Tips For Your Site

Wondering why you just aren't getting the hits? Pondering how to make your site better? Reading through all my tutorials for no apparent reason? Now you too can find out seemingly (but not really) obvious do's and don'ts to make your site appealing, interesting and generally worth re/visiting!

The Name.
If you have a stupid name like "Sparklii Princessez Forever Luv Twilight", a) nobody will remember your name, b) nobody will be able to spell it, c) nobody will WANT to remember it. Pick a name with some dignity. Even if you don't have something dark and artsy, just make it something you would tell your friends about. You wouldn't say, "Hey guys, I own this site, it's called Pink Fluff Stuff!" And if you would, you're wrong.

The Layout.
If you use free layouts from other sites, make sure you give full credit and you may also want to change your layout more often. Remember that if you change from one layout to another (and they're both from the same site), the CSS is likely to look very similar. You're probably better off making your own, even if it isn't great. You can find layout tutorials on other sites, but mostly making great layouts comes from observing and experimenting. DON'T copy someone's layout, learn from it. It looks sad and you might even get closed down. Make something you are proud of, and avoid:

Using too many brushes
Using lots of stocks
Those freaking colour bubble things
Layout reflections

Remember that it is your site, so make something that you're proud of. Change your layout once in a while to keep your site looking fresh, but don't use a stupid Hannah Montana blend. The best layouts are the ones that are part of or fade into the background - these are called "free falling layouts" and look WAY better than the square layouts with your site name, the celebrity (because they're always featuring celebrities) and a couple of images. Try NOT to do the same thing everyone else is doing, like you might notice there is a particular image going around and around and around. Avoid it. Make something unique. Make something that you KNOW people will love.

The Content.
You don't need to update every day, or even every week. A couple of times a month keeps your site alive. Spacing out your uploads can also help, instead of adding a chunk and then adding another three months later. Take your time to make stuff you like and put it up on a regular basis. Also, when you upload, upload things worth uploading. A zillion icons and zero other content does not a good site make. They may be easy and quick to make but it shows, and also how many people actually will actually use them? Not many. Always uploading icons is also definitely a steer-clear. Vary what you put up; visitors love content they can obviously use and tutorials.
A note on tutorials: Use what you know to help other people. Go to other sites if you must, but don't copy them. You'll be surprised: what seems easy to you may solve someone else's major problem! Make sure you understand the topic and don't be pressured to write tutorials; if it comes to you, it comes to you. Write them simply and they will be appreciated.

The Blogging.
Unlike content, blogs are a weekly must. It shows that you are active and it is a way for visitors and affiliates to find out about your life, even if it's non-specific. Blogging with interesting and funny thoughts, views and opinions makes it something people want to read. What people DON'T want to read is:

Excessive swearing or profanity
Blogs entirely devoted to whinging about school
Bashing people/groups
Lame excuses for not uploading

If you don't blog often, you might end up with 27 comments, but the blog will be dead and lame. I usually only get 5-7 comments per blog, but that doesn't stop me blogging regularly. Try to make people enjoy reading your blog and they will continue.

General Suggestions.

DON'T apply to be affiliates just to get hits. That's about as low as you can go. Some sites offer link exchanges or advertising if you're not in it for human contact.
Enter competitions and SOTMs to get your site noticed and also to meet some people.
When commenting on people's sites, leave your name (JUST your first name, no "the greats" or anything, except maybe a #2 if someone else has commented with the same name), your site url and your email if you have to. No one really wants to know your email.
Don't use chatspeak ANYWHERE. It is so annoying and nobody can READ IT.
I'm sorry, but music that automatically starts is annoying as hell. It's fine to have a music player that the user can CHOOSE to start, but hidden music players will only get you a closed window from me.

Hope this tutorial has helped you. If it has, let me know! I love to know that my tutorials are helping people.