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Don’t Let your Blog Become Like My Sock Drawer

Posted By Darren Rowse 11th of July 2009 Video Posts 0 Comments

Got a messy sidebar on your blog? It’s time to clean it up (like I cleaned up my sock drawer today).

Check out the full sized version of this on YouTube, MySpace, Blip.tv and Viddler.

About Darren Rowse
Darren Rowse is the founder and editor of ProBlogger Blog Tips and Digital Photography School. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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Comments
  1. ejakulasi dini says: 07/15/2009 at 8:34 pm

    Cool video content. Thanks for sharing and the tips.

  2. leisure forte says: 07/16/2009 at 2:28 am

    Great info and advice as usual thanx!!

  3. Daryl Lorette says: 07/17/2009 at 12:33 am

    Funny! Thanks! I needed that! Right to the point!

  4. Shreejana Hickman says: 07/17/2009 at 5:49 am

    Thanks Darren, sometimes when u put it like that, really makes more sense than if u’d just written about it. I sure did clean my clutter from the sidebars:)

  5. bbogi.net says: 07/17/2009 at 6:44 am

    Thanks Darren…

    http://www.bbogi.net

  6. mike says: 07/17/2009 at 1:39 pm

    I got all holes in my socks in my drawer. The big toe and the heel is where I get them.

    I got rid of most of the things on my sidebar when it started to get out of hand. The less you have the better.

  7. Best and Worst Blogging Experiences of the Week says: 07/18/2009 at 12:52 am

    […] to resonate with readers. A couple of posts (this one on declining traffic and this one on my ’sock drawer’)got over 100 comments which is always a level that I look to on this blog to signal a post did well […]

  8. photo recovery says: 07/18/2009 at 4:50 pm

    Thanks Darren for such a nice video. I am completely agree with you.

  9. BKKKPewsey says: 07/19/2009 at 9:44 am

    Spot on video, I checked my sidebar immediately but I haven’t been blogging long so not many odd socks.

  10. SURVEYS FOR MONEY says: 07/19/2009 at 2:05 pm

    Messy and cluttered sidebars are such a turn off. They just distract the reader away from your posts. Posts are what’s most important.

  11. Pankaj Chauhan says: 07/19/2009 at 10:52 pm

    Hey Thanks Daren. I need to do it now.

  12. Blogger Rise says: 07/20/2009 at 4:28 am

    what is fix definiton about messy side bar????

    regards

    http://bilah9.blogspot.com

  13. j000 says: 07/20/2009 at 4:45 am

    I think it is time to clean my drawers. Thanks for the reminder.

  14. shaunjudy says: 07/20/2009 at 10:31 am

    I cleaned my blog up a lot a few months ago. This is a great video, Love how you used the sock drawer as a comparison.
    I really hate to go to a site and see things flashing at me, and saying click me so I can please make some money.

  15. Michelle says: 07/20/2009 at 1:55 pm

    Thanks for the info. I don’t seem to have to worry too much about a messy sidebar as for some reason when I add any more links my links all go to the bottom of the page. So, if I want to keep them at the top I can’t add any more.

  16. menj says: 07/20/2009 at 2:18 pm

    I don’t have a sidebar for my blog, which is why I don’t have to worry about it :mrgreen:

    – MENJ
    http://www.ibnjuferi.com

  17. Mark Walusimbi says: 07/22/2009 at 6:45 am

    Will definitely clean up mine. Great video! Cluttered sidebars are such a turn off.

  18. G says: 07/22/2009 at 12:46 pm

    hahaha…nice advice and video… i definitely clean up my sidebar… coz it slow my blog 2 load…. thankx :)

  19. Florida Permit Test says: 07/25/2009 at 3:21 pm

    Very true, I often find messy sidebars or banners which make me wanna throw up. First impressions are extremely important on blogs. Nice video, thanks for posting.

  20. Social Media Network Marketing says: 07/27/2009 at 6:28 am

    LOL…Darren, there is a good reason to get rid of “athletic socks” like that one! Too funny.

    This is a great tip that I have a feeling, a lot of people are going to IMPROVE their blog because of!

    @TimothyCarter

  21. Jon/ The Wandering Generalist says: 07/27/2009 at 9:03 am

    Great analogy- especially if you saw my sock drawer hehe. It’s got mismatched pairs, socks with holes, a few odds and ends, and recently in the drawer I found food stamps from the 1950s. I wonder if it’s a bad thing that I take care of my blog better…

  22. steve says: 07/28/2009 at 4:54 am

    Wow love the vid will add to my new blog my socks are allways in a mess and allways mixed. i swear my miss does it to pea me off. and love the info again

  23. Sheikh Ahsan says: 07/28/2009 at 6:07 am

    Amazing video,,, liked it a lot! Its very true we should remove those creepy things on side!
    I cleaned up my blogggg tooo!!!

