Jumping in here. Work on a blog post today that has been calling me since July 24. This is not on the blog I have been using for the Problogger challenge BUT I would love some comments on this posting. I am behind on my days because of other deadlines looming. This was one of them.

Oh, by the way. I signed up for the Travel Bloggers Convention in September and plan on having that blog up and running and all the stories I have been planning for it but not getting done.

I have learned from all the #31dbbb ladies - Thank you

Posting is for the Worldwide Photowalk July 24, 2010

http://www.eileenludwig.com/blog/?p=77

1) What's the primary page or post you're going to concentrate on updating for this task?  What do you want to change or update on it?

I'm going to update my About page and my first post since it really explains why I started to blog and where I am currently in my journey through Motherhood.  I also want to add a search for sidebar by subject. And my blogroll and resource page need to be completed. Not sure if I can do that all today but I will be working on it.

2) When you visit someone else's site, what are some key elements you look for in their primary pages? What are some of the biggest mistakes you see being made?

The About page is really important, it tells me who the person is, what they are passionate about and why they blog.  I also love the search by topic in the sidebar.

My primary page(s) I need to spend more time on are Designs & Sweet Treats. Since I'm a crafter & baker blogger...I need to really amp up these two areas. {I'll admit, my my html skills are limited so I've just recently added these two elements.}

Key elements I look for in other's pages are TUTORIALS. There are so many creative people in the crafting area and I gain so much inspiration from them. I also appreciate those who add technique tutorials that help improve my skills. Some that are especially appealing are those who do video tutorials - these are beyond helpful!

I will be adding my one recipe...two desserts & sweet success  posts to the Sweet Treats page soon!

1) What's the primary page or post you're going to concentrate on updating for this task?  What do you want to change or update on it?

I think I'm going to change my about me section, its long and wordy.  I even just cut out a few paragraphs a few weeks ago, but looking at it again (after reading this post), I realized it's still too long for my taste.  I would never stick around to read it if I was a visitor. 

2) When you visit someone else's site, what are some key elements you look for in their primary pages? What are some of the biggest mistakes you see being made?

I am looking for what their blog is about.  Is it something I will be interested in reading long term, or just just for kicks today?  I look for key words, who they are, what they like etc.  I have over 100 blogs in reader so if I add another it has to be worth it.

I see misspellings and bad grammar, which I'm sure I have too, but it always turns me off a little. 

I need to tidy my main blog page - I have a lot of badges (which I like hosting) so  I need to create a scroll widget in photobucket so I can still display them, but make my blog look cleaner.

That's the short term answer. I need to do some tutorials on Dreamweaver so I can design a website which will host more than just a blog page and hopefully host my books one day too :-)

When I look at other blogs the common mistake I see is going for the fanciest blog background, some are really distracting and I just can't stay on bright yellow or hot pink backgrounds for long. I don't mind a bit of personal blogging, but the bulk of their blogposts must be useful information (so I can pretend I'm working and not procrastinating).

I woefully need to update my About page!  I'd also like to update my portfolio (make it more resume-ish) and my front page.

I think a lot of people really neglect their about pages.  I see a lot of 2-3 sentence blurbs, no photos, no indication of what the site is about - not even the name of the host!  I'd rather have far too much information on an About page than not enough.

1) What's the primary page or post you're going to concentrate on updating for this task?  What do you want to change or update on it?

I've never been fully satisfied with my About page. I don't know how to say what I want to say and not come off as a crazy person. I just need to be more confident to just put the real me out there and not worry about being judged.

2) When you visit someone else's site, what are some key elements you look for in their primary pages? What are some of the biggest mistakes you see being made?

Easy navigation is something I look for. And if the sidebar is too blinky or moving or filled with ad after ad after ad, it's off putting.

I will never leave a comment on a blog w/o having read the About Me page. It gives me insight into who they are and why they might be writing what they are writing.

1) What's the primary page or post you're going to concentrate on updating for this task?  What do you want to change or update on it?

Like most of you, I think my About page needs some re-tooling. I have a blurb about myself and then links to what i think are key reasons behind my blog and what I do and i thought that had been reasonable so far. But reading thru this, and seeing in my stats how many people actually look at it, I know it needs updating.

2) When you visit someone else's site, what are some key elements you look for in their primary pages? What are some of the biggest mistakes you see being made?

I can't stand unfocused pages. Pages with multiple sized, randomly spaced boxes with content is such a distraction, not knowing where to go first, or what is the most relevant is enough to make me click away. 

I like clean, easily navigation with sections clearly labeled. 

1) What's the primary page or post you're going to concentrate on updating for this task?  What do you want to change or update on it?

I'm going to update my contribute page with specific guidelines to help guest bloggers understand what I'm looking for. 

2) When you visit someone else's site, what are some key elements you look for in their primary pages? What are some of the biggest mistakes you see being made?

The main things that I look for is readability and useful content.  There are two main types that immediately turn me off as a reader.  a)  affiliate marketing with oodles of ads and fake hover clicks.  I leave immediately.  b)  too flowery and hard to read sites.  I appreciate pretty designs but frankly pastel fonts on pastel is impossible to read.   There are a lot of sites that are pretty to look at for one time but I never come back because I can't read anything. 

Question 1: What's the primary page or post you're going to concentrate on updating for this task?  What do you want to change or update on it?

Last month I launched a whole new look on my site.  So for me for the last month I have been working on every page.  It really is still being tweaked.  I'm still not happy with the Home Organization page.  I need to work with my web designer more on that page because I would like sub-topics and it's not working for me.

Question 2: When you visit someone else's site, what are some key elements you look for in their primary pages?  What are some of the biggest mistakes you see being made?

Of course I look for is content I'm into.  First thing that makes me run away fast is music.  Turn it off or make it an option to turn it on.  The immediate music is a big no-no to me.  Another thing is that I want to find a way to follow you on Facebook, Twitter and your RSS very quickly.  Put it in the sidebar at the top.  Another one I've noticed a lot lately are people who have a ton of buttons in the side bar in different sizes.  I think that the consistency of size is imperative.  Center them all.  Visually stimulating is something that I am noticing more and more.

BlogHer - Don't Forget The Little Things