7 Best Redesigned Blogs (And What Changes They Made)
Introduction
In the fast-paced world of content creation, a blog’s design can play a pivotal role in captivating an audience. While quality content is crucial, the presentation of that content through an aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly interface is just as important. It’s vital for content creators and webmasters to keep tabs on the dynamic digital landscape and periodically refresh their blogs. In today’s post, we’ll explore seven blogs that have mastered the art of redesign and the specific changes they implemented to enhance user experience and engagement.
1. A Beautiful Mess
Before Redesign: A Beautiful Mess was charming but cluttered with a mismatched array of fonts and colors that could overwhelm visitors.
After Redesign: A streamlined experience with a unified color scheme and typography. They introduced a fixed navigation bar, optimized images for faster loading times, and a card layout for blog posts that facilitated browsing.
Key Takeaway: Consistency in design elements such as fonts and colors can significantly improve the blog’s professionalism and readability.
2. Smashing Magazine
Before Redesign: Smashing Magazine had a wealth of content for web designers and developers but with a layout that felt text-heavy and intimidating.
After Redesign: The solution was a modular design, larger typography, and well-spaced content that improved scannability. The redesign also focused on mobile responsiveness and prioritized content over sidebar elements.
Key Takeaway: Spacing and modular design can make extensive information more digestible, boosting user engagement.
3. Trello Blog
Before Redesign: Trello’s blog was practical but lacked the visual appeal expected from a productivity tool that emphasizes project visualization.
After Redesign: Trello embraced a more modern, visually driven design with bold hero images for each post. The layout became more intuitive, with a focus on the search functionality and content categorization.
Key Takeaway: Visually engaging elements such as hero images, when paired with useful features like search optimization, can refresh a blog’s brand image.
4. Brit + Co
Before Redesign: Brit + Co’s blog was busy and displayed an array of contents at the forefront that could easily distract visitors.
After Redesign: The blog embraced minimalism with a clean grid layout, prominent white space, and featured articles. This design encouraged users to explore content without feeling overwhelmed.
Key Takeaway: Minimalist design with a focus on white space can guide visitors to content highlights without distraction.
5. Buffer Blog
Before Redesign: The Buffer Blog was known for social media insights but sported a narrow layout that didn’t make the most of modern screen real estate.
After Redesign: A full-width layout with a clear content hierarchy and vibrant visuals. They enhanced readability with larger font sizes and included clear calls-to-action for improved conversion rates.
Key Takeaway: Utilizing screen space with a clear content hierarchy can enhance user experience and potentially drive conversions.
6. Moz Blog
Before Redesign: Moz had a reputation for in-depth SEO insights, but their blog’s dated design didn’t reflect their forward-thinking expertise.
After Redesign: A focus on mobile optimization with a clean, fresh look and visual elements that reflected the brand’s expertise. Category filters and a prominent “Top Posts” section were introduced to help new readers dive into popular content right away.
Key Takeaway: A redesign that highlights expertise through modern aesthetics can reaffirm a brand’s authority and help visitors navigate through content efficiently.
7. Food52
Before Redesign: Food52 had a loyal readership but faced limitations due to a rigid grid system and small visuals which didn’t do justice to their culinary content.
After Redesign: An overhaul with large, appetite-stimulating images and an interactive recipe sliding feature. This redesign improved engagement by visually capturing the essence of their recipes and the joy of cooking.
Key Takeaway: Large visuals and interactive elements can make a blog more engaging and reflective of its niche’s sensory appeal.
Conclusion
A blog’s design is more than just a cosmetic makeover; it’s an essential component of how content is delivered and how it resonates with your audience. The mentioned blogs stand as exemplary cases of how understanding the needs of your visitors and the objectives of your brand can guide a successful redesign. Whether it was through improved navigation, responsive design, or simply adopting a cleaner, more contemporary aesthetic, these blogs show that the right changes can lead to significant improvements in audience retention and user satisfaction.
Implementing Blog Redesign Best Practices
When considering a blog redesign, always prioritize user experience, ensure your branding is cohesive and up-to-date, and double down on mobile optimization. The ultimate goal is to make your content shine and keep readers coming back for more. Don’t hesitate to look to the aforementioned examples for inspiration.
By refreshing your blog periodically, you’re not only giving it a new lease of life but also showing your audience that you’re evolving with them and the times. As these seven blogs demonstrate, strategic redesigns can have a profound impact on reader engagement and brand perception. Are you ready to transform the way visitors interact with your content?
Call to Action
Have you recently redesigned your blog or are you contemplating it? Share the challenges or successes you’ve encountered in the comments below, or reach out to us for a personal consultation on how to give your blog the perfect redesign.
