1. Advertising
    y u no do it?

    Advertising (learn more)

    Advertise virtually anything here, with CPM banner ads, CPM email ads and CPC contextual links. You can target relevant areas of the site and show ads based on geographical location of the user if you wish.

    Starts at just $1 per CPM or $0.10 per CPC.

My blog is butt ugly! It's making me sad.

Discussion in 'Websites' started by TravelingEnthusiast, Mar 5, 2017.

  1. #1
    I decided to blog. I'm hoping eventually to use it as a jumping off point for some sort of travel related industry. It's sort of quirky as far as that sort of thing goes, but I can't be someone else. (Hey I already have a job where I'm well behaved.)

    The thing is, I'm not a visual person. I mean I know what I like, but making art is not something that I get. So, I know my blog looks terrible. What I don't know is how to make it better.

    I mean, I guess hiring a professional would do it. But that's not affordable for me. I need to make it work and do it myself.

    Problem 1. My picture of the grand canyon is crisp and lovely, until I put it in my header. Then it looks like a fog of pixels rolled in.
    Problem 2. The page opens to a little blurb about why I'm blogging. I like it right there on the opening page. But the subsequent posts are more discrete than I'd like. I think people might visit the blog and think that first page is all there is.

    My blog is www.travelingenthusiast.com if you want to go look. If anyone has any ideas of how to do a better job of making this thing look harmonious. Maybe suggestions for free themes? Or thoughts on composition or whatever help you can offer. I really appreciate any thoughts you can offer.
     
    TravelingEnthusiast, Mar 5, 2017 IP
  2. daronch

    daronch Active Member

    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    10
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    53
    #2
    Your blog looks pretty good. Try going to pixabay.com and see if there are any photos that suit you, they're free to use: https://pixabay.com/en/photos/?q=grand+canyon&image_type=&cat=&min_width=&min_height=

    Maybe you can try picking a photo with stronger colors? Something like these:
    https://pixabay.com/en/grand-canyon-arizona-landscape-1995038/
    https://pixabay.com/en/grand-canyon-usa-national-park-1235221/

    Also, ensure your photo is at least 1920x850 in size when you upload it. Hope this helps.
     
    daronch, Mar 5, 2017 IP
  3. TravelingEnthusiast

    TravelingEnthusiast Greenhorn

    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    #3
    Thank you!
    Can you suggest anything to make the new posts more prominent?
     
    TravelingEnthusiast, Mar 5, 2017 IP
  4. qwikad.com

    qwikad.com Illustrious Member Affiliate Manager

    Messages:
    7,151
    Likes Received:
    1,656
    Best Answers:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    475
    #4
    Looks pretty standard for a WP blog. I like the name travelingenthusiast I am surprised it wasn't taken.
     
    qwikad.com, Mar 5, 2017 IP
  5. TravelingEnthusiast

    TravelingEnthusiast Greenhorn

    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    #5
    Thank you. Well, I feel better about things.
    I took Daronch's advice and downloaded some images. That site is a wonderful find.
    TravelEnthusiast was available. For $3500. Travelingenthusiast is good too.
     
    TravelingEnthusiast, Mar 5, 2017 IP
  6. daronch

    daronch Active Member

    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    10
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    53
    #6
    This is the live demo of your theme: https://themeisle.com/demo/?theme=Amadeus

    You can add a photo to each of your post and set them as featured image to make them more prominent.

    There are other free themes on wordpress.org's official theme section as well: https://wordpress.org/themes/search/travel/ ... can download these themes from inside your admin dashboard.
     
    daronch, Mar 5, 2017 IP
  7. TravelingEnthusiast

    TravelingEnthusiast Greenhorn

    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    #7
    Thank you again. I'll check that out.
     
    TravelingEnthusiast, Mar 5, 2017 IP
  8. Blogmaster

    Blogmaster Blood Type Dating Affiliate Manager

    Messages:
    25,924
    Likes Received:
    1,354
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    380
    #8
    Are you in Facebook travel groups? There are some great ones where people support each others. I agree with the poster above to look for nice free themes. You blog is a growing process. If you are serious and determined to make something out of this, I sense a great future. But the most important thing IMO is to network with other travel bloggers. I am in a few groups on Facebook where I have seen people become successful quickly, so I can invite you into a couple of them if you like.
     
    Blogmaster, Mar 7, 2017 IP
  9. TravelingEnthusiast

    TravelingEnthusiast Greenhorn

    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    #9
    Thank you. I would love to look into the facebook groups. I really appreciate it.
     
    TravelingEnthusiast, Mar 7, 2017 IP