If you guys read my last DatMoney Weekly Updates post and you should know I’m dipping my feet into designing my own Wordpress themes. So, I have a very simple question, do you prefer one, two, three or four column blog templates? And while we’re discussing this, what exactly do you look or in a blog theme?
How Many Columns Do you Like on Your Blog?
Personally, I’m a three column blog template type of blogger. I like it because I usually have a lot of things on the sidebar and I don’t really want my readers to have to scroll down too much to see everything else on the sidebar. Although, I have been testing out two and four column templates as well just to see how they look but so far, I still prefer the three column templates.
If you had to pick on how many columns your blog template has, what would your number be? Does it even matter to you? And while we’re on the subject, what else do you look for when you’re picking your blog template?
What I Look for in a Blog Template
I think when it comes down to it, I get a little too picky for my own good. But here are a few things that I look for in a blog template.
Header - I like a blog template that has a header that runs across the top of the blog with an option of having the entire header being your logo or half of it as your logo and an ad spot or even a search option.
3 Columns - Like I mentioned, I tend to favor three column but particularly the main content area on the left hand side and the two other sidebar columns on the right side. The reason why is simply the fact that we read from left to right (most of us) and I like when people are looking at my content first and then everything else on the right after.
Ad Spots - I need a blog template that has options for ad spots. Of course, we can add ads really anywhere we want but I wouldn’t want to do extra work. Plus, most of us create blogs with the opportunity to monetize it and if there’s no ad spots, you’re limiting yourself.
The 125×125 spots have been pretty popular but I don’t need it. I just want something that would give me an option to put at least a few ads on every page including the main index.
Easy Navigation - I try to look at blog templates that are easy to navigate through because if I can do it easily, I know visitors that come to my site will do the same thing. Plus, the whole purpose is to keep them on your site as long as you can, right? I like a navigational menu right below the header as well as some easy navigational options on the sidebar and maybe the footer. But the footer isn’t as important to me.
Search Bar - I don’t know about you guys but I use search bars all the time when I’m trying to find something specific on a blog. I hate it when people don’t have search bars and I have to look for a particular post I liked to not even find it and just leave.
What Do You Look for?
I’m sure I’m missing a few but those are the ones that stick out in my head when I was looking for a new blog template for DatMoney. What do you guys look for? I’m going to try to take some of this information when I’m designing my first Wordpress theme. Practice makes perfect so I just wanted to know what you guys like so I can design a few samples and you guys will be able to use it for free when I’m finished. 
Jay,
Just mirror the popular themes like Thesis and John Cow Milk Theme. Ease of use is very important it seems. 2-3 columns should be the main bulk of your designs.
I have a fairly unique theme on my blog that I paid for called Omega theme.
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I like less columns – i like to keep it simple and easy on the user…
thoughts?
I like 2 sidebars, personally. However, it depends on requirement criteria of your niche & you.
Personal choice might help in making me comfertable but that may not be the best option for readers in long run, then it should be avoided.
My kinda theme must have:
1. Entire header
2. Variable options for ad placements as per the requirements.
3. Simple navigation.
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I like three column blogger template, I am using the same blogger template like you and its is favorite blogger template.
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Like you, I also prefer a 3 column template. But I dont know, I think I am getting carried away by magazine type of templates so I am starting to really like them..
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I too prefer the three column template rather than the two or four column templates. The four column templates jumbles up things and the two column ones though looks clean but the visitors as you have said would have to scroll a lot. Presently though I’m using a four column template but that is strictly for some testing reasons.
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I think less columm is better because visitor easy to navigate and less complicated to maintain.
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I like to keep things simple with 2 column templates. However, I’m now falling in love with full width header templates so that’s an additional requirement for blogs that I build.
The number of columns in a blog has been debated time and time again, and there are both advantages and disadvantages of each. All blogs are set up in as one-column, two-column, or three-column structures. The best way to pick one is to simply choose something that suites your blog’s purpose.
I prefer to have only 2 columns on my blog template. it’s looks so nice.
Personally, I’m a three column blog template type of blogger. I like it because I usually have a lot of things on the sidebar and I don’t really want my readers to have to scroll down too much to see everything else on the sidebar. Although, I have been testing out two and four column templates as well just to see how they look but so far, I still prefer the three column templates.
Thanks Anyway..
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3 colums is perfect for me since I can manage the widgets wisely.
The four column templates jumbles up things and the two column ones though looks clean but the visitors as you have said would have to scroll a lot. Presently though I’m using a four column .
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I like the 3 column with 2 columns off to the right.
Two columns or should I say a template like yours where you have two columns up the top and then the sidebar splits into two separate sidebars down below. Whatever the case may be, it has to be easy on the eye, easy to navigate and have options for various ad sizes just in case you want to monetise your site at a later date.
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I like 3 columns, but I also like the ads on the left side, which sometimes is hard to find.
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If you are going to start a blog find a 2 column template and one that also does not go full width of the window to control where the readers eyes fall and want to move to naturally.
I would go with a 2-column. Ad spaces are optional, as i make my own somehow somewhere
I have a lot of posts, so easy navigation and search bar rocks 
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I prefer to have 3 columm. One main colum for my article posting, one colum for advertisement and one colum for site navigation.
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I think it depends on the blog that I am reading, but for the most part I prefer standard two column blog. But really.. in the end some blogs can make three columns work really well!
Till then,
Jean
I have a blogspot blog and I want to make it a 3 column blog…do I have to download something or is there a selection throught the templates and layout that I can make it a 3 column instead of a 2 column?
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I usually prefer to have two columns for my blog, one for blog content and another for blog roll, calendar, post etc.
I prefer a three column template rather than a four column template. Three column templates look more decent and provide adequate space both for content as well as other features.
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