I’ve been reading Jean Costa’s blog for the last 3 or 4 weeks after finding it through the EntreCard system. As you might expect from someone billing himself as “The Software Expert and Entrepreneur,” he writes an eclectic blend of posts on topics ranging from operating systems to advertising. His latest effort is an offer to other bloggers to review their sites if they will provide a critique of his site. (Yes, I’m hoping to get his insight into one of my sites.)
I’m a bit behind the curve with this review, because I’m going to comment on the appearance of his site and he’s apparently about to launch a new look. That said, his current theme has a couple of points that I really like. First, he has his photo at the very top. Blogging is about putting the writer’s personal stamp on the words. Some of us do this by putting our names in the front of things. Costa does this by putting his name and picture up front. The photo’s also interesting - he’s standing to the side, gesturing to the title and navigational features of the blog. It’s an unusual header and really grabs the attention of the reader, because it’s so different and it says “Take me seriously, I’m putting my face on this.”
And about those navigational features…A menu right at the top of the blog points you to an overview of Costa’s software services complete with contact form, his mission statement and a free tutorials page. These are all outside the main “blog” content, which includes quick tips on software and operating systems, games, news, advertising, WordPress and more. The tips he has up are great, including “How to open Microsoft’s New .docx file” and a post on how to get the look and feel of Windows Vista without downgrading from XP. The content is first rate and the tutorials on subjects including “Dreamweaver, HTML, Javascript, Photoshop, PHP, SQL and Windows Movie Maker” look like a good plan.
Unfortunately this is the downside to the site. I write with experience when I say that it’s far too easy to have great ideas and great intentions for a site and not follow through. The less bold among us avoid putting out those intentions for everyone to see us not follow through. On his “Mission” page, he writes:
One of my biggest goals for this website is to pour all my knowledge into it. Especially in the lessons section. That section will be the heart of the website, which will contain hundreds of lessons, on topics that widely asked about, and those that I know alot of knowledge in.
Hopefully he will follow through, but as of now only the Windows Movie Maker tutorial is live - the others are just text. Likewise the number of blog posts. This is not really a complaint - after all, he’s only been at this since July 2007. I just look forward to seeing lots more posts and actually seeing those tutorials go live in the near future. I just can’t help wanting *more now*.
