Those visiting ProBlogger today will notice that we’ve just released a new theme. It isn’t a complete overhaul in terms of look—rather, it’s an evolution or refresh of our existing design (much needed). Hopefully you’ll find ProBlogger a little easier to navigate and a little less cluttered.
There are quite a few changes in the back end of the site, though, in that we’ve moved over to the Genesis framework. Brian Gardner from StudioPress has been incredibly helpful in getting us set up—I can’t recommend their themes enough!
I’ll let you look over the theme for yourself to see how we’ve gone about it. There are a lot of small changes including:
- threaded comments—something that has been requested a lot
- more prominent social media promotion of our Facebook and Twitter accounts
- a refreshed front page with new featured-post layout
- videos now are full size on single post pages (not more squinting)
- those who leave comments will be depicted in an avatar alongside their comments (pulled in via Gravatar).
There are a few other small tweaks around the site, and there will be at least a couple of new additions in the coming weeks.
I’m sure there will also be a few small bugs that we’ll need to iron out, but overall things are pretty stable and I’m looking forward to hearing your feedback (give those threaded comments a workout)!
PS: Some people have commented on Twitter that they want the Subscribe to Comments feature switched back on. I’m interested to hear whether that’s the consensus—let me know what you think.
The new website looks great, Darren! It’s a lot easier to read, and it’s also less cluttered. Great job!
Thanks Matthew!
Finally threaded comments!!
yay!
The theme is just perfect. Looks so much cleaner and focused.
Tyrant
Another great showcase site for Genesis. Congrats Darren, Brian and everyone else involved. I don’t miss the old look one bit :)
Looks good. The big featured post on top is the biggest change – it draws a lot of attention. Is it trendy now?
A complete fresh look and looking good and refreshing..
Good to see changes after long :)
The New look is Great. Good to see Addition of Gravatar and Threaded Comments…
After switching most of my sites over to Genesis, I’m of course a HUGE fan. An amazing framework that I’ve been continually impressed with. I think it was a great move for ProBlogger. And I’m guessing you’re going to make BANK in affiliate sales ;)
Wow, I like the new look and it is definitely easier to navigate now, up until this point I read most of the posts through my Google reader; now things are a lot easier.
Great Job!
Another Genesis convert, huh? Dang, I was just getting used to working with Thesis but I really like this. Nice work.
Darren, cleaner, sharper, more attention grabbing at the center where the post is but still Problogger feel and look so that’s great. Thank you for re-designing the space here for us!!!
As you said, it’s certainly less clustered now. Liked the colour scheme you’ve used. Glad that you enabled Threaded comments & Gravatar. Was waiting for both of them since long.
It looks awesome, Darren! Nice work!
[]’s!
Looks great. I love Studio Press. Is the Newletter box a custom design or is it something Brian might release for all us? Looks really nice!
I noticed that you don’t have a previous and next for the blog posts anymore (just related posts)? Did you find people weren’t clicking on those links?
Also, it looks heaps better than before.
actually I don’t even remember if I had them previously! Did I? :-) Happy to consider adding them back if people want them.
I like the new look. Clean and well organized. You know I have always said people put too much focus on design and not enough on functionality and seeing it from the user’s perspective. I would rather be on a clean site with good structure than a site with fireworks and ‘way cool’ colors, that is hard to navigate.
So I will give your new site design two thumbs up.
Very Nice Darren – I like it a lot! Very clean look!
This is really nice! I was an early adopter of threaded comments on my blog and they really help conversations, but you’ll definitely need pagination too. Avatars are a nice touch too.
I will definitely be visiting here more often because of the new design. I am trying out Genesis and it seems quite powerful.
The only trouble that we had the site is fixed. Now this is a good design. Congratulations Darren!
Darren,
Hey, good-lookin’! I refer to the site. ;) Oh, and you as well, of course.
Very clean, very smooth. Very NICE!
As far as subbing to comments—yes! On a post I’m seriously interested in, I would definitely subscribe. Especially if the conversation were quick and witty and filled with heart.
Very sweet and good looking. I have never used the ‘subscribe to comments’ function, but maybe I am the only one.
May the ‘subscribe to comments’ function could be helpful if some one reply directly to “my comment”.
