Learn to beautify your blog DIY-styleTo Design Your Own (lovely) Blog, or as I like to call it, DYOB. Let me tell you a little bit about who I created DYOB for:
You are a professional
You have confidence in how you serve your clients
You take yourself seriously
A crazy busy full time web designer, on-the-side blogger, and mom (to a sweet 5 year old boy!) who helps creative female solopreneurs DIY beautiful online appearances that match their unique work and personalities through supportive, friendly feedback and helpful step-by-step tutorials, guides and courses.
Why do I do this? I do it because I want women to build the life of their dreams by building businesses that allow them to simultaneously support and raise fantastic families. This is something I am very passionate about and am also working towards myself.
Here on DYOB, you’ll find:
But first? Subscribe now and to get access to the growing library of guides, worksheets and behind-the-scenes details of a growing blog business.
DYOB exists to teach & inspire female solopreneurs & bloggers to beautify their blogs DIY-style. While I don’t wish to replace web designers, knowing how to do your own blog customization makes you less reliant on one for all the little things you want to change on the fly. I see DYOB becoming a hub for women to learn basic design and coding skills while supporting each other in building their businesses.
My mission is to show women like you that things like CSS and design are not scary things and that you can build the business of your dreams with a blog to match your aspirations. I show you how to do this by sharing free and premium educational resources, feedback, advice and inspiration.
Look, until recently I was a wife and a full time working mom to a toddler with a side hustle. Work/life balance? Ha! Does that even exist??
I believe so. I’m here to help you break free from the stress of being a working mom or end the monotony of being a stay at home mom with nothing to call her own. I want every mom out there to not only feel like she has the time to be a great mother, but the ability to create something fulfilling and share it with the world… and hopefully make a little money too.
Having studied web design and multimedia at the University of Colorado, I’ve consulted with both large and small businesses. For over a decade, I’ve worked with companies both on their brand design and online presence. I’m a design geek, color palette aficionado and feminine-design obsessive.
Through my years of experience, one thing that stood out to me is this: website design is paramount to how your customers see you. And first impressions? They’re even more important when you’re not physically there to make them.
Your blog doesn’t just sell your products or services — it teaches your children what’s possible, and shows your peers what you’re capable of.
You already have the imagination and creative vision. Let’s translate it onto your site.
Join our tribe of creative solopreneurs and get access to the growing library of resources by subscribing now:
DYOB has been chosen by my peers and followers TWICE as one of the #100BestSites for Solopreneurs (2nd +
I’ve been published in print! Check out my article, How to Have a Successful Launch Without the Post-Launch Crash, in the Launch issue of The Independent Blog-in-Print!
Thanks to Creative Market for recognizing DYOB as one of 50 Amazing Design Blogs Every Creative Needs to Bookmark!
I am honored to have been named one of 7 Cool Bloggers to Watch in 2014 by Mary Jaksch! If you haven’t heard of Mary, you should check her out, she runs two very popular blogs, Goodlife Zen and Write to Done. She also started the A-list Blogging Bootcamp back in 2009 with Leo Babauta of Zen Habits.
Thank you to Rebekah Radice for including me in her list of 26 CRAZZZY Talented Visual Marketing Pros You Need to Follow (like RIGHT NOW!)! I’m truly honored to be mentioned among some of these visual marketing greats!
I am so pleased to have my Facebook Group, Blog Beautiful mentioned as one of 15 Best Facebook Groups for WordPress Bloggers to Join on Elegant Themes!
My popular Favicon tutorial was featured in the amazing guide and resource, DIY Blog Critique, by Melissa Culbertson of Blog Clarity!
Check out my chat with Jeff Bell at Startup Hub and Template Monster and Learn to Build Your Own Website From Scratch If You Know Nothing About Web Design
Read my guest post, 7 Steps to Creating a Consistent Solopreneur Brand, on OneWomanShop.com.
Writing Engaging Content: 70 Powerful Expert Tips on Influence with Content
44 Blog Tips the Pro Bloggers Use on Blog Ambitions
Top 7 Facebook Groups for Bloggers and Keys to Maximizing Facebook Groups on Sunburned Penguin
