By Alyssa Udall (@udallyss)
In web design, especially for blogs, the header is extremely important! This is the place where your readers will look first, the place where your logo is displayed, where your site navigation and other information can be. One should not underestimate the power of a well-designed header to increase reader awareness and visitor loyalty.
This is especially relevant for blogs, whose primary goal should be to generate subscribers and loyal readers. For e-commerce and other websites, the header is still important, but will most likely cater to a different feeling or need than a blog header.
Here are some things to think about when designing your blog’s header section:
1) What’s the point of your blog? What do you usually write about in your blog? Are you focusing on creativity, technical skills, or professionalism? Your header should reflect your niche and should inspire your readers accordingly. For example, if your blog is about something creative, your header should also be creative, and should inspire your readers, for lack of a better word, to create something! Likewise, if your blog is about something technical, your blog header should reflect a crisp, clean and modern design to show this to your readers.
2) What is your blog about? Now that your header’s style reflects the type of mood you want to create around your blog, you need to think of a creative and effective way to communicate what your blog is about. This can be done with a smart, memorable slogan displayed in the header, or creative graphics. Either way, your header should show your readers immediately what your blog is about, and should do so in a way that will be memorable!
3) What do your readers need to know? Now that your readers are inspired by your header and know what your blog is about, what else do you need to convey to them through the header? Use the rest of your header space wisely in order to display the most necessary information about your blog. For example, you should consider site navigation, categories, pages, search bar, social media icons, etc. What option would best suit your blog? What would contribute to the ease of use and ingenuity of your blog?
Once your header is redesigned according to these simple guidelines, you will see the difference it makes with how your readers become more involved in your blog. Remember, the header is the first place your readers will look… make sure you give them a good first impression!
The good example of blog header web design in this post are from Vectips and Web Designer Wall.