carefully, you will increase engagement and traffic.

Image SEO and Strategic Visuals

For example, did you know that Google ranks individual photos you upload and that they are searchable on the internet by themselves? That's right! This means that every image you upload gets associated with the page they are on, but it is also searchable in a photo directory. This is yet another reason you should choose an excellent blog style option.

The Dual Edge of Visual Content

Just be careful and don't overdo it. Photos and videos are best left to understatement and only used when they enhance your material. Too much can clutter the look of your page and make your page take too long to load. You don't want your blog or website to look like the Library of Congress for photos!

When uploading images, consider the following aspects:

Size

The image size will affect the download time when someone visits your blog. Keep it small enough so that download times don't take longer than 8 seconds on a fast machine or mobile device.

Resolution

Choose a resolution that fits your platform's internet protocol. A 4000 x 5000 ultra HD image in a portrait frame might be fine for the family room, but it is too large for your websites. Also, remember that people are already looking at it up close. You don't want them to expand a gigantic resolution photo so that they have to scroll from side to side to see it.

People will get frustrated and usually leave a site that does this. Keep it small, say 500 x 750 or 500 x 500 for a perfect square. If you use a template, fill the space in a photo insertion tile.

Quality

Quality is more important than the speed of download, but both are important. People want to see beautiful photos when they are relevant to their topic.

Alt text

This text appears when the visitor hovers the mouse over the image. For people whose browsers do not support the image format, this can help them see what they are missing.

9. Make Sure Your Subscribers Get Notified

It would be a shame if all the work you are doing or plan to do on your blog would be overlooked or not seen by your target audience. So make sure you use email marketing to add to any email campaign in conjunction with your blog content to get your blog noticed. Ultimately, the blog is an extension of your website (on-site or off-site), and it says a lot about your business.

Just like your website, it needs to look lovely, appealing, colorful, and inviting to the target audience you want to attract.

Value-Driven Engagement

Start with a great design using some of the ideas presented in this blog and fill it with valuable content. Remember, the most important thing about your blog is that it gives you a chance to introduce yourself to your readers and visitors, and you are giving them something of value for "free." This is how you build rapport with people you don't know but who could come to appreciate what you offer.

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20 Inspiring Blog Design Examples

1. Living Cozy

Living Cozy is your ultimate resource for curated home and furniture brands. Built using the Webflow platform, the site is clean, simple, and packed with specialized tips for furniture buyers. Living Cozy provides extensive information, testing, and unbiased reviews to help you decide whether you need a modular sofa or a comfy chair.

2. Ramp

Ramp is a financial services website that combines functionality with simplicity. Its clean and minimalistic layout, engaging visuals, and concise text provide a clutter-free interface for visitors to focus on critical information without distractions. The generous use of white space gives a sense of openness and elegance.

3. Rise Science

RISE Science’s design instantly draws in audiences with a stunning hero section and a dark theme that mirrors the site’s mission of improving users’ sleep. Vibrant imagery and minimalistic design elements create a visually appealing interface.

4. Notion

The Notion blog boasts a clean and minimalistic layout that enhances readability and focuses on content. With a well-structured navigation menu, visitors can easily browse through various categories. Eye-catching visuals, thoughtful typography, and ample white space create a visually appealing and inviting web page.

5. Webflow

Webflow’s blog design features vibrant imagery, bold typography, and a clean layout that makes exploring a diverse range of articles easy. The responsive design ensures optimal viewing across devices, while Reading Lists help users quickly find the information they need.

6. Shopify's Blog

Shopify’s blog homepage sets a high standard for modern web design aesthetics. Its well-organized layout presents content in an engaging and easily digestible manner, with vibrant visuals complemented by thoughtful typography and links to social media.

7. ClickUp's Blog

The ClickUp blog is a prime example of how thoughtful design and intuitive layout can make information consumption delightful. With vibrant color palettes, modern typography, and straightforward navigation, the blog keeps readers engaged and eager to explore more.

8. Framer's Blog

Framer’s blog combines sleek aesthetics with educational content, featuring a clean and minimalist layout that allows the content to shine. Content is organized in buckets like Get Started, Layout, and How-To, making it easy for readers to find answers to their questions.

9. Kevin Indig

Kevin Indig’s blog stands out in terms of graphic design and layout, offering a wealth of information in an easy-to-digest format. Crisp typography, ample white space, and strategically placed visuals create a visually appealing reading experience.

10. Zapier's Blog

Zapier’s blog uses colors, bold typography, and well-organized sections to balance simplicity and substance. The clean and visually pleasing layout conveys professionalism and credibility with insightful articles, a user-friendly interface, and intuitive navigation.

11. Paul Graham

Paul Graham’s blog is an intellectual haven that challenges conventional thinking and offers profound insights into startups, entrepreneurship, and technology. The no-frills design focuses on substance over style, conveying authenticity and intellectual depth.

12. Mark Manson

Mark Manson’s blog is an extension of his books and courses, offering straightforward life advice with humor, raw honesty, and no-bull observations. The clean and minimalistic layout allows the content to take center stage.

13. PostHog's Blog

The PostHog blog focuses on product analytics and growth, with a clean and user-friendly design that provides a seamless reading experience. Articles offer practical advice, industry trends, and real-world case studies.

14. HubSpot's Blog

The HubSpot blog caters to marketers, sales professionals, and business owners with visually appealing design and intuitive navigation. It offers articles, guides, and expert insights on inbound marketing, sales enablement, and customer experience.

15. Reforge's Blog

The Reforge blog is a strategic goldmine for growth professionals, with practical frameworks and actionable strategies. The intuitive design and user-friendly layout make navigating various topics easy.

16. Marketing Examples

Marketing Examples showcases real-world campaigns and strategies that have delivered tangible results. Each case study is presented visually engaging and easy to digest, offering a wealth of actionable takeaways.

17. Fs Blog

The Farnam Street blog is a haven for lifelong learners and deep thinkers seeking to broaden their intellectual horizons. It focuses on mental models, decision-making, and critical thinking with accessible and thought-provoking articles.

18. Stacker

Stacker’s blog provides digestible coverage of today’s most pressing topics with a clean, intuitive, and visually appealing design. The layout features a well-organized homepage with clear categories for easy exploration.

19. The Manual by Compound

The Compound blog offers insightful articles and guides on wealth management, distilling intricate financial topics into accessible advice. The sleek, modern design features an interactive layout for easy browsing.

20. Starlight Money Blog

The Starlight Money blog provides a fresh perspective on crypto with a clean, dark-theme layout and intuitive navigation. Card-based design breaks down topics into manageable chunks for an engaging and visually appealing experience.

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Feather's SEO-Optimized Architecture

With Feather, you can set up a subfolder blog at domain.com/blog, which is better for SEO than the old subdomain method. For those who want more control over their blog's design, Feather offers options to change things up with custom CSS. You can also use Feather to collect email addresses from your readers so you can build your audience and keep them coming back for more.

Write Once, Publish Everywhere

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