User Comments

1. 

   4/20/09

   timethief

   I think there are several factors to consider.
   

   (1) If the posts contain images, animations, video or music embeds the page will take a long time to load. Long page loading times mean that readers may get peeved and click out, even if they are on broadband service. This is not to mention how very slow they are to load for those who are on dial-up service. So IMO it's a good idea to reduce the number of posts on the front page, if you have image rich or embed rich posts.
   
   (2) I dislike scrolling and I think most others may feel the same way too. Therefore, like you, I keep my front page length in the range of two wheel scrolls and that's it.
   
   (3) I use magazine style themes. I can provide a greater selection of posts on my front page to readers by using the "read more" tag to truncate the posts so they display only excerpts on the front page, and readers can click through to read the whole post on a separate page once they decide which ones they want to read. Another reason I use the "read more" tag is because I'm keenly aware that some search spiders stop indexing once they reach around 100 links on your front page.
   
   I hope you find my feedback to be helpful. Happy blogging!

   [reply]
   1. 

      4/20/09

      xicowner

      Thanks for your reply. I also use magazine style theme in my blog where "read more" is automatically done by the software. I visited your blog and found it nice. Hope we could get more feedback on this topic because I consider a blog's homepage length an important factor in enticing readers to stay on it.
   2. 

      4/20/09

      timethief

      You're welcome. I also forgot to mention that when it comes to widgets, gadgets and running scripts on your blog - they all increase page loading time. In addition widgets and gadgets can destroy the design of your blog and distract your readers away from reading your content. I try to keep my blogs clean and use only a minimum number of widgets and gadgets.
      
      You may find the information in these posts to be helpful:
      Building a blog with readers in mind
      onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2007/11/24/building-a-blog-with-readers-in-mind/
      Widgets: Less is More
      onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/widgets-less-is-more/
2. 

   4/20/09

   Rozie818

   Ditto @TT
   Blogs, Websites etc your first page should be direct and too the point
   I am guilty myself of having a heavy main page, But I was more or less brought up on the web using Flash type programs. And became aware early on when my computer would freeze, that it was the wrong approach.
   So, I started breaking things down and trying to keep things clean and easy to view. Too many widgets, gadgets and images makes it a slow go, and I do not sit and wait as my browser keeps me waiting. For what I pay per month to view the web, I shouldn't and neither should anyone else have to wait that long.
   
   R.

   [reply]
   1. 

      4/20/09

      timethief

      @Eozie
      Thanks for wading in because your mention of widgets and gadgets made me realize i forgot to mention them. I hate waiting. I use a Firefox browser and I watch what's being loaded in the bottom browser bar. If there's a whole lot of unnecessary crappola being loaded then I click out.
3. 

   4/21/09

   Arcticulates

   I guess I never really thought about it, taking my little pointer finger and making it move ever so slightly over the mouse wheel is not that hard and I do it automatically when I am interested in what I am looking at or reading.

   [reply]
   1. 

      4/21/09

      xicowner

      While I personally do not like long homepages and slow loading sites, I would have endured them if the topics in a long homepage are related to each other. But sad to say, many long homepages have topics that differ from each other. Very few bloggers write successively about the same subject. You may correct me if I am wrong.
4. 

   4/21/09

   PetLvr

   I've always considered, visually, that the ideal length of content in the main aread on your front blog page should not be more than 1-1/2 times the ideal length of the content in your sidebar.
   
   And, that being said - because images, videos, etc need to load - if it takes so much time to load either your sidebar or content area - they should both stop loading at the same time ... if they do not - shorten the content area, or put smaller thumbnails in the sidebars.

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   1. 

      4/21/09

      xicowner

      Just want to ask, which one should longer by half-length, the blog's content or the sidebar(s)? For me, make them of the same length and at about two (2) full wheel strokes.
   2. 

      4/21/09

      PetLvr

      the content should be longer ..
      
      The 2-wheel stroke is reasonable on some templates. I like to place my mouse just above the bottom \/ in the scrolling bar and consider lucky-7 clicks as the usual limit (one click for header, one click to reach bottom and footer, and 5 clicks of summary content info).
5. 

   4/21/09

   listauto

   I often find very long homepages of blogs. Personally, I find myself almost losing breath as I go through them. I prefer shorter ones, a little over 2 full strokes of my mouse' wheel is enough for me.
   
   Do you intentionally make your blog's homepage very long? Do you think most readers like it that way?
   
   
   
   most readers are not so.
   
   I approve your comments.
   www.listauto.net/

   [reply]
   1. 

      4/21/09

      xicowner

      Thank you for agreeing with my comments about long homepages. Most of the replies here expressed the same feeling so my next question is how can we help the bloggers who wish to modify their long homepages into shorter ones.
      
      Changing theme to magazine type is one way but may be too tedious for some. Limiting the number of topics on the homepage is another. Truncating a post is the one I could think of.
      
      Please post other ways of making short homepages. Queries on how to do it are also welcome in this discussion.
6. 

   4/21/09

   vmsnnamboodiri

   The small is beautiful

   [reply]
   1. 

      4/21/09

      xicowner

      Thanks for agreeing with what we are saying here.
7. 

   4/24/09

   charona

   okay,long or a shorter contents that depends on what services they offer. sometimes it needs a long page and sometime not. depending on the needs. some service that requires a long content.

   [reply]
8. 

   4/24/09

   Hangingonahyphen

   I have no issue with length as long as it is well made...

   [reply]
9. 

   4/24/09

   wayan02

   I think just several days :lol:

   [reply]
10. 

    4/24/09

    xicowner

    Thanks for the above replies. So far, majority says a blog homepage should not be long in size. It turn-offs most readers especially your fellow bloggers. Shouldn't you cut down the length of your blog homepage?

    [reply]
    1. 

       4/24/09

       timethief

       @xicowner
       There are solutions for front pages that are too long.
       (1) Display fewer full posts on the front page
       In the Admin section of your blog set the number of full posts to be displayed on the front page to a lower number.
       (2) Insert the "read more" tag & display only excerpts
       Insert the "read more" tag into posts to create excerpts of posts on the front page.
11. 

    4/24/09

    codesucker

    Well, let's not also forget that a 'longer' page implies more links.. You want to try and have as many links into your homepage and as few links out of your homepage as possible.
    
    Create relationships with other bloggers by deep linking to their content in your posts, not a never ending blogroll (I see this way too much). Don't have too many widgets and other 3rd party nonsense either. Have fun and create great content
    
    BTW I just visited both your blogs, the way you have it set up now is fine - it loads quick and the homepages aren't long or overlinked at all

    [reply]
    1. 

       4/25/09

       xicowner

       Thanks for the visit and the compliment. I likewise visit your site and found it very informative. I bookmarked it.