” some advices

some advices

Previous episodes :

7 reasons why
about guest-bloggers
more rules
golden rules
dictionary

Yo, people.

Bellow you`ll find some tips and tricks about elements required for a blog, specially for a start.

» Avoid use of a full sized image for header. SEs don`t like images. However, if use of a image is what you want, do not forget to ad the alt tag. Best is if you can overlay a h1 tag title over the image.
» Prefferable use h1 tag for blog title. SE looks for one in header. If default h1 tag`s color and size is not fit to what you want, use CSS to make it as you`re pleased.
» Header is fit to be filled with certain elements, but do not overcrowd it, keep it clean.
» If plan to use a banner on header, keep it on top, above the title and logo.
» Main menu should not be overpopulate. Repeat it on bottom of page, on footer.
» Blogroll is usefull for linkexchange also for quick navigation to similar / friends sites (for you and your visitors). Should open in new window.
» Category and archive are very important for inside blog navigation for visitors. Also is usefull to have a “most visited” or “popular posts” area.
» Use a sidebar spaces to show blog statistics and top commentators. Second one is to reward with an extra linkback certain visitors - the most active ones.
» Remove rel=nofollow from comment area. Enhance comment area to make it easy and fun to use by readers.
» Think for eventual monetization of blog and estabilish 1 - 2 areas to display ads, including the one in header if you want one there.
» Keep in mind that ads probably will never produce a income to be proud of.
» Ad a counter and eventual a visitors map. Both are good for you - to watch things growing - and for visitors - many are curious to know those data.
» Do not overcrowd sidebars with badges and widgets, specially if are not generated from your area (domain). Those usualy makes page load harder. If you really want to have all those “fashionable bells”, simply put them in a separate page and put a link to that page (”my widgets” or similar).
» If you absolutely want to embed some sound or video, make it to not start automaticaly. Put it in a visible spot and let the visitor to decide to listen / view.
» Promote your blog in the start, using as many social sites as possible. Make free accounts wherever is possible and add there a link to your blog, using articles teasers or being active on those sites.
» Do not forget, visitors are easyly to get bored of your blog if is loading hard, looks like a hoopoe, often layout change, inconsistent content, not enough often content update.
» GIGO (garbage input, garbage output) effect is valid for a blog, consider the content as input and number of constant readers as output.
» Very important, as you start : to have several articles writed in your draft and use them if nothing else to write on a certain moment.
» Make usefull - sensefull comments on others blogs as a good (maybe best) way to promote your own blog.
» Allways remember : building traffic to your blog is a long term activity, requiring patience. Maintaining the traffic level is also hard.
» Show respect to your readers, do things to keep them pleased, readers-commenters are the core for a blog, not visitors. Your main goal is to make visitors to keep returning and to convert them into readers-commenters.
» Again, do not forget : it need months to build a good traffic.
» Is not a piece of cake to keep people intersted on your content if you simply copy others. Be creative.
» Use the time of beginning, whe your traffic is low, to visit as many blogs and sites you can and do not repeat on yours what you don`t like there.
» Allways repeat to yourself that nobody is set to be a unique authority in a certain field. Learn and do things in your style.