Does Your Blog Pass the Stop-By Test?

Imagine you’ve just checked-in to a hotel, reception have handed you your room key, You open the door, only to find your room in a complete state – bed unmade, towels on the floor e.t.c.
I guarantee you would turn back and find somewhere else.

The same principle applies to a blog. When visitors stop by and find your blog a complete eye sore or of no value, they would simply turn back and go elsewhere.

Let’s ponder on a few things

(1) Is your blog clutter-free and presentable?

Do you have a good theme installed?
How many side bar widgets do you have installed? – Must you really have all that?
Do you really need all those social bookmarking icons? Are your text font / size readable by all?
All these factors constitute to the overall appearance of a blog.

Let’s go back to our hotel analogy – although a blog/hotel may have something of value to offer, if first impressions are negative, chances are, the visitor will not return.

Remember first impressions counts, so take time to plan your blog’s structure.

(2) Is your blog offering something of value?

Once that first impression bridge has been crossed, content is your No.1 product of value.
Either you have a news or an entertainment blog visitors are reading your stuff because you have something of value to offer.

Bare in mind, in most cases, visitors on your blog are there simply for their own interests.

What are your thoughts on this?
Have you recently done a stop-by test?
What would you suggest?