I’ve been a bit quiet recently. The current job I’m on is running behind and we’re being pushed to do overtime!
Anyway, I’ve still managed to grab the odd hour here and there for a bit of research and everywhere I look, people talk about having a “cohesive aesthetic” before building a website. Colour palettes, logos, the vibe your brand gives off, and so on.
Meanwhile, I’m just trying to write solid posts, learn SEO, work out what plugins I need and actually get traffic
So now I’m wondering:
Can you build an audience first and figure out your aesthetic later? Or is it something worth dialing in early, even if you’re still finding your voice?
Would love to hear how others handled this stage - did your “look” evolve over time, or did you plan it from day one?
Short answer: yes, 100% you can build an audience without having your “aesthetic” nailed.
Most of us old-timers started with the ugliest WordPress themes imaginable and still managed to get traction because we focused on content and intent. The “look” only matters once people are actually showing up.
That said, what does help early on is consistency, not perfection. Use the same font, same colours, same tone of voice across your pages. That’s enough “aesthetic” for Google and readers to start recognising you.
It’s also worth developing your aesthetic “on the side” while you build out your website. Just so that you have something ready to go when you do get the flood of traffic and people start interacting.
Think of it like a building site (you’ll appreciate this one ): You don’t paint the walls before the foundation sets. But you do plan where the windows go. Bit of a lame analogy, but you get the drift.
So yeah … focus on learning SEO, structure, and flow. Your visual identity will naturally evolve as you publish and get feedback.
Keep going! You’re thinking about the right stuff.
): You don’t paint the walls before the foundation sets. But you do plan where the windows go. Bit of a lame analogy, but you get the drift.