In a world that exists on first impressions…How important is your blog designs header???
In a word…VERY.
Why your header design is important
Your header is your first impression. It’s extremely important to set the tone for your blog here. If you have a serious blog…be serious, if you have a fun, creative blog…be fun and creative. Be conscious of what you want to say…and then say it. While this sounds basic, it doesn’t make it any less important.
I find that while niche bloggers know where they want to go with this…it’s typical for personal bloggers to say “I’m just a personal blogger, I have no niche or purpose.” To which I say “If you have a personal blog…then your blog is about YOU.” Think about what’s fun about you, or serious about you, or quirky about you…and use that to define your site. What you have to do is dig deep, do some soul searching to find what your blog is about…and reflect that in your header.
Where to start
Enough touchy feely…let’s get down to the nuts and bolts. Whenever I start a header, I shoot for keeping it under 250 pixels high (I actually start it at 150 pixels, and see if I can keep it there). Your header is important, but you don’t want to blow all your above the fold (the area before you scroll) real estate on it.
That being said…what happens when your header is going over the 250?
Functional Elements
The first thing I do is find a way to work another functional element into the header. That way, what you’ve lost in the bigger header, you’ve made back by integrating some other page element into it.
The most typical thing to do is to try to work your social bookmark icons, or navigation into the header. Most good premium WordPress themes have header widget areas built into the theme. This makes it very easy to drag another element up. If you are on Blogger, it’s a bit trickier, but you can code in a header widget box.
Graphics matter
Pay attention to your graphics. Whether it’s illustrations or photographs, make sure it’s of good quality, strike that…GREAT quality. This really goes site wide, but in the header…double that. If it’s a choice between a mediocre graphic or nothing…choose nothing. There are many places around the web to find great pictures and illustrations. Everyone has heard blogging is about “fake it til you make it”, it’s a whole lot easier to fake it when your graphics are top notch. Find that friend who knows Photoshop, bribe them with sushi, and make them tweak your picture so it looks it’s best.
The rest will follow
It’s hard to find yourself and your blog, and then reflect that in your header design. The good news is…once you’ve done that, the rest of the design will fall into place. It’s all about finding the elements you love and then sprinkling those elements about the page to support it. Having a great header makes a fantastic blog even better!
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Twitter: AlisonSWLee
says:
Great tips, Cynthia! I love my blog header – that YOU designed!
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..A Gift and 39 Weeks
Twitter: UniquelyEN
says:
Thank you for all of your advice. I’ve been trying to play around with the design of my blog. I found your tips super helpful! Now to implement them
Erin recently posted..4:30 AM totally do-able
Twitter: Veraluscious
says:
I do need a header. Thanks for this
Lily Johnson recently posted..Love yourself enough to….
Twitter: secretsofamom
says:
Once again-thank you for the great tips. I have been corresponding with my original designer about my needed tweaks.
Tara @ secretsofamomaholic.com recently posted..You can take the girl out of Brooklyn
Twitter: JoynessSparkles
says:
Fabulous post! I am just now working on creating a new header and hope that it will be up by tonight. Then, on to some new buttons!
Joyness Sparkles recently posted..In Defense Of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, by Michael Pollan
Twitter: mrsmonologues
says:
These are great tips! I should be seeing a draft of my new design for my blog next week, so I am really going to keep these tips in mind when I am reviewing them!
Mrs. Monologues recently posted..Now & Forever…You Have My Heart
Twitter: Professors_Wife
says:
This couldn’t have come at a better time, ladies!!! Thank you! I’m getting ready to redesign headers for both my home at TU, and aprofessorswife.com – I’m hoping to get some inspiration at BBC in Philly, but this is just GREAT!
Stephanie Snyder recently posted..Revisiting prom 2002: the blues
Twitter: jmroubinek
says:
I really need to learn more about how to get my social buttons in to my header. Thanks for peaking my interest!! Great article!
Jamie @ Roubinek Reality recently posted..Project Mom
Twitter: LesliePipkins
says:
I have no idea how to create a header with wordpress…i’ve tried.
boo hoo.
Leslie recently posted..Buddha’s Belly
Twitter: lilrongal
says:
Leslie, it took me ages to figure it out. I finally downloaded a theme called Suffusion, and it’s VERY customizable and pretty easy to figure out. That helped me a LOT and now I have a custom header.
