I think moving the 2 sidebars to the right is a great idea. Making the navigation bar text a bit bigger would be useful, and maybe simplifying the number of pages. (I know it’s suuuuper tough, I have a problem with that on my site as well!)

Also from a business perspective, you might want to move your “subscribe” box to the top right column, since more people are likely to see it and sign up.

Good luck with all the changes! Can’t wait to see the new site.
.-= Nathalie Lussier´s last blog ..How to Use Essential Oils Against Cravings for Weight Loss =-.

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
February 27th, 2010 at 10:35 pm

Thanks so much, Nathalie!!!

The subscribe box will definitely be in the top right column.

I’m so excited!! I’ve been putting this off for too long – it’s time to do some spring cleaning and provide some fantabulous “customer” service!!

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HI Michele, I think layout is soooo personal. You want it to be user friendly but also it has to appeal to your own eye. I think taking down some of the ads would be good. Some of the more random stuff that you know isn’t doing much$$ for you. Take it down if you ‘re looking for less clutter…but then again, if you like it, keep it. It’s your layout girl! Also when I am typing this the mountain rose herbs banner is flashing at me and distracting my concentration…it really wants me to click it

The topics, again, entirely personal. Although I would love to hear your health challenges and how you’ve overcome them, who knows if others would to. And creative recipes are always welcome like the happy hemp holes in the last post …as are your daily eats from time to time. Whatever flows. A couple quality posts per week is always good. Whatever you do will be awesome…I have been thinking about you all day and want you to know how amazing you are!!!!! xoxo write anytime
.-= Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)´s last blog ..Huge Post: Highlights of the Week, Protein Cookie Dough, What To Make Next, Adventurous or Predictable? =-.

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
February 28th, 2010 at 1:28 am

Thanks, Averie!

I do know which ads are working, so I’ll remove the others.

And I do plan on sharing more about my health struggles – then and now.

You know, I have quite a few recipes I whipped up, took photos of, and then didn’t blog about ‘em. So, I’m going to work on sharing those and working on new recipes, too.

Thanks for letting me know what you’d like to see – and for all your support!!! It means so much….

Hugs,
Michele

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Thank you for commenting on my MIL’s blog! She loves it!
This is my first time at your blog so I feel I can’t comment on how to fix it/change it thought I usually like posts once a day!
Have a great day…

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
February 28th, 2010 at 11:55 am

You’re welcome, Kalli!

Glad she enjoyed it.

I’ve noticed quite a few folks enjoy posts once a day (not from the comments here, but from social media and emails).

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 1:15 am

You’re welcome, Kalli!

Thanks for letting me know – I’m definitely going to work on posting at least 5 times a week as soon as I get some tech stuff straightened out.

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you blog already has big enough type for me to read. that’s always my biggest concern. and the way you format your posts is very readable.

as for the sidebars, sure go ahead an pare them down. i am a fan of one sidebar only but that’s just me.

never tried to search the site but if he was more easy to do maybe i would.
.-= bitt´s last blog ..green and crunchy =-.

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 1:17 am

Hi, Bitt!

I’m glad you enjoy the way I format my posts. I do keep y’all in mind and try to make them easy to read – or even skim over to get to a recipe or a part you’re searching for.

I’m definitely aiming for paring down the sidebars. There will be two but it will be WAY less cluttered and a lot easier to find things you’re looking for.

And I’m also going to be working on making this site search-friendly, too.

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forgot to say–yes! more on living with chronic illness. i am starting to get a lot of people on my site asking about that and i’d love to have more places to send them.
.-= bitt´s last blog ..green and crunchy =-.

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 1:18 am

I’m already working on posts addressing the illness topic, so be watching for them – and thank you!

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Michele,

I’ve only been reading your blog for a few weeks, but yes I would agree with you that navigating around your blog is a little difficult. I love all the information and great ideas your posts give to me, but there is a lot of distraction. I would say keep blogging daily, I really enjoy getting the notification on my phone and reading your new post! I think if you have the time and the information to share you might as well blog. Share your wealth of knowledge with other people. I’m just a beginner with blogging, but you need to have a balance. There is no way you are going to please everyone, most importantly please yourself. Make your blog how you want it. Thank people for their advice, but don’t feel obligated to take it.
Best of luck!
.-= Kylie Wolf´s last blog ..Good Morning!It’s Sunday, what are you eating for… =-.

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 1:22 am

Hi, Kylie!

