Time to put your blog on a diet?
Widgets, plugins, advertising, blogrolls, images, videos, and more can be added to blogs to add functionality or just plain fun. There are thousands of add-ons to consider using on your business blog, and many of which will be beneficial to you or your readers. However, add too many of these added features and your blog will balloon from fun and functional to fat and flaky.
The problem with blog add-ons, plugins, and widgets
- They can distract your readers from your larger purpose — giving them useful, relevant content that they want
- They slow down your site loading speed — even though many people have high-speed connections, making them wait is likely to make them want to leave your site altogether
- They don’t always add value — while they may be cool or unique, they may provide nothing that your readers are looking for when they come to your site
- They don’t always work — if something in your sidebar stops functioning even temporarily, you’re left with a big blank space, or worse some gobbledygook that makes your site look bad
- They can lure your readers away — some widgets are so cool that your readers end up visiting the widget-creator’s site and leaving your blog entirely
Tips for putting your blog on an add-on diet
Ask yourself these questions to determine which widgets/add-ons to keep, which to toss, and 
which to limit in some manner. If you answer “yes,” this widget is good for your diet. Any “no” answers mean it’s time to wean yourself from the widget or not consume it in the first place.
- Does this add value for my readers?
- Does this add value for me?
- Is this the most simple/pretty/clean way to add the functionality I seek?
- Can the look of the add on be made to complement my blog’s theme?
- Do I get enough control of the widget to create a professional blog presence?
- Is this add-on being used by my readers now?
If you have other tips for keeping your blog svelte and stylish, please chime in. Or, if you have examples of blogs from either extreme, send in the URL so we can all go take a look.