11 Top Biz Owners Share Their Best Time Management Hacks on Solopreneur Diaries
17 Blog Post Promotion Tactics (That Actually Work) on One Man Wiki
3 Free Ways To Grow Your Business or Blog on Acting Skinny
25 Blogs Every Blogger And Business Owner Should Follow on Amber Creative Co.
101 Tips From Top Experts On How To Start A Successful Blog on RaelynTan.com
43 Creators Share How to Find Your Voice Online on DanielaUslan.com
10 Amazing Facebook Groups Every Home Blogger Needs to Join on The Sweetest Digs
143 Fatal Mistakes New Bloggers Need To Avoid on Launch Your Dream
Blogging Success: 100 Experts Share Their Greatest Accomplishment on BloggingThing
Top 100 Blogs to Read for First Time Bloggers on CodrutTurcanu.com
PS Kristie Multi-award winning entrepreneur with 18k followers still works a full-time job? One word. Balance. Well, two, ha – My podcast interview on P.S. You Got This with Kristie Keever
The Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing for Bloggers on Blog Ambitions
Over 100 Internet Business Ideas to Make Your Millions Online on Mad Lemmings
9 Things that will Surprise you about Starting A Blog on The Baddass Business Mum
How to Choose a Brand Name that Fits You Like a Glove. This is the DYOB naming story on The Branded Solopreneur
The Dangers of DIY Design and How to Avoid Them on Julie Harris Design
7 Steps to Creating a Consistent Solopreneur Brand on One Woman Shop
15 Visual Marketing Pros to Pimp Your Pinterest Feed! on Louise Myers Visual Social Media
An Excellent Blog Blueprint, a seriously wonderful write-up on DYOB’s design and purpose on Krista Rae
Building a Framework Interview: Blog Design with Marianne of Design Your Own (lovely) Blog on Just a Girl and Her Blog
13 (More) Newsletters for Creatives on Kayla Hollatz
Building Raving Fans with Design- My Interview with Marianne Manthey WPCP: Podcast 067 on Kim Doyal, The WordPress Chick
11 List Building Strategies That Actually Work on The Branded Solopreneur
91+ Outrageously Helpful Blog Posts That Will Make You A Better Blogger + Biz Owner on Olyvia.co
Are You Worried About How To Make A “Pitch” To An Influential Blogger? on Successful Blogging
7 Ways to Spring Clean Your Blog: Organize, Simplify, & Get Readers to Stay on Brilliant Business Moms
20 Visual Marketing Strategies To Help You Propel Your Brand on The Branded Solopreneur
9 Smart Facebook Groups For Women Entrepreneurs, Freelancers, + Bloggers on Olyvia.co!
50 Resources Social Royalty Use That Will Help You Stand Out on The Branded Solopreneur
5 Ways to Kill it On Your Blog with Images on The Blog Loft
Want to Know How to Delight Your Customers? 13 Savvy Business Women Share Their Best Tips! on Olyvia.co
Are You Using This Simple Way To Get More Shares On Social Media? 9 Tools To Help You on Write to Done
Me // My Family // My Costa Rica Beach Wedding (Yes I was pregnant. Yes I was engaged first.) // Me learning to surf in Costa Rica // Our honeymoon beach walk // My blog photoshoot
I didn’t really think anyone would read all that, but I’m glad you did. Here’s a gold star for you!
Hi Marianne,
I realized when going back to ALIST that you had this blog. So here I am. I would be
interested in your help and your price list etc. I’ll subscribe and hope to hear from you.
THANK YOU again for all your help on the Forum, Beth Havey Boomer Highway
Hi beth! You should start by checking out my ebook download, I think it will really help you get off to a good start. Then if you have any specific questions, I am always happy to answer them. Currently I’m not really doing any side work but I’m open to working with you if you get really stuck, so let’s see how it goes!
Hi Marianne! Thanks for visiting my blog and sharing my SITS Day…even if it was late. It’s like the gift that keeps on giving. Sounds like a nice life, like you love what you do. How cool is that?!
Hi Laurie!
Thanks for coming by! I loved your posts, they were very enlightening and fun to read.
I do love what I do! Just wish I could do it full time! 🙂 All in due time though.
Hi Marianne,
I loved your web design and all your content in it. And I am pretty much getting along with the design works. I also want to go into this field of designing and all the stuffs around related to it. I feel inspired looking at the designs over online and get a feeling that yes i can also do it. So I am on this journey now. And now your content has also inspired me. Hope to know and learn from your end in this field. Anyway Good luck and best wishes to you and your work. Enjoy designing.
https://www.facebook.com/yodesignks
#prabhatks #yodesign
Hi Prabhat, that’s wonderful! Very happy to hear this is something you want to get into and that you’ve found my site to be inspiring! I highly suggest you subscribe using the form at the top of the page to stay up to date on the latest tutorials and my upcoming book on how to create a custom design for your blog.
Okay. I will surely do and I follow your posts and updates. Really Interests me and fascinates me. Thank You for your time. Hoping to get more into it in the coming future.
Hi Marianne,
I just visited your site for the first time and love the way it looks! It feels really inviting and I can’t wait to dig in and learn from you!
Wieske
Thank you so much Wieske, that means a lot!
Marianne~ so grateful I found your blog. My sweet little blog needs some desperate help {such as- why in the world can commentluv only find my comment feed, not the actual most recent post!?… I don’t really know what I’m doing on the technical side of things}. SO, I am excited to look through your ebook. You found a kindred Colorado spirit in me- we live over in Lakewood. 🙂 I’ll probably be visiting back here quite often as I try to get my blog to look the way I dream it too. Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah, we are practically neighbors 🙂 well I hope my ebook and articles help your blog’s design to blossom!
I wish I could answer your issue with Comment Luv but I don’t know too much about that. Have you tried contacting them? They must support I’m sure.
Salam kenal mbak dari Indonesia 😀
Thank you Fajar!