Wow. I’m so honored that you look forward to my posts!

I’m working on removing the distracting stuff. I am hoping to find a way to keep the ads that are generating income, though, because $$$ is nice.

Right. I realize I won’t please everyone but I did want to ask y’all your opinions. Sometimes you think of things I wouldn’t and so feedback is always good, in my opinion. And I do want my readers to know that I value their opinions and will strive to make this site the best possible I can.

I’m hanging on to my cute cartoon feed dolly, though – she’s dear to my heart.

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I think what you offer to the reader is very useful, I have been super busy so I haven’t been able to appreciate it as much as I would like to. Keep going strong!
.-= Mark Salinas´s last blog ..Core or Coincidnce? =-.

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 1:22 am

Well thank you, Mark! Hopefully things will smooth out for you and you can stop by a little more often. Take care and know you’re always welcome!

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Michelle,
I just started following your blog. But let me start my telling you what caught my attention. The ads/affiliate banners. Sometimes, I have found it hard to zero in on the post, because of banners and other things flashing. But I think that will be remedied when you change your sidebars.

I use to have a lot of affiliate banners in my sidebar, but I went through and narrowed it down to the ones that I feel are beneficial and helpful to the reader/ones that got the most hits, and also to the ones that offer a better percentage.

As far as the layout goes, I like your layout. Having 2 sidebars to the right of the post should be okay. I use to have 2, but I started liking the one sidebar because my blog appeared to be less cluttered. But hey, this is your blog and you do what you feel is best. You don’t want to be like other blogs, so you do you.

Your posts are personal. Whatever you decide to post is fine with me. Whatever it is, I always take something away from what you share. I’m not picky.

Best wishes with you changes!

~Evelyn
.-= Evelyn @ Natural Raw Living´s last blog ..Time For Spring Cleaning =-.

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 1:26 am

Hi, Evelyn.

Thanks so much! I am going to be narrowing down the ads that are actually getting the most hits and are profitable. I’m also considering rotating the ones I do keep – so that will make it even better for y’all.

I’m so honored that you always take something away from my posts. What a blessing!!!

And thank you….

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I would like it if you could put the post title in the subject line that is sent to me via email. All of the updates come in ‘Latest Juicy Article from Healing with (Raw) Juices’. It would be easier to read when scanning my emails. Any possibility?
.-= Michelle Pierson´s last blog ..Markus Rothranz: Beyond Raw Foods =-.

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 1:27 am

Hi, Michelle!

Hmmm…. I will most definitely try to figure that out. I did figure out how to change the title of the email – but I don’t know how to change is so that it appears as the actual title of the post each time. I’ll try, though!

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 1:31 am

I think I figured it out, Michelle!

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Michelle Pierson Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 9:35 am

Thanks Michelle!!!
.-= Michelle Pierson´s last blog ..Markus Rothranz: Beyond Raw Foods =-.

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 12:10 pm

You’re welcome, Michelle!

HI Michele,
You know i love your blog right…more so cause i love you
So i will give you a few suggestions..some of my biggie blogging pals gave me…thats the reason i have recently changed my design too…
-Moving the sidebars to the right -gives more attention to the post
-your headers is great, just reduce the pic size and enlarge the fonts
-reduce outgoing links from the sidebars-meaning…more internal recent posts, contests, tops posts etc…less outgoing.
-try to have atleast 5 posts in snippets eg like on my blog.as soon as you open the homepage…..that way the person who lands on your blog can get a gist of the recent things youve written about..and can choose to read more than just the first full post.
-Also i saw you moved the subscribe button to the top right…thats awesome..!
-Try if possible to change the color of the font with italic, at the end of each post where you ask people to subscribe..it emphasizes on it. Otherwise you can always make it into a box…
Sweetie i know some of the things i am telling you might not make sense…but they work….
Lots of love to you..and i am so so excited to see the changes youre going to make.
If you need anymore help…just email me
big hug,
Z~

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p.s. finally most importantly love the new design yourself…and do what your heart tells you to! Youre a success already…!!

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Raw Juice Girl Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 11:36 am

Thank you for all the suggestions, Z! They DO make sense and I’m going to try to incorporate everything I can. I’m glad you like the subscribe button on the right – I think you’ll love the new design even more!

And feel free to voice your opinion if you don’t.

I’m really excited about all of this, and so honored to be bringing you all on my journey!!!

Hugs,
M

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