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The Aussie Nomad 2.0

The Aussie Nomad 2.0

Travel blogging has been a blast for me. I’m discovering I actually enjoy writing (not that I claim to be good at it) and all of this social media stuff we do on a daily basis. The hardest part has been making my blog my own.

At the start you can’t afford a designer to make the site look good, so you find the best free/cheap option you can. I picked my trusty old Thrilling Theme up after having looked for weeks and weeks. It had the features I wanted and at the time I had not seen another blog using it. Fast forward 2 weeks after I launched and I found it on over 5 different blogs… so much for being unique.

Still in the beginning it’s not the design that makes you, its you. Time passes and your writing develops (for the better I hope), then a brand emerges and low and behold it’s been over a year since you started dabbling in this travel blogging scene. It was at that moment some 6 months ago when I had to decide, am I serious about this or just having a laugh?

I weighted it up and wanted to take the next step into travel blogging but felt like I had an anchor holding me back, my blog theme. It has served me well as I grew but how can I really find my voice when I look like everybody else (no offence to people using Thrilling Theme I do love it).

So I put down the money my blog was making and enlisted the help of the beautiful girls at Shatterboxx, Jamie and Nicole. My only need, make it awesome. I think they did that and then some to be honest and can’t thank them enough for the result. I was less than helpful with ideas to start with because I didn’t know what I wanted, I just knew it needed to be different. Jamie worked her magic and well while I’d like to take credit for some of the ideas, it was totally all her.

I hope you like the new look of The Aussie Nomad, it’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait to move forward. While you are at it be sure to stop by the Aussie Nomad Facebook Page and checkout the new welcome page. I even gave the old twitter page some loving as well.

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58 Responses to The Aussie Nomad 2.0

  1. HEATHER May 30, 2011 at 1:30 PM #

    Site looks great!! Really nice changes.

    I’ve been wanting to switch since New Years but haven’t had the time or energy to search for something new. Seems like everyone has left Thrilling Theme so maybe I will just keep it O:-)

    And thanks again for your help the other day!

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 30, 2011 at 4:20 PM #

      Thanks Heather. I’m glad I could finally switch over to something new and more me. Well I’m one less using the theme but still think there might just be a few left for you to compete with 🙂

  2. CAROLINE IN THE CITY May 30, 2011 at 3:14 PM #

    So many prettys! Once my blog starts making a reasonable amount of money, I want to spend it on an overhaul. Love itttt!

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 30, 2011 at 4:21 PM #

      Thanks Caroline, it’s been a long time coming but my blog has finally bought something of its own. My wallet feels better already.

  3. TONI May 30, 2011 at 3:19 PM #

    Love the changes Chris – it’s a definitely more ‘you’ now =)

  4. NICOLE May 30, 2011 at 3:22 PM #

    Looking spiffy Chris! The crew at Shatterboxx did a great job.
    Keep up the great blog/s and look forward to catching up with you for Vegemite on toast soon. 🙂

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 30, 2011 at 4:24 PM #

      Nicole we will so be enjoying many slices of vegemite and toast, now just get over here already.

  5. MIKE C May 30, 2011 at 3:55 PM #

    Site looks great Chris. Really sharp and crisp. Yep definitely a fan.

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 30, 2011 at 4:25 PM #

      Glad you like it Mike. I’m really happy how it turned out

  6. JUSTIN MORRIS May 30, 2011 at 4:58 PM #

    Looks tip top mate, very impressed. Colours work well and I love the styling.

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 31, 2011 at 8:39 AM #

      Thanks Justin. Am happy everyone like the colour scheme, expected some argh it’s too yellow comments.

  7. AARON @ AARON'S WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES May 30, 2011 at 5:09 PM #

    Wow I love your new look Chris! Real sharp and clean looking!

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 31, 2011 at 8:39 AM #

      Cheers Aaron, I’m happy it came out so clean looking, my old design was starting to get too cluttered.

  8. KIRSTEN ALANA May 30, 2011 at 5:45 PM #

    LOVE the new look Chris!! Congrats! And you should try and get Nikon to sponsor you for a suhweet camera … these are their colors! Looking forward to your continuing adventures in this brand new gussied up space.

