New Blog Design

  i'm a little bug! 
  Originally uploaded by Sara Heinrichs (awfulsara).

Every once in a while, it's nice to change. I was thinking about why I started this site, what I wanted to share, and then translating that into a blog design that would reflect a new beginning.

I like the white open space, the wider center column that gives me room to add photos, and the simplified design.

I appreciate that the flower in the banner isn't a perky young thing--it looks like it's been though some stuff, but it's still beautiful.

Blogging has turned out not to be as easy as it looks. While it's easy to get one up and running, maintaining the passion to keep it going, to actually build up steam and evolve based on the participation of everyone in the community, is turning out to be quite an artform. It's a labor of love, though, and I'm eager to try some new things this year.

For one thing, as I mentioned here, I'd like to go a bit crazy sometimes. I was just talking to Andy a few hours ago, and we were both musing about how we wanted to step outside the boundaries we've created for ourselves on our blogs.

Where did these "rules" come from? I don't know, I think they've followed us from corporate life.

We left our cubes and thought we were being edgy by having blogs that were extensions of our businesses, but we were still playing by the old, corporate, politically correct rules that have been drilled into our heads.

A blog can be a thrilling medium for discussion and idea sharing, but the way most small biz owners have been using blogs for marketing purposes, honestly, their blogs are really only slightly progressive traditional websites.

And that's a shame, because blogging is a complex, multi-faceted medium for nurturing and cultivating a community. There's no reason a business blog can't be compelling.

Here's to taking chances and trashing our own rules.

Comments

[Todd And]

Hey Sharon, just stopped by for a while and browsed your site more. Good stuff. I love your music preferences... one of my favorite albums is Portishead's Live from NYC. If you haven't already, check out Martin Sexton. He's up there on my list of faves. Great acoustic/vocals... even better than John Mayer, but I'm not a big Mayer fan.

[mindblob]

Hi Sharon,
Great new look! It's "fresh" and inspiring.
If you like bugs, you should check my last post. I think you're gonna like it! ; )

[Verna Wilder]

Sharon, your blog is THE best example I've seen of a business blog that is fun and interesting to read. I've been out of the blogging loop for awhile, so I was delighted to see your new look when I checked in today and to read your always wonderful posts. Nice job!

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Todd--thanks for stopping by! Yes, Portishead's Live from NYC is actually one of my faves of all time. I need to check out Martin Sexton.
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Hi Luc (aka mindblob)--I'm glad you like the design. I do like bugs (as long as they're cute), and I was excited to see your post on the short film Miniscule. Thanks for sharing that on your blog--it's definitely not just for kids! (check it out at http://mindblob.typepad.com/mindblob/2007/01/minuscule.html)
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Verna--thank you so much for your kind words. It's nice to see you back. It's probably healthy to get out of the blogging loop every once in a while! ;-)