Page Rank Factors

Internet writers are always seeking a higher page rank. Page rank is the elusive dream that slips through the fingers of many internet writers. With all the internet articles, websites and blogs, it is hard to obtain the page rank we all need to be successful - truly successful, not just making "some money." These are a few factors that determine page rank of your blogs and websites:

• Internal Links - By using internal links, you can increase your page rank. Link the pages of your blog (or website) together to help with your page rank. This will also help to keep your readers on your work and not elsewhere.

• External Links - Link your blogs and websites to other blogs and websites. Check into the page rank of the sites you will be linking your work to. The higher the page rank that they have will help increase your page rank. Be careful not to add to many external links. Not only will this take your visitors away from your work, it can also "drain" your page rank - allowing it to leak onto the sites your linking your blogs or websites to.

• Number of Pages - The number of pages that your blogs and websites have can also increase your page rank. The more the pages you have, the higher your page rank will be. Never add pages only for the sake of increasing your page rank. Your additional pages should always be relevant and contain excellent copy.

Increasing page rank is something that every internet writer should be conscience of and constantly working to increase. It isn't easy because of all the competition on the internet, but it is possible - with hard work and diligence. Keep these factors in mind as you create and update your blogs and websites so you can watch your page rank increase over time.

Blog Layout and Design

After my blog hopping adventures, I had to take some time to fully comprehend all of the different blog layouts and designs available to a blogger. I realized long ago that the layouts were almost limitless, but I had no idea how people were using those layouts and designs. These bloggers were using their creativity and imaginations to benefit themselves and shoot themselves in the foot. There is only one rule that bloggers should always follow - "Think like a reader." These are just a few tips that will help bloggers think like a reader:

• Purpose of My Blog - Consider the purpose of your blog when you are deciding on the layout and design. Are you sharing valuable information? Are you wanting to entertain your readers? Are promoting specific products and services? All of these will determine how you layout and design your blog.

• Follow the Eyes - Consider how the eyes of your readers will move across your blog. As a blogger, you will want the most important aspect of you blog to "grab" your readers attention immediately. Remember that as your readers' eyes wander around your blog, so will their minds. A blogger should also place important information at the last place the reader will look.

• KISS - "KISS" stands for "Keep it simple, Sutton." This isn't as easy as it sounds. With so many widgets, gadgets and other options available to a blogger, it is hard to keep it simple. A great rule to follow is to do all you can as blogger to keep your reader on your blog as long as possible. Bloggers want their readers to stay on their blog as long as possible and not visiting other sites.

As a blogger, you need to pay close attention to the colors and design you use on your blog. Bright stripes and pretty polka dots will grab a reader's attention. They can also be distracting and make your blog difficult to read. Keep your blog as professional-looking as possible, even if your blog is about the least professional of topics. Color combinations should be simplified and easy to ride. They should inviting to all readers.

Avoid cluttering you blog with non-essentials. This is especially true of gadgets that will take your reader away from your blog. Is it necessary to have the number of visitors your blog gets posted? Do you need newsreels and slideshows of photos you haven't personally taken? All of this may distract your reader from you internet content - the reason you want you people to visit your blog.

As a blogger, you need to always think like a reader. Create a blog that is geared to the reader and is easy for the reader to use. Always keep in mind, as an internet writer and blogger, you want your readers to remain on your blog as long as possible without being lured away to other sites or distracted with unnecessary clutter.

Focus Your Blog

So, you want to be a blogger? You've heard or read that blogging is a great way for an internet writer to make money and you are ready to get started. With all those ideas floating around in your head, along with the dollar signs, you feel as if you can do anything. Well, you can. Within reason. You've heard "too many cooks spoil the broth." The same holds true with being blogger. Too many ideas can ruin a great blog.  And, blogger. The key is to being a successful blog is to focus to your blog.

Focusing your blog is fairly easy. Think of all the topics you enjoy, have knowledge about and would want to write about until the end of time.  For me, obviously, that was writing. Use the Google Keyword Tool to find "searchable" and profitable keywords for those different topics. Create a blog centered around one of those topics and get started blogging. As searchable and profitable as all bloggers want their blog to be, it is more important to select a topic within your area of expertise and something you feel passionate about - passionate enough to write about it for many years.

Staying focused is a horse of a different color. One blog post leads to another and that one leads to another. One day you look at your blog that started out being about "gardening" and now you have a blog about how your children do not like to eat vegetables. How did that happen? You had focused your blog and it never should have happened. More than likely, you weren't disciplined enough to keep your blog focused or the topic you selected was too broad.

Gardening, at first glance may seem like a great topic for a focused blog. Then again, there are rose gardens, vegetables gardens, gardens that grow well in your area and your own garden. Remember flower gardens, rock gardens and tips about gardens. The possibilities of that one topic is not so narrow now. You should have a topic of your blog that is narrow enough not to become "cluttered" with other topics yet not narrow enough to limit yourself to a few posts a month or year.

Once you decide on the narrow yet limitless blog topic, you are almost ready to begin your career as a blogger. Stay tuned for information about creating your actual blog, ad placement and the like. There is a long to do list you must go through before you are ready to actually start blogging.