Moving along to my SECOND blog critique! Glad I got someone else to volunteer. LOL! If you missed the first one here it is: Waterstone Jewelry. If you would like to volunteer to be featured in my twice weekly blog critique please feel free to contact me and I’ll let you know when you’re up!

Blog Name: Yes Teacher!
Url: yesteachercrafts.blogspot.com/
Blog Platform: blogger.com
Screenshot:

My initial impression:

Its clean and easy to read buts seems a little sparse. I myself really do like simple, minimalistic sites but this one is missing something. Can’t figure out what it just yet so keep reading!

10 Great Things

1. Easy to read – This is always a plus.
2. I like the subdued color scheme. Very vintage-y (<--is that word? Who cares?)
3. Nice consistent content. I also noticed the blog is quite fresh (new)
4. Great pics.
5. Again, no Google Ads! Yes!! Nothing wrong with google ads but its sometimes nice to not see them:)
6. I love the separation of the sidebar widgets/gadgets in their own “shadowed” box.
7. Header takes me back to “home” when clicked. Lots of folks really forget about this one.
8. Easy navigation at the end of the page. “older”, “home”, and “newer”.
9. Nice set up of your links lists in the sidebar. I will be clicking on all of those later. LOL!
10. Nice, consistent sans-serif fonts throughout the blog.

10 Not So Great Things

1. Your banner doesn’t fill the width of the content area.
2. No “title” or “alt” tags for your images – I’ll blog more on this in the near future.
3. Your named repeated in the header seems redundant.
4. Okay…You knew this one was coming but Whats up with the overlapping ad in the sidebar? “a little etsy love”
5. “Search this site” has no function.
6. This might be just me, but I don’t like the Blogger nav bar up top. Its ugly.
7. I’m not feeling the “site meter” either. Sorry! I know lots of you use it. But why? I need some insight on sitemeter.com
8. Sidebar content doesn’t appear to be cleanly aligned.
9. I think I’m seeing double! Are there two “categories” widgets?
10. Once I started to read I liked your content. But at first sight I wasn’t sure what your blog would be about.

10 Suggestions

1. Reduce the “etsy love” ad to 125px x 94px or have them send you another one no wider than 125px.
2. Redo your banner! Make sure its at least 930px in width or at least centered.
3. Instead of your name twice in the header try adding a tagline in the smaller talk bubble. Something that briefly explains your blog content for first time visitors.
4. I like your blog layout but its missing some simple elements? Maybe add a couple of top and bottom borders in a few places. Or slightly darken some of the dotted borders already in place. I think what you are missing is contrast.
5. Remove the “search” header in the sidebar or add the “search” function underneath it. This one was probably a given.
6. Its great you have the “followers” gadget in the sidebar but you should also have an option for a visitor to subscribe to your feed. Try feedburner.com.
7. Incorporate the site meter in the footer a little better. Maybe center it under the copyright notice?
8. Add a grab button or a gadget in the sidebar that explains trading links. And this is only of course if you want to trade links.
9. Try to center the items in the sidebar. Some looks left aligned while others centered, and then a few look right aligned. And make sure anything you put in the sidebar is no wider than 125px.
10. If you are member of any social networks such as facebook and twitter, you definitely should list those as well.

My Final Impression:

Overall, I think this blog has great potential. I see that it is still new. Work on adding great content, getting the sidebar in order and making sure everything looks cohesive. Start with the top (banner) and work your way down (footer). It would nice to have your header on the same shadowed white background as the sidebar gadgets and main content. Its a simple style but still has some personality which I think is what you blog is lacking. I’ve seen your etsy shop and all those bright colors, so I KNOW you have personality:) Make sure your blog is a reflection of that.

Please remember that these are my own opinions and I understand that everyone’s views might not be the same as mine. If anyone else has thoughts, please feel free to chime in!