Whether you’re using your blog as a way of blowing off steam, showcasing some unique slant on the world, or promoting your business, it is crucial that you come up some sort of design strategy. Some people have a natural talent for such an endeavor and can create a blog that is striking visually and attracts the reader even before they’ve looked at a single word of text. Others have a hard time with this somewhat artistic task, which is why there are so many templates available that allow you to simplify this process.

There is no definitive right or wrong way to design your blog. Obviously, a lot depends on what you’re trying to accomplishand the audience that you are attempting to cultivate. But no matter what kind of blog it is, there are certain items that should always be included and ideas that should always be followed. Once you have that in place, the rest of the design should be developed according to the taste of the blogger and is really just the icing on top of the whole package.

If you’re looking to set up a blog and are at a bit of a loss on how to do so, The Blog Starter can get you underway in a hurry so that you can start posting. The design is a key component of not just the blog itself but each of your individual posts, so try to build each element with the following in mind.

When you set up your blog, you’ll have limitless templates from which to choose and what is essentially a blank canvas on which to work. But the temptation to get carried away with adding too many items just for the sake of doing it can be costly, as it can distract from whatever message you’re hoping to convey. Unless your blog is specifically meant to show off how ornately you can design it, you should be trying to set up the design elements in a manner that best compliments what you’re trying to say.

Another common mistake that people make when designing a blog for the first time is that they add so many visual elements that they confuse visitors trying to get around the site. That is a recipe for frustrated users, ones who won’t likely return in the future. Make sure that even someone who is on your blog for the first time can clearly get where they need to go.

You should have certain elements connected to every post that you make on the blog. Especially if you’re selling something, you should have a call to action somewhere near the conclusion of each post. You should also have a little bio that can be found or linked to on each post because a person who stumbles on the site through a link might not know what you’re all about.

These are the basic building blocks of blog design. Once you have those in place, you can let your imagination run wild.