Updating the look of a Wordpress blog is more than creating a cute header; it’s creating an identifiable brand.

I just finished updating www.Screenwriter-to-Screenwriter.com and had a lot of fun creating a home for Monica Partridge’s excellent discussions on writing for film.

• Theme: I searched out an easy-to-use theme Atahualpa, the same theme I use for mini-branding. This is a clean, malleable Wordpress theme that has a wonderfully easy user interface for changing header images, column layout, size and style of text, favicon, everything.

The Final Blog Design - click for full view.

Comments on the Design - click for full view.

• Header: Monica charged me with creating a collage of dialogue snippets for her header in Courier, the font screenplays are most often written in. She loved the final header, even though I think it’s a little busy.

• Readability: The line-height and font size were increased for maximum viewing, especially on a site where one can spend hours reading and learning.

• Email Capture: In order to capture your audience and create products for them in the future, use an email service program like Constant Contact, AWeber or iContact. Once you join, you can create an email signup box and enter the code in a side widget.

• Top Nav Drop-Down: Look for a theme with a drop-down nav at the top that is generated by pages. This leaves the right and left side of your blog available for more content and is the usual place people go to look for standard items such as “About Me” and “Contact” info.

• Social Network Widgets: Add your social networking widgets if you want to give your blog a timely, in-the-moment feel. These are created in each platform, and the HTML code is copied into a text box in your WP Widgets panel.

• Don’t Forget Categories: When you write, give your post categories for quick searches and also to give a new visitor an idea of your topics. In Monica’s blog, I love being able to look at all her posts just on Beat Sheets, for instance.

• Use Permalinks: These are an option in your WP settings that change page IDs to real-world words for each post and page URL.

In general, think about your market when you start adding design elements to your blog. Is your audience older, needing more white space between headers and copy? What are they looking for first when they come to your blog? What’s the easiest way to give them the info they are looking for while at the same time enticing new visitors to sign up and receive some extra goodies?

What are some design ideas you have tried with success on your or your clients’ blogs? Feel free to leave a comment and your URL below!