In fact I liked the previous layout more but I will get used to the new theme I guess.
Nice look!! Loved the color combination of backgrounds, as well as now I am happy that I can see my image on Problogger in comment section!!
The site looks great – Congratulations Darren!
The content’s pretty darn good too sir ;)
I like it Darren, really nice. Love the subdued color scheme.
Darren! Congrats on the new look. Spent a bit of time checking it out and the main thing it ‘feels’ to me is clean. Which seems to be what you were hoping for with the whole ‘less cluttered’ thing. Easy to navigate…which is so important from a visitor experience perspective. (Thanks for thinking of US as usual…). I love your willingness to try new things and to engage readers in the experiment. I’m sure this will be another successful adventure. Thanks for bringing us along…
Amy Parmenter
Looking good Darren,
I like the refreshed look … keep up the great work.
Happy Thanksgiving Season!
Elizabeth
Darren, I’m really liking the new layout! The subscriber number on the main page is way larger than it used to be… does that gadget combine facebook, twitter, feedburner, aweber, &etc?
Also, it looks like the job board still isn’t updated yet (but you probably knew that)
This looks really cool. I hope you dont mind I “copy” some elements of this theme and put it on my blog :) Congrats by the way
Hi Darren,
This new design looks more professional and less cluttered. I’d love to have the subscribe to comments option.
May be it will be great if you write a post on why you chose Genesis Framework. And what are the perks.
Jane.
Love the new look Darren. I’m a huge fan of Brian’s themes. So clean and well organized. Congrats on the improvements!
Love the new design. Great features.
This new appearance looks fresh and comfortable. It is quite well-organized too and good for navigation purpose. :)
Hey Darren – congrats on the launch of the new theme. Just wanted to say how much I appreciate (and enjoyed) the opportunity to work with you and your team on the redesign.
Genesis framework. Nice. :)
Excellent upgrade, Darren. Don’t take this the wrong way, but on the old layout, I’d sometimes stick to my Google Reader post-by-post version if I was tired when a post came in because I knew I needed to be in top form to tackle the site. :) Looks slick!
The color theme makes the site way more inviting. Is there a reason the “Speak Your Mind” comment box is at the bottom? Does that make you more likely to read through the comments before you make your own? (just curious)
Looks great, nice upgrades.
A fab look, very fresh and maximises the different types of posts that are here on Problogger. I am glad all that black has gone and the blues/grays brought in. Much easier to read.
Subscribe to comments – yes please. I liked reading the other responses to posts I have commented on.
Excellent change Darren! Much more restful for the eye. While I know your content is great – and how to navigate your old site – it was too easy to get distracted. This one really puts your great content front and centre. I like the lighter background as well as the extended header.
Terrific Darren, looks much smoother and less overloaded than before. I enjoy visiting Problogger every week, now even more :-)
Subscribe to comments – a very good thing. And kudos for the overhaul – looks very clean and inviting.
Love the new clean look! The new site even load much faster now.
Great redesign with new modern look which I think makes it more appealing and easier to read. I LOVE StudioPress Themes and use them for all my sites. Great choice :)
Wow! This looks brilliant! and quite an obvious theme choice too, which makes it look more smoother in appearance! great stuff, now to sort out my own blogs themes and stuff…..
Great look! I did like the old look, too, but this one is even better. I’d also be very interested to here why you chose the Genesis Framework.
Looks fabulous. The colors and arrangement of elements give a nice clean, crisp look :)
I like the cleaner look. It’s always nice to ‘refresh’ every now and then.
Have a great Thanksgiving Season! Do they celebrate it in Australia? If not, celebrate anyway as I’m sure you are very thankful for your success. You’ve certainly earned it.
Thanks, Barbara
Great new look – never easy (and sometimes scary) making a design change, but they usually are for the better, as it is in this case. Well done!
I love the clear look, and threaded comments are another great addition! Nice work Darren.
I used to love commenting here… But now its like writing on a clean plate or wearing a new jeans…
This new theme is more refreshing and more welcoming….. Everything looks so bright!!
Much needed refresh if you ask me Darren, looking great! :) The team over at StudioPress are fantastic people, I’m glad to see ProBlogger.net up and running on Genesis … and props to whoever designed the new theme too!