Dear fellow bloggers,
I need your help/advice!
Blog Designer Needed
First, I am looking for a new blog design and could use some recommendations. I am currently using a free blog background but by the end of the month it will no longer work. I have looked at some other free designs but cannot find something I like. I've been interested in having a custom made design and layout. Which blog designers do you recommend?
Name For New Blog Feature Needed
I also have a new blog feature planned where readers can request book suggestions based on books they've already read and enjoyed or ask for readalikes (i.e. if you liked Matched by Ally Condie, then you might like Delirium by Lauren Oliver). I don't know what to call this feature and could use some suggestions!
A Thank You Gift
As a thank you to all who respond to this post with their suggestions, you will automatically get an extra entry in my blogoversary giveaway (if you choose to enter) that I will be announcing later this weekend. I'm giving away books from series I love including City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare!
If you are participating in Bloggiesta this weekend and you help me with this, you'd also be fulfilling the mini challenge Help a Blogger Out.
So please help me out with your suggestions/advice. Thank you!
About 2 weeks ago I found a really cool blog background on a random website. It was just my style, so I went ahead and changed it. However, next thing I know one of my followers told me she wasn't able to comment on my blog. So, I had to change it back. Just a word of caution.
ReplyDeleteHey Christina!
ReplyDeleteThe feature sounds like a great idea - you've done that before and you're the only one I know who puts read-a-likes at the bottom of reviews.
For blog designs, I can help you there!
My blog, Elie's from ELLZ READS and Natalie's from MINDFUL MUSINGS were all designed by Danny, who runs BEWITCHED BOOKWORMS, and I think her design site is called Dreamy Blogs. She does great work and she's reasonably priced. Like, I'm a broke college kid, and *I* thought she was reasonable!
I also know that a lot of people have been going to Lori @ PURE IMAGINATION, and her work is equally pretty. I'd suggest looking at those ladies' work. When I was looking for my new design, I had some friends (Natalie was one - she's s knowledgeable!) recommend like two designers just to have options.
Good luck!
Great idea. Putting your thoughts about a concept out there.
ReplyDeleteMy only suggestion: write down ideas of concepts. Try to come up with something fresh.
I reallllly like themes. Yesterday I visited a blogger that talks about books like a fever and has a thermometer with her book reviews.
Good luck!
Maybe an Asian or Indian theme?
I just changed my design yesterday and made a new header. Can't help with the designers I'm afraid though, I just make my own. This time though it was only the header I made myself, the layout and background was just a standard one from the blogger template designer. Is there nothing in there that strikes your fancy?
ReplyDeleteLori from Use Your Imagination Blog Designs, designed mine, as well as a bunch of others. You can see them all on her blog here: http://useyourimaginationdesigns.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteShe does rating systems, twitter buttons, blog buttons, headers, anything you want, she's got it! :)
Ooh, forgot to post the link...
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of copy/paste backgrounds similar to the one you had already.
http://shabbyblogs.com/?page_id=108
I don't have a designer for my blog but I love Danny from Bewitched Bookworms' work and she has a very nice and clean layout of design. And Parajunkee too.Hope that help a little. ;p
ReplyDeleteThis link will tell you how to use a custom template in blogger: http://www.ehow.com/how_2064934_use-custom-template-blogger.html
ReplyDeleteFor your feature - how about "If you liked..."?
http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Can't help you with blog designs, as I myself have had the same dull template since the beginning! However, with the new meme . . . hmm... Bookalikes? I agree with brainstorming though. Great idea for a new meme, can't wait to see it! :D
ReplyDeleteI don't use Blogger, but I had a play around to see how it works and came across: http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/ it has some pretty nice, free backgrounds :) I'm using one on my Blogger page.
ReplyDeleteAs for the meme, hmm.. How about, "You might like" (or something along those lines) - It's simple and gets the point across.
I don't know about a theme, but I can sure help you with the feature's name. Maybe Twin-commendations or Matched for Life (I make lame names, I know).
ReplyDeleteThe feature could be called Two of a Kind
ReplyDeleteWell I have a custom design from Prarjunkee but her's are pretty pricy. I know Lori from Pure Imagination and Tynga of Tynga's Urban fantasy also does blog designs too.
ReplyDeleteTalk about Blog Designer, you might want to chech this link http://passionsbyashley.blogspot.com/p/blog-designs.html
ReplyDeleteAshley has designed some of blogs that I follow also. You can check the list of her blog design in that post.
Hope she can help you
I think you should call the new blog feature "The Hook Up." It's short and catchy!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Alyssa
I got a really good template from a blog to brag about. They do some really good stuff.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ablogtobragabout.com/
You could look there for getting a new background. They do custom templates for people as well! Good luck with everything! : )
I plan on having Larissa at Larissa's Bookish Life to do mine , I love her designs and she is fairly cheap too.
