Entry #0 First Impressions Matter

    Most people browsing the internet have been on terribly designed, ad filled websites. A reader will likely exit out of a website if they think they won’t find what they’re looking for, or if it will be too difficult to traverse. The start of a website or blog will influence whether or not someone will continue reading.

    A bad first impression will make a viewer less likely to interact with a blog. For example, the first thing on the blog for WIRED has four different sized pictures. The second largest images are inconsistently placed on the page. As a result, the design is harder to navigate and looks like it's filled with ads.

    A healthy slice of life on the other hand, has fewer and more consistent photo placement. The top four images are all the same size, and placed consistently. In this case, the viewer is more easily able to navigate the blog and doesn’t look like it has ads everywhere.

    The first thing someone sees at the top of a blog is an important part of deciding if they will close the site. If someone wants to use their blog to inform others on something that is important to them, they should make it as simple and easy to navigate as possible.