  24. Canvas Prints says: 07/28/2009 at 7:13 am

    An excellent post and has got me thinking…

  25. Stretch Mark Mama says: 07/28/2009 at 7:44 am

    Darren, you do such a great job with your videos and your sites. And you’re just an all-around nice guy who produces such helpful content for the rest of us. Just wanted to say ‘thanks’ and I’m always happy to point people in your direction. Lisa

  26. Christopher says: 07/28/2009 at 10:41 pm

    Brilliant advice, and a fantastic video, I loved the way you used the socks!

  27. aakshat vaishnav says: 07/29/2009 at 5:41 am

    I have discovered a great program that offers all the tools and materials you will need to make easy money online.

    I signed up today and I’m really impressed with the resources and tools they give, it’s so easy to make money with them.

    You can sign up too, here’s the link:

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  28. Hudson Gets Paid Online says: 07/29/2009 at 5:57 am

    Thanks for the advice, it is funny because I was thinking of a way to clean up my site. So what I will start with is my sidebar. I’m thinking of making some simple navigation through my site so it is easy for the readers. Thanks Again!

  29. NFL Wholesale says: 07/29/2009 at 7:04 pm

    Brilliant advice, and a fantastic video, I loved the way you used the socks!

  30. chris says: 07/30/2009 at 12:26 am

    Yes Great Video as long as you are a blogger because my Brother heard this and he asked me what the hell are you looking at that crazy man for.But its something we All have to think about we should at least make these gadgets a new window</A If we want to keep them.

  31. Paul Weiss says: 07/30/2009 at 1:07 am

    The sock drawer is a good analogy for this. We do a lot of revisions of our clients old websites, and there is always a lot of “dead” technology, broken links and outmoded information in their sidebars.

    Paul Weiss
    http://www.vbpoutsourcing.com

  32. Matthew Loop says: 07/30/2009 at 2:09 am

    Thanks for the solid tip, Darren. My programmer hooked me up and said similar things awhile back :)

  33. Alan says: 07/30/2009 at 2:22 am

    Darren,
    The video rocks, heck you got got me to even clean out my sock drawer, and work on the my site a bit more. Thanks

  34. thigiru says: 07/30/2009 at 5:37 pm

    Question; how about ranking high my blog? i have several in squidoo and blogger and do not drive traffic.

    Height increasing exercise,
    http://www.igrowtall.com

  35. Mike from Drop Ship says: 07/30/2009 at 9:48 pm

    It is essential to keep ones blog clean. Good video. Keep up the good work!

  36. D.C. Douglas says: 08/23/2009 at 5:03 pm

    I just started a month ago and I think all my socks match! Please feel free to sort through it and tell me otherwise!

    http://www.myvoiceoverguy.com/voice-over/

  37. diamondTearz says: 08/24/2009 at 5:49 am

    I knew it! That’s where my other sock went! Thanks for the motivation to clean out the sidebar. I’ve been meaning to do that for weeks now!

  38. sam says: 08/24/2009 at 6:10 pm

    cleaning side bar, good idea, thanks for sharing. i used to think more stuff on my side bar is good, at least fill up my blog with something colorful………but i agree with you, content is the most important……i won’t let my blog like your sock drawer

  39. Kev says: 08/26/2009 at 3:28 pm

    Hi, this is really a cool tip. I’ve been wanting to clean up my sidebar for ages but haven’t done so. One thing that stops me from doing that is I’ve to get a new template (that’s fine), and chances are, I might have to do all my widgets again. (I’m using Blogger.com)

    I’ll try cleaning it up this weekend.
    Thanks for the great tip.

  40. batterie 12v says: 09/12/2009 at 8:16 pm

    Did you make that with one cut? Most entertaining ProBlogger vid so far – gave me a good lauch for saturday night. And gave me a push to go cleanup and re-plan some of my blogs. Great stuff!

  41. thigiru says: 09/15/2009 at 7:37 pm

    At least now am getting some substantial help!

    health growth exercise,
    http://www.igrowtall.com

  42. alhnuf says: 09/20/2009 at 1:10 pm

    I really have a messy sidebar .
    I will clean it , thanks for the tips .

  43. Chris says: 09/20/2009 at 4:04 pm

    I think he Could Clean out Some of the Comments here Too.

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