A lot of people have asked me how I managed to design this blog. Well, I can’t take all the credit simply because it helps to have some creative people involved. But it also helps to know what you want to achieve. Blogging for Dummies recommends the following:

Theme – Every website needs to have a powerful theme that conveys what your brand is about and what the website is trying to achieve.

Design – Colours, graphics, features, and fonts need to be chosen based on what appeals to the users and based on features they want.

Layout –This needs to be as simple as possible to navigate and be consistent from one page to the next. Clearly visible links to Home, About, Contact together with a Site Map and Search feature are key.

Content – Much like the design and layout, the content needs to be in line with what the readers expect. It must be updated regularly to keep things fresh.

Feedback – Once the website has been set up, ask potential browsers and people you trust to give it a “test drive”. The honest critique can help improving aspects you might have overlooked.

(To download your completely free copy of the South African or International edition of Work in Progress, right-click and save the relevant link. Then open, enjoy, and repeat as needed.)