May 10, 2004 | View Comments (24) | Category: Design Critiques
Summary: A comparison between the Blogger and TypePad homepages.
Today's big news in the design blogosphere (remember there is a larger world out there) is that Blogger has been redesigned by Douglas Bowman. Interesting now because TypePad again has a competitor on the hosted blogging front.
I thought it would be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison of the two homepages and how effectively they accomplish certain goals that I set out for them. We all know how important of a role the design of a site can be for a business so lets examine the designs of these two sites.
What use to be a clean site has now become cluttered. They have a lot of things going on being a growing business and it seems they have continually added information to the homepage without taking any information away. My first impression was that the site was just too busy. My eyes were left wandering trying to find a section to focus on.
Considering the target audience possibly being people who are unaware of what a blog is, I would like to see the page simplify itself a bit. Right now I think it might be just a tad bit intimidating for some users. I think the 30 Day Free Trial button might work better in the center column where it would get more attention.
Simple and clean. The feel of the site makes me want to explore and find out more about what is going on. There are no hurdles to discovering what their service is or how to sign up. In general, I feel that Blogger offers the better first impression.
I never touch upon code, but I definitely think it is worth everyone's time to study the code of both sites. Both professionally done and notice how cleanly formatted the TypePad code is.
A lot of the text on TypePad is difficult to read, especially under the news section. Some line-height could definitely be used here to help the words flow better with the eyes.
Another curious thing is that the largest type found is for the news section headline. I would think that the largest and most eye-drawing aspect of the site would be the features section or any other section that would entice someone to purchase their services.
I did a CTRL + Scroll (FireFox) and the site increase one font-size and looked considerably better in my opinion.
The majority of the text is very easy to read. Interesting to see how both sites go with Trebuchet MS as their typeface. Wonder if both designers feel as if this was a more inviting and friendly font? The hardest text to read happens to be in the login box in the upper-righ corner. The words “Username” and “Password” are difficult to read due the light blue text on a darkblue background. Wonder why he didn't use the same color as the “forgot” link.
This is where Blogger really shines. The images help develop the theme of the site and to tell the story. The lack of images on TypePad's site help to contribute to the intimidating feeling that it presents (hmmmm, like this site?).
The images on Blogger just give off a friendly, easy-to-use vibe that TypePad is missing.
TypePad wins this section simply because their navigation stays above the fold. Blogger may feel that their was no need to have navigation viewable above the fold as the content did everything they wanted, but I don't think users should have to scroll down to find the about page.
I really didn't mean for this entry to turn into a TypePad bashing critique, but I have to admit that Bowman killed it with this design. This is certainly not a knock on the services that either company offer, but just a comparison of their homepages. They could be targetting completely different audiences so comparing them might be unfair, but I thought it would be fun to look at it from a business perspective.
In that case I think Blogger does a better job of quickly informing their audience of what the site is about and drawing them into signing up with their services. I do think that SixApart should take notice as more people will be comparing the services of the two companies so some tweaks on their homepage might be in order. Possibly a chart detailing the advantages of a paid service over a free one.
Trackback URL: http://9rules.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/235
As far as I understand, Typepad has more features, but Blogger seems to be easier to use. If you know what you're doing, I'd say go with typepad; however, if you're new to the concept of blogs, Blogger is your best bet.
Nigel Goodfellow
That Blogger redesign is extremely impressive. I agree that Blogger's use of icons and graphics really goes a long way to making the site easy to read, use and navigate.
Bowman knocked this one out of the park in my opinion.
Todd (http://www.monkeyhouselounge.com/loungeact/)
What pisses me off about Typepad (as a Typepad user) is that he homepage is not interactive whatsoever.
I rollover stuff and nothing happens. No color switching. No underlines. It's just not fun.
Then you go to blogger's site. Bowman's got shiny icons everywhere, bright colors, interactive rollovers — it just feels more inviting.
Mike (http://phark.typepad.com)
Nice comparison Scrivs.
A definate divergence as Blogger focusus harder on new sign ups compared to their old design:
http://216.239.41.104/search?&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com
Mike P. (http://www.fiftyfoureleven.com.com/sandbox/weblog/)
I agree with Mike, though I am not a typepad user,I like bloggers feel much better. I did create a very quick blog, and they were not joking, it takes a couple minutes max to get your first posting, assuming you don't sit and stare at the templates offered and wonder which one to pick. Thats a big advantage.
I am in the process of getting MT customized to my own design of a blog and that is the one negative about blogger is that you can't customize it. At least I didn't see where you could.
Bryan (http://www.gamecubecheats.info)
As far as the visual aesthetics of the new Blogger interface, it definitely has changed for the better. It nice to see that new features have been added to the service. However, it still lacks what I would consider desirable.
I wrote about this last night/this morning (whatever you want to consider it), and I still think it needs to take some steps before it is a major competitor. To the average blogger, the service may be adequate, but it lacks the control and flexibility that advanced users might want.
It all boils down to what the service is being used for, and who is going to be using the service. Personally, I would choose TypePad over Blogger, because of what is being offered to me. Furthermore, I would still rather host my own management system on my own server because I am a control freak.
Ryan (http://www.destroyhope.org)
For a free service, Blogger offers some great features. It does give you the ability to change the design outside of just using one of their templates as well as comment and feed features.
Typepad's best features arent available with their free version. So, it depends on what you're looking for and how much you're willing to spend.
Blogger highlights something thats free and very easy to use. Typepad may offer more features, but you have to pay to get them and it isnt as easy as Blogger to get it set up. These attract two different audiences.
