How We Constructed It: my.weblog

When Automattic launched the .weblog area extension again in 2016, our in-house staff constructed a shiny new web site to go together with it. The vibe of my.weblog very a lot matched the period, that includes a easy format, a generic colour palette, and a “simply the fundamentals” strategy to the content material and general messaging. 

Eight years later, it was time for a refresh. 

Our particular tasks staff not too long ago revisited my.weblog, giving it a completely new aesthetic and strategy, in addition to some cool new options. On this publish, we’re going to offer you a peek behind the scenes about how this new web site got here to be. The recent design fantastically showcases what’s doable with WordPress. 

Have a look round my.weblog and don’t neglect to seize a .weblog area when you’re at it!  

Design inspo 

Step one for our staff was to nail down a design motif. For any web site challenge, beginning right here units the tone for the complete web site. What are the colours, styling, and typographical parts that talk to what you’re making an attempt to get throughout?

Our design staff introduced two stunning choices, every with their professionals and cons:  

The fluid format of the lighter model, codenamed Lemon Softness, actually stood out, whereas the tile or card format of the darker model, codenamed Starfield, appeared good, however felt like extra of the identical on as we speak’s internet. 

Then again, the darkish aesthetic of Starfield spoke somewhat extra to our future-facing sensibilities. 

Finally, we mixed them. The format of Lemon Softness is what you’ll see on my.weblog as we speak (together with just a few very cool scrolling animations), whereas the Starfield inspiration reveals up in Darkish Mode toggle (the moon/solar icon on the highest proper). Additionally try the “glass morphism” impact within the header on the high of the location, which blurs the imagery only a bit in an effort to clearly learn and navigate the menu.

Blogger inspo 

In fact, it’s not all in regards to the design. Together with the daring new look, our staff included just a few options that may encourage bloggers of all stripes and encourage getting again into the behavior. In any case, running a blog is definitely thriving in our social media world. 

First, we needed to make sure that “dotbloggers” (people who use a .weblog area) had been highlighted proper on the entrance web page. This carousel pulls posts from the “dotblogger” weblog class: 

Only a bit additional down on the web page, we determined to function .weblog websites; this carousel is definitely populated dynamically from a .weblog area database. 

Lastly, the staff needed to emphasise how highly effective running a blog could be. Simply as “the loss of life of the novel” has been overblown for at the least 100 years, “the loss of life of running a blog” is a daily fixture of on-line discourse. The truth is that extra folks than ever earlier than are running a blog and seeing the worth of getting a nook of the web that’s all theirs. To this finish, we hung out crafting a manifesto that speaks to this: 

We maintain this fact on the middle of our mission and imaginative and prescient: content material is efficacious. Whenever you publish on-line—no matter you publish—you might be declaring your willingness to create and add one thing to our world.

Proudly owning your area signifies that you’re not on the whims of an ever-changing algorithm. It’s a declare of possession and independence. A .weblog area is greater than that—it’s a sign and a badge of authenticity that declares your explicit nook of the web as an area for tales, expressions, ideas, and concepts. You’re an authentic.

A .weblog area is extra than simply the dynamic pillar of your on-line presence (although it’s that too). It’s a stage for all the totally distinctive methods you share your story—in phrases, images, movies, podcasts, art work, and extra.

Sources for days 

Past the glitz and glamor, the .weblog web site additionally wants to offer sensible sources for each registrars and dotbloggers. On the registrar aspect, our staff made it particularly handy to entry promotional content material and visible advertising property. In the case of bloggers on the lookout for a site, the search web page offers real-time outcomes for what’s out there and the place you should purchase it. 

As a reminder, you can even purchase a .weblog area instantly from WordPress.com/domains—for simply $2.20 for the primary yr, or at no cost if you buy any annual paid plan.  

Have a look for your self 

No have to take our phrase on the nice job our particular tasks staff did with the brand new my.weblog web site. Head over, click on round, seize your individual memorable area title, and begin (or restart) running a blog as we speak.