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 31, 2011 at 8:40 AM #

      haha Kirsten oh how I would love a Nikon to match my site. I’ll have to find a way to pitch then 🙂

  9. RANDY May 30, 2011 at 6:21 PM #

    Love the new look! Super fresh and unique.

  10. FRED May 30, 2011 at 6:25 PM #

    Looks great! I’m jealous. Now I want a redesign!

  11. HOLLY May 30, 2011 at 6:30 PM #

    Love the new layout, especially the quick access to the Vegemite Challenge!

  12. JAYNE May 30, 2011 at 6:34 PM #

    Looks beeeeeeeeautiful Chris. Great work 🙂

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 31, 2011 at 8:42 AM #

      Cheers Jayne, very happy with the work the girls at shatterboxx did.

  13. LAUREN May 30, 2011 at 7:20 PM #

    OMG, I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!! WHAT A SURPRISE!!!! 🙂

  14. IAN [EAGEREXISTENCE] May 30, 2011 at 7:57 PM #

    What? Your blog actually makes money? Real-live money? $$$

    😀

    Nice new design bud.

  15. OLIVER - TRAVEL BLOGGERS UNITE May 30, 2011 at 8:03 PM #

    New look is awesome mate. Really good work. Simple colour scheme yet it works really well.

  16. NOMADIC CHICK May 30, 2011 at 10:12 PM #

    Chris, it’s gorgeous! Really lovely header design and a tagline that’s echoes the truth. Hawt!

  17. MATT May 30, 2011 at 10:56 PM #

    Primo theme mate, looks fantastic! Glad you finally found the time to finish things up! Two quick things I’ve noticed, 1) in the “Have You Seen” box below, the ‘cheap hotels’ link is partially covered by that base line 2) on your Twitter box, I find the yellow text over the white background somewhat difficult to read. Looks fab though.

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 31, 2011 at 8:43 AM #

      Cheers for picking that up Matt. I’ve still got to finish organising the footer area and sort out some other bits and pieces so will look into your suggestions.

  18. WANDERINGTRADER May 30, 2011 at 11:00 PM #

    I really like the contrasts with the white and yellow man makes people look where they need to look..

  19. TIJMEN May 30, 2011 at 11:04 PM #

    I had a look at the Thrilling Theme a while ago as well, nothing wrong with it. But it’s not exactly very unique. Having your own theme does help a lot to make your site stand out. One thing that doesn’t work, at least in Chrome, is the commentluv link. Its black, and black text on a black background doesn’t help to keep the text readable 🙂

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD May 31, 2011 at 8:44 AM #

      Thanks Tijmen I’d have never seen the commentluv issue unless someone pointed it out to me, should be fixed now with a nice yellow link.

  20. TRANS-AMERICAS JOURNEY May 30, 2011 at 11:21 PM #

    The site looks great…clean, contrasty and easy to navigate. Well done.

  21. JUNO May 31, 2011 at 12:06 AM #

    I love it Chris! Really a great job! Love the simplicity of Yellow and Black.
    Bravo! Congrats on your 2.0 launch!

  22. ANNIE May 31, 2011 at 12:12 AM #

    It looks fab!!! I can’t wait to re-design mine as well, I know what you mean it feels like my old theme it’s holding me back!

    Glad that you have been able to turn it even more into something you are super proud of! Keep it up!

  23. AMY @LIVINONTHEROAD May 31, 2011 at 12:38 AM #

    I love the new colors and the kangaroos. As someone who’s just changed my own template I know it takes so much time and effort.

  24. WES NATIONS May 31, 2011 at 1:39 AM #

    Love it, mate!

  25. SUS May 31, 2011 at 3:28 AM #

    I like the new look better! 🙂

  26. ABBY May 31, 2011 at 4:38 AM #

    Your redesign is amazing — so snazzy. I’ve loved watching your blog evolve, and your writing, too.

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD June 2, 2011 at 10:14 AM #

      Thanks Abby, developing the new design for the blog has really made me step back and realise how much I love blogging.

  27. LAUREN FRITSKY May 31, 2011 at 4:52 AM #

    Looking sharp.