My personal opinion is that for less than what you would pay for Typepad's best features, you could purchase your own domain and have ultimate control.
eris (http://www.erisfree.com)
I started on Blogger and was pretty happy with it (for the most part) but I had the free version so I didn't get to have comments. By the time I decided I wanted to be able to get comments, BloggerPro was not up and running. It was being "retooled." Then Blogger was bought by Google.
Somewhere in that mix Typepad came in and I made the jump. There are aspects that I do not like, but I am now ensconced in it and I like all the functionality it gives me. Especially now that they have a file manager interface.
My Blogger account is still active, and yes I think the interface is nice, but I won't go back at this point. But then I am not their target audience probably.
BTW, the icons Blogger now has are cute, but they serve no purpose other than removing the meaning of the link one step further away from users understanding the interface and interaction (like the fact that some icons are links and others are not). Icons, like colors, shouldn't* be the primary cue for communicating meaning and setting up differentiation.
*Now who's your usability guru!
Matthew Oliphant (http://usabilityworks.typepad.com)
Visually, I prefer the Typepad site. Blogger is a big improvement of what it was, but - for me personally - I can't help but associate the "bubbly graphic" style with a younger more "naive" audience. Being an old fart, I prefer the not so cutesy interface of TypePad.
Of course, if we were priveledged to know Blogger's audience we would probably find it's younger than TypePad. Which, of course, means that the Blogger design does what it's meant to.
Mark (http://www.lightpierce.com/ltshdw)
I think Blogger has a better homepage primarily because it has a more narrow focus: signups. If you're looking to login, get news or tutorials you're wisked off the front page faster than you can say "blog". The TypePad site seems to be trying to get too much of everything on the main page.
Bowman makes a better case for clarity than I've seen in a hundred blog posts about the subject.
Will Pate (http://www.willpate.org)
How come Douglas Bowman is getting all the credit, when it was a collaboration between Adaptive Path and him?
is that Blogger has been redesigned by Douglas Bowman.
tut tut :P
Great looking web site, Blogger is the superior imo. TypePad is faaar too cluttered.
Robert Lofthouse
You are right Robert in that Adaptive Path deserves their credit, but I was just focusing on the visual aspect of the design, which I assumed was done by Bowman.
I know Adaptive Path did the User Experience and IA.
Scrivs (http://www.9rules.com/whitespace/)
Yeah he did do the visual side of things, I just think that includes what Adaptive Path contributed. Without that IA/HCI (etc) research it probably wouldn't look the same as it does now.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention anyways, a great analysis of both of the web sites.
Robert Lofthouse
Robert-You're right. Big hand to Adaptive Path as well. Sorry you guys.
Todd (http://www.monkeyhouselounge.com/loungeact/)
I am in the process of getting MT customized to my own design of a blog and that is the one negative about blogger is that you can't customize it. At least I didn't see where you could.
Byron - You can customize your template in Blogger by:
Grant (http://threesixty.cc/)
I'm really impressed with the Blogger redesign as well, I _almost_ feel sorry for Six Apart. But, realistically, Blogger and TypePad are aimed at slightly different type of customers, the TypePad customers being the ones more "advanced", or require more functionality, at least.
I do think, however, that Six Apart should look at Blogger and reconsider their front page design, TypePad should too feature some super-welcoming sign-up form, and a tour, as prominently as Blogger does.
Tomas (http://jogin.com/weblog/)
The interesting thing I've noticed is that the Blogger front page is no longer a blog, but the Typepad one is.
Is this a deliberate decision, or just a side-effect of the new design, I wonder?
Tom
I think that it was a deliberate decision. The most important part of the Blogger home page is logging in and new signups.
The old "blog" is now called Blogger Knowledge (NOT a knowledge base- that is help), and is located at www.blogger.com/knowledge.
There are still some links and excerpts on places like the dashboard, etc... (where lots of the other old home page features are located).
I think this is a pretty good decision on Blogger's behalf.
Brian
I agree with Mark on the fact that the blogger redesign is a bit big and bubbly... a big bubbly blogger. It's kinda like XP as a microsoft attempt to make windows seem more friendly. And, blogger does a good job, don't get me wrong. I like the design from an artistic point of view, but I think they may have taken the big bubbly buttons a little too far.
I think this will definetly attract the real young and or extremely novice, which may be what they're looking for, but I think they could attract more users by maybe poping a couple bubbles :) You know, like sizing some things down a little bit and not making it seem so... blogabubbly.
As for typepad, yea, their design is pretty bad. The eyes do not no where to go. They definetly need to simplify things, but not as far as blogger simplified things.
Jason Marble
Indeed, it has a fisher price (kids toys) interface. That's a well thought out web site though. When you are designing something like that and when you know the target audience is a wide variety of people (from completely thick 30 year olds to highly intelligent 14 year olds) - then going for a very ease to use interface is the best option.
If bubbly interfaces don't attract a huge amount of users, then why do apple, windows and now KDE also employ such a childish interfaces :P
I stick by the golden rule - Don't make me think. That web site doesn't make me think, except for the occasional care bear dream :P
I wouldn't know where to start with TypePad. They make me think too much.. and after programming all-day, that's not something I feel I should have to do :P
Robert Lofthouse
What do you guys think of Xanga?
http://www.xanga.com/
I believe this is actually the most popular weblog service among younger audiences, although Blogger and TypePad are clearly superior applications.
Weixi (http://www.paljam.com)
I think your comments about the appearance are spot on.
Blogger is easy to understand, but runs out of steam as soon as you start to do anything except the most basic journaling.
To create a site with aesthetic impact, Typepad is overwhelmingly appropriate. It is even being used for business websites now.
I think the difference in appearance appropriately signals the different levels of capability offered.
David St Lawrence (http://ripples.typepad.com)
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Mark (http://www.lightpierce.com/ltshdw)