I think sometimes, we can get a bit too different and ignore the basic rules.

I think sometimes, we can get a bit too different and ignore the basic rules.

I think those covers draw some people in and repel others.

The covers you happen to have selected specifically resemble The National Enquirer (or the Daily Mail). I generally won’t give the paper a second glance.

The only reason I would glance twice at those magazines is that they are consistently stocked in bins by the grocery store line where I often wait 5 minutes for the checker. Yes, I would buy one if I discovered they represented a great value. But normally, I wouldn’t notice the banner and wouldn’t buy.

So, if we translate this to the web where I am not forced to look at the cover, that design might induce the “immediate back-button reaction”. I would be gone before I noticed any free offer.

The reason for the “back-button reaction” is that in my experience, magazines (or blogs) that look like that contain content that is similar to The National Enquirer, and lets face it, that magazine does not generally contain Prince CD’s!

Many of the things you say in your article are correct. But you also highlight the importance of faces drawing people in. Sure, they do. I think you also fail to highlight the importance of having a cover that matches your content.

If we take a broader lesson from magazines, we’d realize that the cover photography or images must also “match” the content. Face shots and pictures of gyrating rock stars are not be uniquely suited to drawing in readers. sometimes they just don’t suit a publication and using them would repel readers.

Lots magazines draw people in with other sorts of pictures. Consumer Reports generally shows products including “sexy” dishwashers and refrigerators. Money Magazine show things associated with money; stacks of dollar bills are not uncommon. Car and Driver shows cars. Garden magazines show flower gardens and vegetables. Home decorating and home improvement magazines show homes and decor. Loads of women’s magazines show cakes, cookies, crafts and nice table settings on the cover.

These magazines have covers that match their contents. They also sell well in grocery store lines in my part of the country. Replacing the photos of yummy brownies on a homemaking magazines with a woman’s face would not improve sales.

I think those covers draw some people in and repel others.

The covers you happen to have selected specifically resemble The National Enquirer (or the Daily Mail). I generally won’t give the paper a second glance.

The only reason I would glance twice at those magazines is that they are consistently stocked in bins by the grocery store line where I often wait 5 minutes for the checker. Yes, I would buy one if I discovered they represented a great value. But normally, I wouldn’t notice the banner and wouldn’t buy.

So, if we translate this to the web where I am not forced to look at the cover, that design might induce the “immediate back-button reaction”. I would be gone before I noticed any free offer.

The reason for the “back-button reaction” is that in my experience, magazines (or blogs) that look like that contain content that is similar to The National Enquirer, and lets face it, that magazine does not generally contain Prince CD’s!

Many of the things you say in your article are correct. But you also highlight the importance of faces drawing people in. Sure, they do. I think you also fail to highlight the importance of having a cover that matches your content.

If we take a broader lesson from magazines, we’d realize that the cover photography or images must also “match” the content. Face shots and pictures of gyrating rock stars are not be uniquely suited to drawing in readers. sometimes they just don’t suit a publication and using them would repel readers.

Lots magazines draw people in with other sorts of pictures. Consumer Reports generally shows products including “sexy” dishwashers and refrigerators. Money Magazine show things associated with money; stacks of dollar bills are not uncommon. Car and Driver shows cars. Garden magazines show flower gardens and vegetables. Home decorating and home improvement magazines show homes and decor. Loads of women’s magazines show cakes, cookies, crafts and nice table settings on the cover.

These magazines have covers that match their contents. They also sell well in grocery store lines in my part of the country. Replacing the photos of yummy brownies on a homemaking magazines with a woman’s face would not improve sales.

I think we can all agree with those points and they all apply to blogs

I think we can all agree with those points and they all apply to blogs

I’d change my mind if it contained a free cd I wanted. Afterwards, I’d throw the paper in the recycling bin or give it to my hairdresser so women can browse it while having their perms set.)

I subscribe to the Chicago Tribune and The Wall Street Journal. Their front pages say “this is a newspaper”. They do share some of the elements you describe, but no one buys the Wall Street Journal for a free insert.

I’d change my mind if it contained a free cd I wanted. Afterwards, I’d throw the paper in the recycling bin or give it to my hairdresser so women can browse it while having their perms set.)

I subscribe to the Chicago Tribune and The Wall Street Journal. Their front pages say “this is a newspaper”. They do share some of the elements you describe, but no one buys the Wall Street Journal for a free insert.

I used to blog only about knitting. Moving into this area, I see distinct differences between blogs in the “blog-about-blogging” niche and I’d like to read much more specific opinions about what is good or bad rather than just leaving it to my imagination.

I’ve posted screen shots of three of these blogs and I plan to comment on yours tomorrow.

I’m also tempted to show photos of the newspapers I buy at my blog. They don’t look anything like the newspapers you posted!

I used to blog only about knitting. Moving into this area, I see distinct differences between blogs in the “blog-about-blogging” niche and I’d like to read much more specific opinions about what is good or bad rather than just leaving it to my imagination.

I’ve posted screen shots of three of these blogs and I plan to comment on yours tomorrow.

I’m also tempted to show photos of the newspapers I buy at my blog. They don’t look anything like the newspapers you posted!

@lucia – I was going to leave that to your imagination but I could follow it up if people think that would be useful?

@lucia – I was going to leave that to your imagination but I could follow it up if people think that would be useful?

Great post! We forget sometimes about all the things that attract *our* attention, and forget to use them to attract others.

Great post! We forget sometimes about all the things that attract *our* attention, and forget to use them to attract others.

@Adam – For me and my new design it will be about prioritising from most to least important, making sure the most important stuff is visible at 800x

@Michael – Exactly, and it does work very well

@Nathan – Thanks, tell your friends!

@Adam – For me and my new design it will be about prioritising from most to least important, making sure the most important stuff is visible at 800x

@Michael – Exactly, and it does work very well

@Nathan – Thanks, tell your friends!