  28. ANNABEL CANDY, GET IN THE HOT SPOT May 31, 2011 at 4:59 AM #

    Hi Dave, great to hear your ‘re making $$ on your blog and even better to hear you’re reinvesting. What better way to reward your readers than with a super new blog design. it makes a huge difference to the readers, to the way you’re preceived and to your confidence.

    So I reckon you’ll be going from strength to strength:)

    Great to connect with you – I’m in Noosa, Queensland:) Lucky me!

  29. RAYMOND May 31, 2011 at 5:47 AM #

    Love the colours and the crisp feel. Loving this comment box too! I can actually read as I type!! 🙂

  30. KIWIGIRLUK May 31, 2011 at 1:57 PM #

    I’m very impressed, and very jealous! The colour scheme and layout is very clean and eyecatching, and if only I had something interesting to share apart from general waffle, I’d be tracking Shatterboxx down right this moment to do mine

  31. FIONA May 31, 2011 at 2:24 PM #

    swit swoo…liking the new clean lines and bumblebee colours!

    • THE AUSSIE NOMAD June 2, 2011 at 10:15 AM #

      haha Fiona, glad you like it and I prefer to think of it as Vegemite colours 🙂

  32. VI May 31, 2011 at 4:18 PM #

    Looks nice. I am thinking about design change too..

  33. TURKEY'S FOR LIFE May 31, 2011 at 9:54 PM #

    Love this new look. Easy on the eye and simple to navigate. I’m looking at everyone’s site designs at the minute, just in case we make a move soon – which we’re pondering…
    Julia

  34. ADAM June 1, 2011 at 4:34 AM #

    Absolutely beautiful! Seriously. One of the best travel blog designs I’ve seen in a long while.

    STUNNING.

  35. AMANDA June 1, 2011 at 6:13 AM #

    It’s definitely unique! No more fears about looking like any other site, that’s for sure. Congrats!! I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying blogging, too. That always shines through in posts, and I think makes bloggers better writers!

  36. CHRIS June 1, 2011 at 9:22 AM #

    I’m looking at making travel blogging more than just a small time hobby as well. Love the new design! Might need to go have a chat with the gals at Shatterboxx too…

  37. MELVIN June 1, 2011 at 10:53 AM #

    Rock and Roll! This is a Unique Design!

    I love the white, black yellow! Especially the avatar! It looks a bit like the cranich of Lufthansa. 🙂

    I can just recommend everybody to invest money, like you have! Well done!

  38. VAGO DAMITIO June 1, 2011 at 4:54 PM #

    Your site looks great. Clean and inviting. Really well done.

    ~vago

  39. CHRISTY @ TECHNOSYNCRATIC June 2, 2011 at 5:09 AM #

    Love the new design – it really kicks things up a notch! And I’m a huge fan of the yellow accents with the black and white. Very modern and hip. 🙂

  40. JADE June 2, 2011 at 6:39 AM #

    Love it! We have been talking about an overhaul for way too long and I like the sound of 2.0 haha! Maybe there will be a Vagabond3 2.0 soon!

  41. JOSEPH HERNANDEZ June 3, 2011 at 2:26 PM #

    Great new look, and congrats on being able to move forward with developing your blog, writing and brand!

  42. CAILIN June 3, 2011 at 2:43 PM #

    It looks awesome, so clean and slick looking, I love it! 🙂
    You must be very very happy 🙂
    Hopefully you will keep blogging and keep up the awesome work for a long time to come!

  43. ROY | CRUISESURFINGZ June 6, 2011 at 11:25 PM #

    Vegemite color scheme – love it!

  44. NOMADIC MATT June 8, 2011 at 1:53 PM #

    ahhh i love the girls at shatterboxx. They do good work!

    I like the new design…only suggestion is that some of this yellow is a bit intense on the eyes. Might want to tone it down a bit, esp in the comment section.

  45. JOSEPHINE August 20, 2011 at 6:47 PM #

    i just bumped into your site few mins ago and already glued at ready more of your posts…it all feels like just talking to a good ol friend over coffee…glad i’v bumped into your site..it’s refreshing and totally inspiring me! x =)

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