Hi Marianne, nice looking blog. There are lot of things that I can learn from you and your blog. I moving towards my goal that one day I can work comfortably at my home. It not easy for me as a non native English writer to keep writing and I struggle a lot. The only easy way out is to give up but this haven’t come to my mind. I will make my dream to become reality.
Hi Cena! You and I have the same goal. You’re on the right track: don’t give up, keep pushing towards your dreams!
Hello Marianne !
I would like to ask for your help , because I can see other people’s blog that their blog post is shorter while mine has a longer post like you can read the whole blog post while theirs.. you can click the continue reading and I don’t know what html should I put to be able to have a continue reading thing on my blog please help me 🙂 Thank you so much Marianne
Sincerely
Molly
Hi Corinne! It looks like you are on Blogger so here is a pretty quick tutorial on how to do this in Blogger: https://support.google.com/blogger/answer/154172?hl=en Hope it helps and let me know how it goes!
hello, im new with blogging, i recently started a fashion blog mainly for men, and Im still learning about designing my blog to make it myself.
That’s great! I hope you find some useful information here then. Good luck with your new blog!
Marianne, you have such a beautiful “About Marianne” page. Such a precious story about you and your family. I pray you and your family make that move and continue to enjoy life. I too, want to get out of the rat race, and am working hard and steady with my blog and digital products. Thank you for sharing. Kris Manley
Hi Kristine, thank you so much for your sweet words! I so appreciate your prayers and I hope for you to get yourself out of the rat race soon too! Life is too short!
Hi Marianne…so glad I came across your blog and this group on Fb….I am in so need of skills in this area. I am not very techy and find the design stuff of blogging VERY frustrating, some days that part of it really wants to make me just quit. I have hired some of it out, but was not so happy with the results…Looking forward to connecting ,engaging and learning more…
Best to you,
Valerie
Hi Valerie I am so glad you found me then! I am happy to help where I can, just let me know if you’re looking for anything specific at any time, k?
Hi,Marianne!
Thanks,It’s Really cool… 🙂
Hi Marianne! I am a beginners beginner so bare with me please! You offer themes, logos, & fonts for websites that have already been built? This means one would have to already be tech savvy right?
Hi Alicia
I don’t currently offer themes, logos or fonts myself but I do suggest ones by other designers and have some favorite resources to go to that I mention in my posts and tutorials. I try to make all of my posts for the non-tech savvy user, but would love to hear from you if you feel that you don’t understand any of my posts.
Thanks for coming by!
Hi Marianne,
Thank you for your inspiration, now I can do a little bit of web design, just bought a new theme and change it here and there.
Cheers,
Kristina
Oh that is so awesome Kristina, I am so happy to hear it! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
Move to Costa Rica? Oh fun! My dream is to have a small home somewhere in the French Riveria and run a little cafe… and listen to French music, drink coffee and read amazing books. J’adore tout les choses francais. (Did I write that correctly?)
Oh Suzi, you’re speaking my language, ha! Your dream sounds amazing, I’d love to end up in France one day, but I have to convince my husband first. For now, we at least agreed on the beach! Yes I believe you did write that correctly btw 🙂
Just stopping thru to say hi!
Hey babe! 🙂
Hi, Marianne,
I found your website while looking for web designers. I designed a Blogger blog four years ago for nine women Photographers to collaborate. It is called Focusing on Life and we not only focus on photography but other subjects of interest to women. I designed our blog as it is currently but we are wanting to do an update. I know how to do some of the things we want to do but others I am having problems with. Do you have a service where you assist people by helping them in certain problem areas? For example, some of the things I’m trying to do require HTML changes and I’m not by any means an expert in that area. We could discuss this further if this is a service that you offer. Thanks for your consideration.
Hi Terri. I am about to start offering some custom services, but have not yet gotten into structuring packages. I would love to hear what you have in mind and see how I can help. Feel free to send me a message via my contact page and I’ll be sure to reply as soon as possible.
Hi Marianne love the site! I was signed up on your Facebook page and now looks like i was kicked off. If I was kicked off do you now why? I am trying to build up my site and found your site very helpful.
Hi Marcie, first of all, sorry that I’m just now seeing your comment, for some reason it was sitting in my spam folder 🙁 As far as the group, not sure what happened there. If you’d like to rejoin, go ahead and request in again!
Hi Marianne! I’m so glad I found this group! I’m just getting started. Thanks for the add to the FB group!
Thanks for joining Melissa! Welcome and I hope you find it very useful! 🙂
Hi Marianne,
Thanks for the informative content.
Regards,
Gayyemko
Hi! I was trying to email you. What is your email?
Hi Nadia, you can send me a message via the contact form here: https://designyourownblog.com/contact/ 🙂
Creating a good website is based on a good design. You need to have the right people to work on your website and have inputs on the design you choose.
I am thankful to you. Thanks
Hey Marianne, am brand new to your blog and am loving it a lot.
The content, the branding, the design and the community make me feel at home.
It’s really interesting to find other people who have already been doing, for years, what I’m aspiring to do.
I can learn a lot from you.
Looking forward to engaging with you.
That’s kind of you to say Ken, thanks for sharing with me. 🙂