This document provides tips for creating engaging blogs through effective content, organization, design, and home pages. For content, it recommends making it easy to understand and find related information to keep readers on the site. For organization, it stresses the importance of information architecture and matching content to visitors' search terms. For home pages, it advises putting search functions and pathway links in consistent, intuitive locations. The overall goal is clear, helpful content and intuitive design that makes information quickly accessible.

1. Guide to Creating Attractive Blogs

2. CONTENT
Presented by Kathleen Carlisle

3. “Clear, concise content that answers people’s questions doesn’t
have to be boring. Tone and style can help you engage site
visitors. Making it easy to find related information can keep site
visitors on your site” (Redish, 2014).

4. “Site visitors read a bit at the top and then skim until something
catches their attention. That could be a bold heading, a bulleted
list, or a word that they are searching for” (Redish, 2014).

5. “The writer’s goal is clarity. Vague
feelings or ideas don’t have to be
vaguely written. Imagine two sites
with similar descriptions of an
indescribable sensation” (Mahoney,
2002).

6. You need to relax and not “take yourself too
seriously.” Have fun with the content you post and
have a sense of humor (Bernstein, 2002).

7. “Speak out loud what you write. If you can’t speak
it naturally, rewrite it… And ask yourself: would a
normal person speak like this… in a normal
environment?” (Grinnell, 2014).

8. Find readers’ questions on social media or in
your blog comments and answer the question
in your blog post. This tip shows you take
interest in questions (Rowse, 2011).

10. ORGANIZATION
Presented by Marvin Williams

11. “Information architecture is a critical part of carrying out your content
strategy: How do you divide up and organize the wonderful, valuable
content throughout your site?” (Redish, 2014).

12. “You need to make each web page = index
card easy to find through good pathway pages
and writing that matches site visitors’ search
terms” (Redish, 2014).

13. “Have a sense of humor. Everything and
anything can be funny. Being gay or straight
can be funny. It’s OK to laugh at things like
that because you are making light of
situations such as that or emotions doesn’t
have to be hurtful. Lastly, No matter what
your audience size, you have to write as if
you have paid subscribers. That is the way
you can be successful if you write like a
professional.”

14. DESIGN
Presented by Robert Nugent

18. HOME PAGES
Presented by Alexandra Treadaway

19. "Keep people from needing to go back. If people can't find the right
link to move forward easily, they'll hop part way down one path,
back up to try another path, down the second path, possibly back
up again, and so on” (Redish, 2014).

20. "Don't make people think. Your site visitors want to get to
the right place quickly and efficiently. If they have to stop
and think about what to do at each step on the pathway, it's
not efficient - nor is it quick” (Redish, 2014).

21. "Put search near the top. If your site has
search capability (and any large site
should), put the Search box near the top of
your web pages - and put it in the same
place throughout the site” (Redish, 2014).

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30. Photo References
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