Ronni recently posted..Cray Cray
Twitter: LesliePipkins
says:
I tried to look up Suffusion but it has zero results…
Leslie recently posted..All About The Ben
Twitter: lilrongal
says:
I also noticed that your theme is on WordPress.com, which Suffusion might not work for. At any rate, it’s here: http://www.aquoid.com/news/themes/suffusion/
Ronni recently posted..What I Wore: Wedding Edition
Twitter: myicing
says:
Great tips! Thank you for sharing. I’ve been wanting to update my headers for awhile now. I’m saving this to my “great reads” file!
Mimi@Irresistible Icing recently posted..Gorgeous Flowers and a Green Thumb!
Twitter: quaintcottage
says:
I’ve been needing to change mine up to add photos. Thanks for the tips.
Great post, my friend. One of these days, I will figure out what I want to do with my site.
Julie {Angry Julie Monday} recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Sunset in the Bay
Twitter: Squirkling
says:
Great tips. I don’t mind a big header (says the girl with a big header) but I think it’s weird when I go to a blog and the header is all you see until you scroll down. I want to be able to see some actual content. It should be around 2/3 content in my design world. Of course, I’m also the person with a wider than average blog, which my husband keeps trying to convince me is too wide, but in this age of tablets that resize your blog and the average screen no longer being 13″ squares..I think it’s fine.
Audrey recently posted..wanted: guest posters!
Great tips on header design. It is very important for the first impression on a site.
Jessica recently posted..Let There Be Growth
I definitely need a header plus an overall look or theme to my blog. I just can’t figure out what I want.
Elizabeth recently posted..Weight Watchers
Twitter: kimulmanis
says:
Excellent tips to keep in mind. My blog is going through a re-design next month so it’ll really help knowing these things when working with my designer.
Kim @ Coffee Pot Chronicles recently posted..Strength Center Fitness Challenge: Week 3
Twitter: merelymothers
says:
Fantastic advice as we redesign our header! Thanks
Merelymothers recently posted..My Kid Prefers Vegetables and Fruits to Carbs – Weird, but True
I always get comments about my header- I change it every few months, and readers tell me how much they love seeing new ones…that being said, I am at a loss for how to stretch it without ruining the rest of my format- I downloaded a template for Blogger years ago that doesn’t seem to be adjustable. (I hate Blogger’s standard templates). Maybe I just need to revamp my whole blog! Anyway, I would love to see an article on SITS about overall blog design…or maybe I just need to bite the bullet and pay to get a blog make-over:) Thanks for this post!
patti recently posted..lily’s bucket list
Twitter: homejobsbymom
says:
I’d love a new header. I’m hoping I can find a designer that has some cheap deals.
krystle recently posted..Mally Evercolor Poreless Face Defender Giveaway
Twitter: ChristyHomeMom
says:
Since I just updated my header yesterday this was so informational, I’m thinking mine may be too simple.
Christy, Home-Mom recently posted..I’m gonna have a Spring Fling
Twitter: Myne_Whitman
says:
I’ve put off doing this for a while now. It may be time to go back to the drawing board
Myne Whitman recently posted..Love Perseveres, It is People Who Change
Twitter: cyu888
says:
These are great tips and ideas- definitely been something on my to do list!! Hoping that inspiration will strike at Bloggy Bootcamp in Philly. Too much to ask?
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Under Armour Women – What’s Beautiful
Twitter: TheWineabe
says:
I swear you SITS girls read my mind!! I have been contemplating my header for a while now…I’m so undecided! Thanks for the advice…as always!
Suzanne @The Wine{a}be recently posted..To-Do List {Listable Life}
Twitter: mommykudos
says:
Such great tips! I need to work on my header for my other site and this is so helpful!
Twitter: disneyinsiders
says:
Great advice! I am currently looking to have a new header made & this post gives me great info!
Twitter: DearCreatives
says:
Great tips! Especially since I am going to be working on my second site down the road, along with just updating or changing my current header.
Twitter: SharonPfeiffer
says:
Great advice. Simple is better, in my opinion. And I couldn’t agree more about the mediocre image or none = none.
I just got a site makeover by Kimberly Muro. Loving it!
Sharon {Grumpy, Sleepy, and Bashful} recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Scrub A Dub Dub
What I wanna know is, how often is it OK to change your design without confusing the heck outta people?
Just Jennifer recently posted..Mark Blogs
Twitter: darciegriffin
says:
Thanks! I’ve just been (re)designing my site and glad now after reading this that I picked to have all the up top stuff within 250px. I’m not “done” and I think I need another element up there… this has helped a lot!
