Do you try to model your blog or website after others?

kgord Level 1

September 3, 2017, 2:56 pm

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Do you try to model your blog or website after others?

Do you try to model your blog or website after others you like or do you try to do your own thing and individualize it? Sometimes I do look at designs on other blogs and websites and think it would be nice if mine looked like that, other times I am content to just do my own thing. What about you? Do you take an idea from sites you like?

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Corzhens

Corzhens

When I was co-writing for a blog, I have to admit that it was inspired by one blog of a veterinarian. Obviously, our blog is about pets. Having it patterned with an existing blog or website is not really bad and I find it a good idea for a start-up. But later on, I'm sure there will be revisions and modifications to enhance the look, and probably even the style of contents. But if the copied design would linger for long, I guess you have no creativity at all.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

Yes, it may not be necessary to re invent the wheel so to speak when you are designing a blog or website, but doing your own thing, and making it your own with colors, pictures and so forth may be the best thing to do. I don't think you want to make your site a carbon copy of someone else's, you might be charged with copyright infringement.

7 years ago

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PinkTurtle

PinkTurtle

I don't think it's wrong to look for inspiration on other blogs or websites, as long as it's not exactly the same design you should be fine, copying everything would be just wrong. I agree with Corzhens, there has to be some modifications to match you exact taste.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

Yes, I think you will feel more sense of ownership if you design your own blog or website as opposed to trying to directly copy someone else;s design. It just makes sense to put something of yourself into it. It is a good thing to do I think, and you will reap benefits from it.

7 years ago

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augusta

augusta

In life we live by copying or doing things our own way.This all depends on what we want,if we love what we see we could copy or duplicate it.

For me though I try to always be different because it good to be unique but if I see anything that could enhance my blog though already in use,I will not hesitant to use it.

7 years ago

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overcast

overcast

I have found out that blogs from the 9rules community were worth following. So I tried to make my blogs like them. And it has helped to some extent. Though not a lot of progress on that point. I would say that you can learn from others design and other cosmetic stuff. But you have to be original with your content. And you have to focus on what you can offer. I personally think that it takes efforts to build the website. I think design is easy to copy and build upon that's for sure.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

Yes, I think some designs and styles are easier to build on and duplicate then others in some cases the individuals may have spent money and time putting forth a splashy website, whereas other times, they may be more basic and lend themselves to a format you can put into place. I think it just depends on what is available to you at the time.

7 years ago

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JonathanS98

JonathanS98

Well, not exactly, to be honest.

Generally, my mindset going into a project is that you can learn something from anything and anyone. Basically, capturing fractions and pieces of successful website niches and blogs, only to incorporate all of them into my own. So it's an overall gathering of the fractions. Rather than copying ideas identically. Maybe the sources to generate traffic and promote in general are related, but for the most part, all stem for my imagination and thinking.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

I think maybe using different snippets and design options from other websites or blogs is fine to do, but trying to replicate someone elses design down to the letter is probably something that is not going to work. I think it is generally better to come up with your own designs and techniques as much as possible.

7 years ago

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

I think it is important to have a blog or website that is different from your competitors. It's not a good idea to try to copy other sites because no one will visit your site if it is the same as another when the user can just visit that site. That's why it is important to have a unique and special theme that can attract users because of nice your website looks.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

Yes, I would agree, if your website or blog is similar to someone else's that is more well established, why would they want to come to yours if you are basically offering the same thing on a different format. It is just something that we need to be on guard about. It is just a matter of making sure you have something unique for users.

7 years ago

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Authord

Authord

Well, i think almost every blogger or designer have once stolen or modeled a concept or design from a blog and reflect it to their own design, it's normal. Most of the time after designing some sites, and you find yourself surfing the net, and find a design or concept that catches your feeling or that looks attractive, you immediately model it to yours. I do that almost all the time, but when i do it, I upgrade the concept and my own usually looks unique.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

Yes, maybe just using other blogs or websites as a starting point might be the thing to do. You can always customize it to your own thing. It might be helpful to just do some basic modeling and branch out from there. Of course if you are in Blogger, and may want to copy a Wordpress blog design concept you might have some problems.

7 years ago

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Tronia

Tronia

Sometimes I do sort of let other website designs inspire me. I never completely copy it though, I dislike that.

I don't think that getting inspired by other people's work is bad as long as you make it your own.

My favorite are those cute little unknown sites that are so extremely creative and clever when it comes to the actual overall design and layout.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

Yes, there are defintely some dramatic websites out there that give you the kind of content you are looking for. Make sure that you take advantage of all that is out there when it comes to designing your own site. Lots of free tools exist and many great ideas that you can use from other websites as well, as I think we all know.

