Best Blog Templates —Types & Examples | Mailchimp

2. What elements and functions are important for your blog?

Now that you’ve defined the purpose of your blog, let’s take things a step further. Grab a pen and paper and start making a list of features and functions important to the success of your blog.

For example, let’s say your blog’s purpose is to build credibility as a life coach. A template with prominently-displayed testimonials might be important to you. Whereas, if your overarching goal is to build your email list, you’ll want your opt-in form displayed as a header at the top of your page.

Not sure where to start? Take a look at some of your favorite websites and blogs, particularly within your industry. What design features stand out to you? Which elements do you consider eye-catching? Which are distracting? Our article 8 Blog Design Best Practices offers tips and best practices to help ensure you get the most out of your blog.

3. Customizable blogger templates

While there are a number of benefits to using templates, there is one downside. With over 600 million blogs worldwide, it’s safe to say that there are other bloggers out there using your blogger theme.

How can you build brand awareness and loyalty if your blog looks identical to five other sites? Simple. You select a template that’s customizable. Many templates allow you to customize your color story, fonts, and the layout of your content.

4. Responsive blogger templates

Approximately 60% of the world’s online activity is done on a mobile device. That means there’s a good chance that many of your readers will visit your website from their smartphones or tablets. Your blog’s theme should automatically adjust its layout to ensure every user has a positive experience, regardless of the type of device being used.

While most modern blog and website templates boast about their responsiveness, they aren’t all created equal. Before you settle on a template, test how responsive it is on different screen sizes.

5. Fast-loading blogger templates

We’re living in a fast-paced world. Consumers are accustomed to getting what they want quickly and efficiently. In fact, studies indicate that 53% of mobile users leave a website if it doesn’t load within three seconds.

To avoid a high bounce rate, check the rating for your new blogger theme’s page load time. Research it thoroughly, including any customer reviews and comments.

6. SEO blogger templates

Ultimately, the purpose of your blog is to connect with your audience, build brand awareness, and increase website traffic. Therefore, it’s important that your new template is optimized for search engines.

An SEO template earns high marks for each element that search engines prioritize. These include responsiveness, robust titles, loading speed, and efficient coding.