If youre an Internet user, which do you prefer a visually unappealing site that can convey all the information you need at an instance, or a very visually appealing site with terrible navigation that youd become confused and then irritated? If you think the first is better, majority of Internet users would agree with you. Users, today, appreciate websites that have good and comprehensive design more than websites that just look pretty. Websites that belong to the first category, in fact, have been found to drive more traffic and bring sales.

The same holds true for your blog design because it determines how your visitors will see you and your website. One bland and topsy-turvy blog, and your visitors would think that youre an amateur or you have a low budget for web design. Or, both. Whatever theyd think, the fact still remains that your website would do your visitors no good, which is a very unpleasant situation to be in - especially if theyre viewing your site for the very first time. So, what do you have to focus on to achieve both a functional and visually-appealing blog design? Below are some useful tips:

Platform and theme - Using popular blogging platforms can provide you access to a lot of various blog templates that have themes that look professional and clean. These templates are designed to ensure that your blog would function the way you want it to; all you need to do is pick the right one. Now, if you want to know how your blog should be designed, choosing your blog software would be necessary.

Header - Your standard blog header should have simple texts on a colored background. Also, having a designer graphic would make your blog unique and more engaging. Matching your header graphic with your logo, brochure and other materials is equally important. To raise visual impact, a photo of you in the header graphic could be very useful as it will help to distinguish your blog from others.

Flow - Your site should be designed in such a way that visitors are led to where exactly you want them to go. Making them click here and there will get them nowhere and instead of reading through, they will just quickly fade away. So, avoid putting things that distract their attention. Instead, include multiple calls to action to ensure that your offer is always in front of them.

Side bar - A side bar has the following essential functions:
Serves as promotional area for a product you are selling, or putting a sign up box for your newsletter or blog subscription
Serves as a link to the content in your blog - like those content organized by categories, or archived according to the month they were written in;
Is the best place to promote your other online presences - for instance, your main website or your social media sites
A link for other people to contact you privately

Therefore, this display of a variety of information in your blog will compel your readers to stay longer and make them want to visit your other social websites.