7 years ago

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gamergurl

gamergurl

I take inspiration, sure, but I don't directly copy others or their ideas. Not only is that illegal in some aspects, but also shows the lack of originality. And why would someone visit my site if they can just visit the original?
I don't think that taking inspiration is a bad thing, but every time you need your own twist on to make it personal and interesting for the visitor.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

Yes, definitely, I think take what you like from other sites, but also make it your own. That is the way you can make sure you get what you need. It is just one of the ways that you can get the options that you want to use on your own particular site.

7 years ago

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Soulwatcher

Soulwatcher

No, my blog/forum is my own design and I didn't company any of it from another website. I am not speaking for what others do but me myself I think it's better to be all original then copy someone else's idea. Having said that I don't knock other people's websites if they copied the idea from another website.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

I mean it is a bit like looking in magazines or on TV for designs you like, and then attempting to copy them. It is the way that you can get the sort of options that you might want to incorporate into your own blog or website even if you don't copy them word for word or piece by piece.

7 years ago

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vinaya

vinaya

I don't try to model my blog and website after others. I always try to make it unique in design with unique contents. However, sometimes my website resembles other blog or website. That's because I use a free theme. Since the theme is free, it will also be used by other bloggers and web masters. When the same theme is used, your website is likely to appear like another website. Here lies the importance of using premium theme or customizing your website with plugins and widgets.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

I am not really sure what a free theme is, but I assume you want to do your own thing independent of what other blogs or websites have to offer, and there is defintely nothing wrong with that. However, re inventing the wheel can get tiresome, and sometimes other sites have good ideas.

7 years ago

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Pixie06

Pixie06

I used to visit a particular blog as I was very interested in the topic and was quite knowledgeable about it. I had to make sure that my blog was different and also better than that blog. I didn't copy anything from that blog. I wanted my blog to stand out. I started doing more research about blogging. I started writing quality content with good titles. I also spent a lot on advertising. Today I can say that I am quite successful as a blogger.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

It is good you took the time to research it. It seems like a lot of people just plunge right in and are disappointed when their blog does not do well. It is just one of the things that you might need to realize when you are first starting up a blog..even if you have an idea of what you want to do, it does indeed take work.

7 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

NEVER. I think it's ok to be inspired by other peoples blogs or websites. Mostly on those days when you feel a bit in a down mood? Visiting other sites or 'friendlies' within your niche can give you a jolt or shot of energy to boost your mood. But I never try and copy or model my site after anyone else's. It's important to always be original.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

I think many people do try to copy because they lack confidence in their originality, but it doesn't have to be a total copy to be able to get some ideas and to begin to put them into place in your site, but it is up to the individual.

7 years ago

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seolads

seolads

Lately it's actually hard to make absolutely unique blog, so most of us are making similar blogs to another, one way or other. Designs (trough WordPress themes) or by contents... Maybe we try to do it with our own twist and add more or less something unique, but sooner or latter you find there is something more or less similar to another blog. Specially when you try to look who your competitors are on search engines, then you realize there is someone's blog within same or similar niche, similar contents or design... Well, it's not bad at the end, but i guess it's bad if you try to copy someone on purpose

7 years ago

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mildredtabitha

mildredtabitha

I have always been doing what I like and model my blog on my own way. Although I like how other sites look and I also get inspired by them. I feel copying them would be difficult because our content is different and modeling my blog like theirs won't go hand in hand with my content. But learning some few tips from them is something I won't hesitate to do.

7 years ago

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coolavender

coolavender

I got inspired by a blog and its plug-ins that I picked up the same premium theme. However, I can't copy the exact same look as the Wordpress theme may have been optimized for the site by a professional, haha. That's just how I far I got in modeling my blog. I wanted to pick up as many tricks as I can in Wordpress theme designs so I prefer to make the tweaks myself. It was a lifestyle blog and mine is a personal finance blog so there are bound to be inherent differences. I've got to say that the more blogs I read, the more I get inspired to start other blogs on a different niche.

7 years ago

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kgord

kgord

I agree, as I mentioned earlier, you don't have to re invent the wheel every time you do something different. You can use models from other people's websites and customize it and individualize it as you see fit. It is just one of the options you can find when you set up and design a website.

7 years ago

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Corzhens

Corzhens

To be honest with blogging, one of my apprehensions is the theme. One freelancer advised me to just buy a theme so that my blog will have a professional look. But my fear is the tweaking like what you are experiencing now. But on another note, I admire your tenacity to shift from one niche to another because it is not an easy thing to be writing for different topics. I guess I can handle only 2 blogs but to have more than that will already be a burden to my simple mind.

6 years ago

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