Blog Content or Style?

26 November 2004 8 Comments

An interesting topic reared it’s ugly head over at Vinnie’s house today. What is more important in a blog? Aesthetics, standards etc in the form of XHTML and CSS compliance or content? I’m of the opinion that it takes both because if a blog doesn’t have substance, it will have no readers. However, if a blogger (and granted we’re not talking about Blogspot type blogs that offer a set of standard styles) wants to keep readers, he will go out of his way to make a blog aesthetically and stylistically pleasing to the eye. Have you ever done a Google search and found yourself on an archive of newgroup postings? Content-wise, these sites are chock-full of good information. But how many of us make a point to return? I, for one, don’t. They can be hard to follow due to non-natural breaks in fonts and paragraphs, quoted emails, etc.

The point in Vinnie’s entry is that too many people do not take the time to achieve and pleasurable distinction on their own and want people to do it for them. Of course, the firefight digressed into this natural discussion between style elements and content elements.

I am curious what your opinion is – particularly if you’re a site owner and even more specifically, a blogger. Do you think content is more important that style? Or vica versa. Again, the question is which is more important. Please don’t answer both, even if you think they are both important.

Looking forward to hearing your opinions.

Pick up your copy of the WordPress Bible, a wildly popular resource for beginners and experts alike.

Popularity: 1% [?]

8 Responses to “Blog Content or Style?”

Vinnie Garcia 26 November 2004 at 7:16 pm #

For a blog, I will definitely say that content is top dog. That’s why people will read, subscribe to your RSS feed, and keep coming back. Aesthetics are secondary, however, they are not to be ignored completely, which is why most blog packages like WordPress or Movable Type have at least some default styling included. If your blog is a graphic/web design blog then it may play a much more important factor, but otherwise content should always rule out in the decision. There’s a spectrum here between almost completely unstyled sites (a la Scoble) and sites where the style almost competes or tries to supercede the content. Since blogs vary so widely on topics discussed, the part aesthetics play will always be different. I wouldn’t expect a political blog to be the pinnacle of design excellence, but at the same time I feel that a web designer’s blog (if the topic is web design) should have some oomph to it.
Vinnie Garcia 26 November 2004 at 6:16 pm #

For a blog, I will definitely say that content is top dog. That’s why people will read, subscribe to your RSS feed, and keep coming back. Aesthetics are secondary, however, they are not to be ignored completely, which is why most blog packages like WordPress or Movable Type have at least some default styling included. If your blog is a graphic/web design blog then it may play a much more important factor, but otherwise content should always rule out in the decision. There’s a spectrum here between almost completely unstyled sites (a la Scoble) and sites where the style almost competes or tries to supercede the content. Since blogs vary so widely on topics discussed, the part aesthetics play will always be different. I wouldn’t expect a political blog to be the pinnacle of design excellence, but at the same time I feel that a web designer’s blog (if the topic is web design) should have some oomph to it.
Marc James 26 November 2004 at 8:42 pm #

As usual, this doesn’t effect my Powerbook. Windows suckers. :P
Marc James 9 March 2005 at 11:06 pm #

As usual, this doesn’t effect my Powerbook. Windows suckers. :P
Carol 27 November 2004 at 5:50 pm #

For me, it’s definitely the content. I don’t expect everyone who has a blog to also be web-savvy or particularly adept at creating the graphics. Blogs are a way for each of us to have our own corner of the internet, so to speak — a way to interact with the world, whether it’s the world at large, or your own little world of family and friends.

Yes, we could go on and on about standards and aesthetics…but why? Unless it’s a corporate blog, are any of us all that worried about who drops by? I know I’m not. My blog is my “open house” — a never-ending verbal cocktail party where people can come and go as they please. If they come back again and again, great. If they choose never to come back, that’s okay too.

I spend so much of my time on what my *clients* want/need…my blog MY space. I can write as often as I like, about anything I like.
Carol 27 November 2004 at 4:50 pm #

For me, it’s definitely the content. I don’t expect everyone who has a blog to also be web-savvy or particularly adept at creating the graphics. Blogs are a way for each of us to have our own corner of the internet, so to speak — a way to interact with the world, whether it’s the world at large, or your own little world of family and friends.

Yes, we could go on and on about standards and aesthetics…but why? Unless it’s a corporate blog, are any of us all that worried about who drops by? I know I’m not. My blog is my “open house” — a never-ending verbal cocktail party where people can come and go as they please. If they come back again and again, great. If they choose never to come back, that’s okay too.

I spend so much of my time on what my *clients* want/need…my blog MY space. I can write as often as I like, about anything I like.
Aaron Brazell 27 November 2004 at 6:27 pm #

I realize I differ from you on this, Carol, but I do care if anyone reads my blog and if visitors come back. I do however, agree that it’s a personal touch of yourself. But I do actually care if I have readers and what they want. :)
Aaron Brazell 27 November 2004 at 5:27 pm #

I realize I differ from you on this, Carol, but I do care if anyone reads my blog and if visitors come back. I do however, agree that it’s a personal touch of yourself. But I do actually care if I have readers and what they want. :)