Thursday, January 08, 2009

Blog Improvement Project: I'm blue

In my search for a new template, I have changed colors. The template is still the regular Blogger Minima-template - the old one was the white Minima Lefty Stretch. I know that I like the simple look. That is for the time at least. I may want some decorations later on, but these days I go with the simple look. I kinda like the dark blue and the sharper looking text-boxes. The stretch they had with the Minima Lefty stretch-template was also fine, but I think it made the blog look a bit messy.

Anyway, I am by no means sure that I will keep this template and am still trying to put in 3 columns. I did set up a test-blog where I can test the 3 columned templates I have found around the net, but something is up with Blogger and I cannot save. So those experiments will have to wait.

I have thought a great deal about the whole "being better at commenting" issue. And I have played around with the templates. Other than that, I haven't done more in this the first week of The Blog Improvement Project :-)
The image is from the photostream of cassmolcic on flickr.

21 comments:

Lisa said...

I can help here! Ti from Book Chatter and Other Stuff gave me a link that tells you how to add a third column to THIS template. It's very very easy, you don't have to know anything.

http://www.threecolumnblogger.com/

after you get the third column set up, it'll tell you how to resize it too. I added it to this blog (http://madebylisah.blogspot.com) which is the white minima template. easy peasy.

Louise said...

Hey Lisa, thanks a lot for the link. I am definitely going to check it out :-)

Lisa said...

Glad I could help!

Alessandra said...

Hi, I don't know if you read it already on my blog, but you inspired me to explore the Italian book blogosphere. It's a nice place, there are lots of reading challenges and everything (not that I'm going to join the challenges in Italian, I'm already over-challenged as it is), and (most) people are kind to the new blogger. And then they say Italians don't read much!

Beth F said...

Louise, I left the information about the pull-down lists in the comments to my BIP post on my blog. Didn't want to you miss it or think that I forgot!

Unknown said...

I don't know what your blog looked like before - but I like the blue! I thought your blog was very interesting - especially during your month of posting every day. I think I'll try to update my blog more regularly now, as more content seems to make a blog better.
Good luck with the Blog Improvement Project. I hope us newbies can pick up a tip or two!

Debi said...

I'm a big fan of simplicity! Looks great, but then I liked it before, too!

Sherrie said...

Hi!
I like the new blue you added. I also would love to have 3 columns. I'll have to check out it out! Have a great week!

Sherrie

Meg89 said...

I've also had some problems trying to change templates on Blogger over the last couple of days, but I found sometimes if I wait a couple hours and try again, it will magically work!

Good luck!

Louise said...

Alessandra, oh, that is interesting news. I think I will have a look at your blog later today or tonight when I have a bit more time. Thanks for checking it out :o)

Louise said...

Beth, super. I will have to stop by later and check it out. Right now everything which will make the blog look more organized is interesting for me these days. I want to see how much I can actually "clean up" without having to remove the stuff I like having on here. Thanks again.

Louise said...

farmlanebooks, thanks a lot. I am sure you can get loads of good tips and ideas around for improving. I have already found many interesting things I want to try with my blog. Also, you are right that when blogging regularly, you also generate more visitors, but of course there are other factors involved as well :-) And judging from your image, you look like you have your hands full already ;o)

Louise said...

Debi, yeah, I know. I liked the white look as well, specially after I saw it on another blog, but I still think my blog looked cluttered, the other blog looked organized and cool ;o)

Louise said...

splummer and meg89 - we just have to play around with the possibilities I think. I have been very annoyed with Blogger the past days, everything I have tried, it has returned with some error. But now I will let it rest for some time and then try later. In my post below, one of the last commenters, Elisabeth, has a great looking Blogger 3-column blog. I think it looks awesome, but not sure I can make it work on my own blog. You can check it out by clicking her link in that post below.

Bob & Muffintop said...

I'm finally catching up with my blog reading rounds and I'm very intrigued with the Blog Improvement Project. I'll have to do some more reading and then decide what to do. It's a great idea.

Louise said...

Hi Bookwormom - yes, I also think it is an intriguing project. At least it has gotten me to think about some things re. my own blog. Great to see you here :-)

Anonymous said...

I'm so impressed that you've started working on your goals already. I keep thinking I need to investigate Stumble Upon but haven't gotten to it yet.

Louise said...

Bermudaonion, I have had time on my hands this past week, but that'll change, unfortunately :-)

Julia Phillips Smith said...

I'm quite into your Blue Period.

Krissi said...

Love the new color. Your blog is look great. The picture is fun.

Louise said...

Julia and Krissi: Thanks a lot both of you. I am keeping the blue look for now and next step is to begin playing with the possibility to have 3 columns :-)