In this post my focus is how to set great content and a great content strategy up for success through utilizing best practices in web design.  My intention is to bring these 2 very common design flaws to light.

I believe the same way the right posture and strong vocal tonality allows anyone to deliver their message with clarity, having the right structure in place through the design of your website can open you up to achieving that same level of clarity through your digital media.

So without further ado, here are the top 2 design flaws that, when corrected, will set you up for success!

1. Poor Readability

After you publish a blog post and before you begin promoting it to all your friends I strongly recommend viewing and reading your post on several different devices.

3 things to watch for:

1. Is my text large enough for someone using a smartphone or tablet to see and read?

Another way of asking this question might be is my website responsive? If not, it may be time for an HTML5 update.

2. Does the color of the font I’m using combined with the background of my website make my content easier to read or does it strain my eyes to view it?

Sometimes even black text overlaying a white background can strain someone’s’ eyes. An off-white or eggshell background with dark grey or black text can help smooth things out and reduce eye strain for your readers. I recommend #f0f0f0 (off-white) and #333 (dark grey). Oh, and stay away from those lollipop colors :).

3. Did I resize my photos inside my text editor or upload my photos to the exact dimensions I needed?

I personally feel 99% of the web doesn’t realize this mistake (unless you’re an uber-nerd like myself). When you upload a photo into for example, WordPress, WordPress will give you the option of resizing your photo to your specifications so you can reposition it on your blog post. This Is A Mistake. Almost every theme—no matter what fancy framework it was built on top of or how much you paid for it—will account for a user who resizes a photo after they have uploaded it to their website.

Prevent responsive issues; upload photos that you’ve already resized.

2. Absence Of Social Share Icons

The world is on social media, and its becoming more powerful by the day. Yes, people will still use email and still print out relevant posts—but for the most part they want to share your posts with their networks on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

After someone reads your blog post you can increase its sharability by placing social media share icons at the bottom of your post—right after your sign off :).

 

So there you have it. Correct the posture of your website and help it focus on its breathing by correcting these two design flaws today.

Now Its Your Turn:  What would you add to this post to help increase the shareability of your posts? What obstacles are you encountering as you grow your business blog?  Let me know in the comments below!  And please share this post with anyone you know who would benefit from these web design tips.