Here are some blog best practices for any blogger looking for a practical way to improve the usability of their blog. Many of the principles here will apply to websites, as well.

1. Setting up your blog - Get a good domain name
If you are serious about blogging the best practice is to set up your blog as a part of your company domain.
For example, yourdomain.com/blog.

Having your own blog location under your domain allows you to switch blog software easily without having to change your url.

Hosting your own blog gives your site a more professional look and has some search engine marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) advantages.

Also, register your domain name for a lengthy period. A recent Google patent indicates they now look at the length of your domain’s registration to rank it. Why? because many spam sites have short registrations and a longer one indicates that you are building a solid site.

2. Design
Pay important attention to the design of your blog. There is no accounting for taste but keeping the design simple, clean and easy to navigate will fill everybody’s expectation. Keeping it simple and clean will allow Seach Engine robots to index your site a lot faster and more accurately.

Templates are excellent to start with and you can also modify it to add your own look and feel. Make your theme unique by adding your logo, own graphics and colors. It will help you to stand out from all the other blogs and add credibility.

If you are not making decent money with ads I suggest you to remove all ads you have on your blog. Make sure nothing steals attention from your text.

3. Include an about page and add your photo
Explain to the reader who you are and why you have a blog. Your blog reveals your personal views, so introduce yourself to your readers. You enhance your credibility by the simple fact that you’re not trying to hide. People are more likely to deal with somebody that they know more about.
A smiling and friendly picture of a blogger will make people more likely to come to your blog again.

Now, you have your blog running with your smiling picture on it … now what? How can you let people know about your blog in the first place? Who is going to read your next blog besides your wonderful friends and family? (BTW, Thank you guys for your nice comments;-) ) Now, I invite you to read the second part of this blog “Spread your Blog”

…Victoria…
pacificdesigners.com