I think it’s often difficult for bloggers to notice our own template’s defects. We visit our own sites so often we stop seeing issues that might put off a new visitors. “Content loads last” is particularly easy to over look because we bloggers often use high speed connections; visitors may be on lower speed connections.
To see how widespread it wise, I decided to click on some links at at Problogger. I snapped these shots while pages were still loading. Voila!1
Notice the content doesn’t show on two and barely shows for the other? The CSS files for these themes loads the content (or background for the content) after the ads, navigation and whatnot. I guess if Darren himself makes this mistake, it’s not surprising others do too. (I’m also beginning to think the blogger default template suffers from “content-loads-last”. Advice to blogger: fix that!)
Interestingly, on of the three bloggers describes himself this way at Problogger?
Hello everyone, I’m Matt from NetBusinessBlog.com. I’ve been doing web design and development for the last 7 years but have just recently started blogging.
I’m betting Matt has a high speed internet connection.
Here’s another example of the “content loads last” blooper I found at Health bolt. I broke that image from the pack because Healthbolts’ blooper is probably not the individual blogger’s fault. It’s caused by b5media.
Advice to b5media: Find a way to let your bloggers’ content load first.
My blog design?
I’ll admit my blog design isn’t perfect; I’m not even sure it’s good.
I set up Big Bucks Blogger two and a half months ago. At that time I decided to concentrate on content before finalizing the design; I spent no more than 3 hours finding a free stater template. When selecting template I made sure that a) the content would appear “above the fold” and b) the content loaded before the sidebars!
In my opinion, these two rules should never be violated by any template.
I’m checking other blogs designs because I plan to modify this one and I want to see what’s out there. If you see big bloopers — or even small bloopers- in my template, please let me know. Then I can fix them.
1. Blooper pages found at blogozine, selfmademinds.com and Net Business Blog
I know at least one of those will be fixed fairly soon, along with a lot of other faults.
There are some top rated theme designers who vreate branded sponsored themes of popular blogs on a contract basis who do this with every theme.
It is just so annoying, I have often thought about starting a site based around fixing themes.
Hi there.. I have just found you through Technorati. I’m afraid I am aware of this design blooper on my blog… it is in the CSS design and I don’t know how to fix it. Contacting the designer of the theme didn’t help so I’m gonna have to wait till I can find some help.