Kendra Rae’s Ramblings

Feng shui is a very common term in popular home design, but I was unaware until our reading assignment that there is a sense of feng shui involved with blogging.

Feng shui is defined as the art of creating a home environment that supports the life you wish to live. In a corporate environment, poor feng shui can result in miscommunication between managers and employees, conflicts among team members and lack of support for key initiatives.

The same conflicts can occur with an overcrowded and confusing blog site. One of the main purposes of a blog is to create a direct connection between authors and their audiences, and vise versa; however, too many colors, graphics, noises or shudders can cause vistors to exit a blog site rather than enjoy it.

I think Suzanne Stefanac, author of “Dispatches from Blogistan,” describes the essential concept of blog feng shui best when she states: “… you’ll do yourself and your visitors a favor if you hold to the old maxim, ‘Less is more’” (138).

Stefanac’s explanation also helped me to understand why Google’s home page is simply a stark white background with a title and a few links. Prior to our reading, I assumed that the more decorated and artistic the site, the more financial support and credibility the Web site had achieved.

Another key element of feng shui is creating a smooth flow of positive energy through your space. This same idea can and should be applied to one’s blog site. As Stefanac’s states, “Let the design of each page tells it own story . . . Logic is the best guide when arranging links and information” (151).

Our reading this week awakened me to the idea that the design of your blog can significantly impact how it is perceived. Blog sites should possess a sense of feng shui that does not detract from the content of the blog, but instead it should enhance the overall feel and purpose of the blog.

With the various options and add-ons available on blog sites, how does one decide what will enhance or inhibit their pages’ success?

Since there are hundreds of thousands of blogs on the web now, how does one make their blog unique and different from the rest? How do blog authors attract an audience and develop a following when many blogs cover the exact same topics (ex. politics)?