How often do you review your blog design and usability? Weekly, monthly or annually. If you are not reviewing your design and navigation, it’s time for you to do that now. We need to keep track of what is happening to our blog and make changes accordingly. I have talked about “What Items should You Put On Your SIdebar“, so do you stuff too many items on your blog?
In recent months, i have been using “in page analytics” of Google Analytics to track the clicks on my blog. I can’t guarantee it will be 100% correct but at least give you some ideas of which area of your blog tends to get the clicks most. For example this is an image extracted from my blog.
My sidebar is getting lesser and lesser widgets. In those days, you can see there is categories, top commenters, recent post and recent comments. Now neither of this is found. When i was checking the clicks using the in page analytics, only a small amount of readers, probably 0.2% is clicking those links. I just took down the categories today because my readers do not click on them. Instead the Archives page is getting all the attention.
Why It’s Important to Unclutter Your Blog
Focus on your readers’ need – You should always keep things that your reader needs. Some bloggers tend to do the opposite. You keep things you need but don’t know your reader doesn’t find it to be helpful at all.
Enhance on what’s important – By having lesser things on your blog, your reader doesn’t have to choose from too many choices. Lesser choice means people can focus on your content, opt in or social media buttons.
Less is more – Remember less is more. Lesser doesn’t mean your blog has lesser value and more doesn’t mean you blog has a higher value.
How often have you been uncluttering your blog?
Do you think it is necessary for you to unclutter your blog?
Drop us a comment and discuss about it.
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Hi Lye!
Hey, this sounds like a cool thing to do. This thing about in-page analytics, is it something you need to extra setup or something I can access now and check? (to be honest I’ve never seen it?)
Thanks!
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Twitter: Findmyblogway
Hi Dennis,
It’s in the Google Analytics, on the left side options under the “content”. Click it and you will see the in page analytics.
Regards,
Lye
Twitter: bloggersethics
i also like to keep my blog clutter free nicely so that it does not irritate my readers. thanks for the wonderful post
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Hi Tushar,
Glad you are doing that. Our readers’ need is the most important.
Thanks for the comments.
Lye
Twitter: torymcbroom
Exactly Lye! Plus, it’s easier to funnel traffic to a sales/squeeze page when there’s less distractions. You’re sidebar is looking pretty good right now!
Tory McBroom recently posted..How To Add A Scrolling Social Bar Without A Plugin
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Hi Tory,
Thanks, i agree it looks much more cleaner now.
Lye
Uncluttered blog sidebar is important and its important to keep only vital features like email subscription box, search box, etc. so that users can make a choice from limited (but important) tasks.
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Hi Raj,
Readers simply can’t make a choice if there are too many choices. It’s better to keep things simpler.
Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Lye
Twitter: webmaisterpro
This is a good point, I think most bloggers rarely take a look over heatmaps. As well a good point is to try to speed up blog. Even color scheme can reduce bounce rate and improve readability.
Kal recently posted..Conroy James updated blog entry Steps To Take After Creation Of A Website in Web design & Development
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Hi Kal,
I used to ignore all these stats but since i take note, i am able to focus on my readers need. That’s good.
Thanks for the comments.
Lye
You might also speed up the load time of your blog by uncluttering too. Sometimes I remove something or attempt to unclutter, and it seems like I find something new to take it’s place. I think if you want to truly keep the sidebar fairly light and simple sometimes you need to force yourself to do so. I find it more tempting to add things than to remove them.
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Twitter: Mazzastick
Hi Lye,
I go through my blog once a month and do some tweaking and decluttering.
I find that less is more.
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Hi Justin,
That’s great. I should do that so. It really helps.
Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Lye
Twitter: stevescott1
Very true Lye!
It is far easier to convert and get the results you desire with clean site navigation. When you give people 1001 choices of what to do next on your blog with a ton of clutter all you do is paralyze action.
Too many choices create no choice at all.
By having a cleaner navigation not only make your site look nicer and the more aesthetically pleasing but you actually are able to get far better results through conversions and clicks
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Hi Steve,
Most important reason is they aren’t getting the clicks at all. When that does happen, there is no point to keep them in the blog as it becomes a distraction to the readers.
Thanks for dropping by mate.
Lye
Putting so many things on your site can make your blog look untidy and too congested. UN cluttering your blog can really help your readers get a clear view of your content and also give them an easy time reading.
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Hi Caesar,
Content is what our readers are here for, so we should always make them stand out in order for readers to find them.
Thanks for the comments.
Lye
Hi!
I always remove the posts that have not received any visits from a long time. It is very important to keep your blog clean so that you can increase its value and attract more readers. Thanks for your amazing tips.
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Hi Steve,
I don’t really agree on removing post which has no visits. You can always link to your old article or rewrite them to give them some life unless your article is just basic generic post.
Thanks for visiting for commenting.
Lye
Twitter: John
Hi!
I keep my blog clean and always ensure to update it with what readers want. I feel that if it is important to unclutter your blog it is also important to decorate it with what the audience wants. Thanks for the post!
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Twitter: AdamPaudyal
Hey Lye,
What is going on brother? Looks like you are kicking it (O:
Great tips you shared here my friend. Some of these needs to be utilized by me in my own blog. Enhancing on what is important and getting rid of things that are just a clutter is important.
Talk soon..
Twitter: Findmyblogway
Hi Adam,
Great to hear from you once again brother. I have been waiting for you to publish your post once again.
Thanks for dropping by and keep in touch.
Lye
Enhancing on what is important and getting rid of things that are just a clutter is important.I really like all the tips you shared..
leigh recently posted..glenville nc real estate
When it comes to web design less is definitely more. A clean layout and a nice background color (not dark colors)may do the trick in attracting readers.
Couldn’t agree more about the clutter. Lots of blogs that I visit have a ton of unnecessary widgets and other bits and pieces that distracts the reader. Not only that, but by having so much other clutter, you draw your readers attention away from the important stuff like your content or your email opt in.
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Hi Michael,
We have to understand which is more important to us. We should only left those that is priority on our blog. Glad you agree with the post.
Thanks for the comments.
Lye
That’s correct Lye
I’m a fan of the KISS concept. And a blog (or any website) that has too many fancy things showing up will be a real turn off for me.
On my site, I always keep it clean and to the point. I only provide links to useful resources and what I know will benefit the readers.
Thanks for sharing, have a nice day man!
Twitter: Findmyblogway
Hi Duy,
Simplicity is my favorite concept too. People don’t have to choose from too many choice which makes it easy for them to decide.
Thanks for the comments. You have a great day too.
Lye
great article thank you Lye i will share this on my facebook wall
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Using Google Analytics can bring every blog owner many privileges, cause he or she can find out for sure what is done good, brings results and evokes readers’ interest and what doesn’t.
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