I have to say I think I like the 3 column format that guys on typepad are using. Also really like the “now reading” “now listening to” stuff on the left. I’m sure this is all possible on Wordpress. I’m pretty new to all this.
http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/
http://sijohnston.blogs.com/sijohnston/
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three column blogs are shit. They look too cluttered.
But if you want one dig through here:
http://www.alexking.org/software/wordpress/theme_browser.php
And the bottom of the page here:
http://www.alexking.org/index.php?content=software/wordpress/themes.php
Also here:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Themes/Theme_List#Three_Columns
You will also just want to check out this page:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Themes
And for wordpress reference:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page
Thank you Dan. I will check those out tonight. Some strong opinions on 3 columns. I’m not sure what I think about them yet. Just like not building up the right sidebar with tons of stuff and expect people to scroll forever. The 3rd column seems to solve that. We’ll see.
I love them! The first time I saw Si’s blog I thought, “I wish I could do that.”
I don’t know the mechanics yet of making mine 3 columns…yet. I will post about it when I figure it out. Thanks for commenting Michel.
I was going to respond to this one, but I got sidetracked. The theme competition site Dan mentioned is probably a good place to look for ideas and/or templates to start off with and modify to suit your preferences.
I don’t have the same strong feelings as Dan regarding the three column layout, although I do think they get a little cluttered, and can take away focus from the main content of the page. However, as you said, two column blogs (and a lot of 3 column ones for that matter) often do try to cram too much stuff into that side section.
I am guilty of that as well, and have been wanting to do a redesign in which I pull out most of what I’ve got in there now and either put it in separate pages or get rid of it. I tried to mitigate that problem initially by writing that javascript collapsing sections code, but I’d rather just clean it up a little. Now if I could only find the time to work on it.
FYI:I had a three column for ever with MT. But like I said and Jared said so much more eloquently 3-columns clutter.
I do recognize what Jason is going through, I went through the same thing, he wants to bling his blog. Something I have been struggling with for ever. But i realize now that the more “cool” stuff I add the less likely readers will see it through the clutter. And if you have noticed I have taken a lot out.
Another thing to consider is RSS. Your main readers and contributers will rarely visit so you really need to plan for the new reader and I rather have them see more content then my bling/cool/other stuff about me.
Oh yeah, and another thing I
hatedislike worse then 3 column blogs is fixedwallpaperbackgrounds.Dan, maybe you should start your own vid-cast: “queer eye for the blog guy”?
I think Jared is on to something. That would be hilarious. Dan but I see you like smiley faces. Maybe I’ll make a tiled background out of those for you.
ha ha.
It’s not that it doesn’t look good it’s just disorienting when you scroll. Like my queer eye matters though. A lot of sites are doing it, even wordpress.org, I guess I just have to get over it
Jason - the way I have 3 columns setup over at addisonrd.com allows for “bling” in WordPress. The left column is written into the code for the header, and the content actually comes from published pages (easier to update than the html code) that the php then calls up. The design of the site looks awful, but the 3 column thing is at least functional.
Thanks for the info Michael. That sounds like an interesting way to handle the 3 column thing. It’s funny though, I just visited your site this morning and noticed that you changed to a 2 column theme. I guess that’s a win for 2 columns.
update your theme.