ReplyDeleteI love what Geeky Blogger's Book Blog did with her blog. Here's her URL http://www.geekybloggersbookblog.com/. If you like it too, you might want to ask her who designed it for her.
ReplyDeleteHope it helps.
Lesley
I like the blogs Pixie from Page Turners does. Give here a try and see if she'll make one for you.
ReplyDeleteUm... A BATCH OF BOOKS? That's kind of what the new feature would do right? Batch up book recommendations based on what you've alreay read and liked. Just a though. :o)
ReplyDeleteBritney
Well, I can't help with the design. Unfortunately I started my book blog over at Wordpress and I hate their service and options. I've considered switching over to Blogspot but it does seem like a pain.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the title of that new feature... hmm... maybe Book Twins? Twin Suggestions? Or just simply "if you liked..."
Hm ... what about a cover feature? Where you talk about book covers and such?
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who does blog design - here is his website: berserkr.ca
Hope that helps!
apereiraorama[at]gmail[dot]com
There are a lot of designers out there that do great stuff. I am kinda partial to Parajunkee's designs though, so I think I would recommend her.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea for a feature! Perfect for readers advisory! As to a name for your new feature, maybe something like: Recommended Readalikes? Okay, maybe that isn't catchy enough, but I am terrible at naming things. Good luck!
i like the cover feature idea i always like looking at new book covers and hearing opinions about it
ReplyDeleteI definitely second the cover feature. I'm always dying for new book covers.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the designer who did my blog. Her name is Jerilyn and she was very easy to work with, did a great job, and charged me a reasonable fee. Her website is: www.jerilynphoto.com
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I'm not much help on designers either I'm afraid, I'm also at wordpress for now. Just find a few you love and see who designed them, it can't hurt to ask for prices.
ReplyDeleteI like the feature idea. Names? How about... "If, Then" or "Made for Each Other" or "Recommended For..."
I use free blog backgrounds but make my own headers to match but I know many bloggers have their's custom made by Danny @ Dreamy Blogs, I also know Lori @ Pure Imagination does custom desgins. Rachel @ Parajunkee also does them, she also give 25% for book bloggers ( I think, it's been a long time since I checked it out)
ReplyDeleteAs for the feature, I love the idea! I all for comign up with titles so...what about - Book me another one? or Find me the Twin? or I dunno, maybe they're too lame....
Anyway, Happy blogversary and I hope I helped!
As a new concept, add a In my mailbox or a vlog cause it attracts readers.
ReplyDeletecindyc725 at gmail dot com
Parajunkee I believe also has some free designs you can just copy and paste for your blog. I would suggest downloading GIMP and playing around with it (it's free). You can use it to create a unique header, which I think is the first step to making your blog more for you.
ReplyDeleteAs for a read-a-like meme.. maybe just tag your book reviews at the end with books you think are similar? That's something nice to build in your review. :)
I designed my own blog design by grabing things from online....backgrounds....photo's I turned into a header.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm a FAIL when it comes to blog design :0S
ReplyDeleteI was skimming the comments while trying to brainstorm a name, and I will say that I thought Cass/words on paper suggestion of "bookalikes" was good. The best i could come up with was NovelU and The Pod (like two peas in a pod)... *shakes head at self*
I find that http://useyourimaginationdesigns.blogspot.com/ has a lot of really beautiful work on it. Also, paying someone to make a design that is exactly what you are looking for is sometimes better in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI also like Cass/words on paper's suggestion of "bookalikes" as a feature name. :)
I would say I really enjoy things like waiting on Wednesday because I'm always interested in new book releases and reviews.
ReplyDeleteI looked at a lot of actual blogs, things that I really liked I took note of, but I did not want to look like someone else's blog. I wanted my own feel. I am not tech savvy, so I decided to hire someone to do my layout. I asked around for recommendations and Angie came highly recommended. I do not get a thing for passing on her link, so here it is: http://blessedbeyondwords.com/custom-blog-designs-for-your-blog/ Her prices were very reasonable (based on me looking around) and she worked within what I wanted.
ReplyDeleteHUGE bonus-she switched me from blogger to WP, something I could not have done on my own and there was not one glitch, no time down, nothing.
I like the new feature idea. I have no clue what to call it. My blog name is testament to the fact I lack creativity.
Good Luck!
I got my blog done by Blogging Bella Designs. She was awesome!!! http://www.bloggingbelladesigns.com/ If you check out her site, you can see other book blogs she has designed.
ReplyDeleteI've been looking at the other feature names that other people suggested and I think they have much better ideas than I could come up with : )
Good luck!
I can totally help you with the new layout. Email me and we'll figure something out!
ReplyDelete