Darcie recently posted..So another redo…
Twitter: warmnfuzzyblog
says:
Great tips…I am sending my friend here NOW..she is in the planning process of starting her own foodie/fashion blog- how that for niche? LOL
lauren@Warm&Fuzzy recently posted..May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Twitter: H_Happenings
says:
Great tips! I think I am finally happy with my blog design, it took awhile to get there though!
Heather’s Happenings recently posted..Baked My Day
Twitter: devonriesenberg
says:
Awesome tips, thanks SITS gals! I personally have changed my header so many times, using a lot of tips that I’ve learned right here on this site! I love your “bribe with sushi” idea
)))
Devon Riesenberg recently posted..Jack & His Club
Recently I was blessed to find someone to help me with my header for a reasonable price. I had lots of ideas which I don’t think I expressed, but my designer somehow heard my heart by reading my ‘about’ and more and created something that’s me. The header might be a little ‘tall’, though the important things are above the ‘bar’ so to speak. I’ve just begun this journey in blogging. But, when I preview my blog, the design makes me happy. That, in itself, is worth a lot!
Diane | An Extraordinary Day recently posted..Want Joy?
Twitter: tammystwocents
says:
Great points! I can remember when I started blogging and mine was huge. Now it is under the 250 size and am hoping to do a little change up here in the next few weeks. I like the idea of the social media icons in the header. Clears up some needed space!
Tammy recently posted..Thursday’s Connect Cafe – Social Media Link Ups
Twitter: jenhavice
says:
I adore my blog header. I had Renee at Studio Bold come up with it for me. She is wonderful. I found the graphic that I thought might work along with a tag line and then she went from there.
When Pigs Fly recently posted..It’s Not Just The Words That Are Annoying
header now fixed, thanks for the inspiration
patti recently posted..a real blogger
Some good tips? Yes, but don’t forget to think beyond the header, two-column theme. =/
cole recently posted..40 Days to Better Living: Anxiety
Twitter: Rosesdaughter
says:
Great Post. Especially since I am getting ready to start rebranding.
great information and so helpful! I’m forwarding thispost to my friend who has decided to start herown thrifting blog.
lucy recently posted..My Brother’s Beautiful Wedding
Twitter: MyPixieBlog
says:
Great tips! If I ever have my site redesigned (header included) I’ll definitely keep these things in mind. Thanks so much
And wishing you all a wonderful weekend 
Charlotte recently posted..A letter to Hippie Ashton
Twitter: princesspruning
says:
Felt like reading a SITS blog critique….thanks for the tips.
Laura recently posted..Time out
Aaaargh. I know I need a header. A good one. Or one at all, really! It’s been in the too hard basket for too long. Thanks for the inspiration.
Emily recently posted..Water is wet
Twitter: taradaramadeit
says:
Thanks for such a great post! I’m so glad I paid someone to do mine … the one I made pretty much sucked, so I knew it had to scare people away. I couldn’t agree more with what you wrote!!
xo
taradara recently posted..Swag and photos from SNAP!!
Twitter: BoonieSooze
says:
Very practical and helpful. Thank you!
Susan in the Boonies recently posted.."Toaded" Grilled Chicken with Mustard
Excellent post and so timely since my header needs a bunch of help. Since I’m use Blogger, I have some work todo!
Twitter: ciaralwalker
says:
I’m still learning about the nuts and bolts of blogging, so thanks for the helpful info!
Ciara recently posted..Resentment – My Journey
Thank you so much for the advice. I have been in desperate need of a new header for ages but I didn’t know where to even begin! I write a vintage blog so I googled vintage logos and got inspiration from those and made my own in PicMonkey this afternoon. I may still make some tweaks to it but it is a huge improvement!! Thank you!!
Brittany_VaVoomVintage recently posted..Blue Suede Shoes and a Bakelite Bargain
Twitter: anartfulmom
says:
Thanks for this. I have made so many headers, and each time I wonder if they have really expressed ME and/or the tone of my blog. I just made a new one, but still not sure… (Hard to develop community or branding when it keeps changing!)
Pam recently posted..Stamped Tumbled Tile Coasters
Twitter: janespringfield
says:
I have been searching FOREVER for inspiration for the perfect blog header. I came back here after failed attempts and the first sample caught my eye…I like how simple it is but also shows some of what looks like her own pictures…it’s given me inspiration to use this sample as a template and incorporate my own pictures so it’s my own…thanks!