8 Must Have Features To Make Your Blog Fully Functional

Hello guys! Its almost 2 weeks since my last post and I'm happy that at last, I came up again with a new article to share with you. I know i should have done this earlier but due to some circumstances which i can't tell you because its more personal. I wasn't able to do so. In fact, I'm still facing it right now but i have to be professional and do this beyond circumstances.  Anyway, in this article. I will discuss the features that one (a blogger) must have or include in his/her blog to make a fully functional blog that would benefit one's self and its readers. But before that, let me tell you something.

Do you know that your blog design can affect much on driving traffic to your blog and even boosting up your blog readership? Well certainly it does. As we all know, actors, models and actresses are selling out because of their looks right? because of their figure. Its just the same with your blog. Making your blog presentable is a big promotional factor. You need to make a first impression to your audience. There's a popular saying "don't judge a book by its cover" but come on, we all know that cover plays an important role for a book to get noticed. Its marketing and if you're a blogger. You need to consider that one. Grabbing the attention of your audience is a top priority before anything else as basically when you have done that, everything else follows. When someone browse the internet and happen to land on your page or blog. The first thing that they will notice is your blogs design. If you have good looking blog, the more likely that your audience are going to stay a bit longer as they like what they're seeing. Nobody wants to stay in an ugly blog. Its not being mean but its being realistic or practical. People wants something that is beautiful in the eye. That's human nature.  Also, having a good looking blog can build credibility as basically, having a good looking blog means effort and dedication. Which tells your audience that you are serious on what you're doing which is blogging. On the other hand. A good blog design can be simple yet rich in features. Its not just about being intricate nor fancy. But also, it must be feature Enrich.

What is a good blog design? and what does it compose?

In my own opinion which I hope you guys would agree. A good blog design isn't just about the layout or theme but its also about the features it contain. These features are "must have" as it will make your blog design complete and fully functional. This features makes your blog useful and gives convenience to your audience as each feature plays an important role and have a unique purpose. Without further ado. Here are the must have features that makes up a good blog design that you should include on your blog to make it as one.

1. RSS Subscription option (in a reader)

Having an RSS subscription option in your blog is a must because it  enables you to syndicate your blog content, making it more convenient for you and for your readers. When you have an RSS subscription option (in a reader), you are able to send a fully summarized text, or content in a form of RSS feed to your readers or to those who subscribed on your blog. This feature gives total convenience to your readers specially those who are so into the internet as they can easily stay informed on the latest contents on your site and even on other sites to which they subscribed without having to visit each site individually because information are sync into one place which is the "RSS Reader or feed aggregator". So this saves a lot of time and effort and for that, many people love to use it. Another good reason why people love this feature is that it ensures privacy because you don't have to give your email address upon subscription.

The other benefits you can get from adding an RSS subscription option to your blog is that. You are able to get in touch with others or to be specific, with your readers as they get informed whenever you create or update an article right? For this, a high chance that you will get a returning visit from your readers as they might want to comment and express their thoughts, opinions, reactions on a particular article you create. Note that every visit is a counted traffic so having an RSS subscription option in your blog is really good because it does a lot of good things both for you and for your readers. Also, If you are promoting a product through your article. These returning visitors/readers can become a potential sale. Whether you're promoting a product or just simply writing an article. You always make your readers informed about it. Having a subscription option on your blog will also help build your credibility or popularity because every subscription will be added on your readers count. The more subscribers/readers you have. The more that your credibility will become stronger and the more that your popularity will grow as basically, it determines how many people likes your blog and writing.

Tip: Having a subscription option on your blog needs a proper placement. You should place it on the most visible part of your blog where people can see it right away. This will help increase your blogs subscription.

2. RSS Subscription via Email (powered by Feedburner)

This feature is similar to the first one. Only though, this feature allows you to send your syndicated contents or updates straight to the email inbox of your subscribers who subscribe via email. For others, they find this subscription option more convenient because they are able to read the latest information on your blog right from their emails which is the first thing they open upon setting on their computer. Do you agree? Well, its hard to generalize but in my case, its the first thing that i do when i open my computer. Also, this feature allows you to build your list as basically you get the emails of your subscribers by managing your feedburner email list.

Because of this, you are able to get in touch with your subscribers even more. But , also remember to manage your list properly if you don't want to get unsubscribe or get banned from using this feature. You should consider and respect the privacy of your subscribers. Having this feature on your blog is a must not only because of its benefits, but also because it gives your audience the total freedom to get updated with the latest information using the subscription option that they find most convenient for them.

3. Navigation Bar

Having a navigation bar on your blog is a must because this feature will guide your audience to the most important pages of your blog very easily. This gives your audience a convenience on finding information on your blog, specially those information that are not shown on your home page or landing page. With the use of navigation bar, these information can still be access by your audience without having a hard time. Also, navigation bars are placed on the top part of your blog and therefore its very noticeable by the audience.

4. Featured Post

Featuring something on your blog is one of the things that you should consider. Its like telling your audience to check or read something that you want them to, in a nice manner or without being demanding. Featured posts can be in a form of recommended reading, popular articles, affiliate products review. Having this on your blog is a must because it implies confidence. This feature will also benefit you a lot specially if there's something that you really want to be noticed by your audience.

5. Recent Posts

Adding a recent posts feature on your blog is a must because this feature shows or gives your audience the most recent or freshest articles on your blog. Yeah, the can dig the archives for current articles but allowing your audience to get a handful of the most recent and freshest articles on your blog without having to dig is being formal and that's what they basically like. Giving your audience the ease and convenience should be included on your top priorities as a blogger. This "recent post" feature is much the same with "featured post" but the only difference is that, this feature shows the most recent and freshest thing on your blog only.

6. Top Commenters

Top commenters feature (plugin), which is available for wordpress bloggers and in some point, to other bloggers that uses a  platform that allows plugin, is a feature that will show you and your audience the persons who comments most on your blog. Typically, on your sidebar. Adding this feature on your blog if possible is a must because this will help you track very easily the persons who are so active commenting on your blog by showing you their names and even the numbers of comments they have. Knowing those who are interested in you and likes your ideas is a must, and its made easy by Top commenters feature.

Another good reason why you should have this feature on your blog is that, it will attract more commenters. Specially bloggers and other webmasters because they get free exposure on your blog whenever they make a comment as their names are going to be shown on your  "Top Commenters list" which is located on your sidebar. They don't just get plain backlinks but also they get a sort of text link ad for free.

7. Ad space

Having an ad space on your blog is a must because it gives the you chance to generate more income from your blog and from your affiliate promotions. If you have a quality blog with a good amount of traffic, then you can monetize it by selling an ad space. Typically, a 125 x 125 banner ad on your sidebar or even a text link ad. Many small businesses out there are looking for this kind of advertising because they find it so convenient and they can save lots of money. Which is why having this feature on your blog is one that you should consider specially if you have a quality blog with huge traffic.

Also, you can place your affiliate promotional banner materials on your ad space and therefore, it becomes more transparent on generating a potential income.

8. Favorite Related Blogs

Having this feature on your blog is one of the things that you should consider specially if you're just starting out because this feature will help you build relationship with other bloggers. If you add a particular blog related that you like on your list of "favorite related blogs" the owner of that blog gets a one way link from you and he/she will definitely become happy with it. If that person finds out about what you have done, the more likely that he/she will contact you to say thank you or more, that person might return the favor as well by adding your blog on his/her list of favorites and for that, you get a free backlink which is good for search engine rankings.

Now you know the 8 features that you should include on your blog to make it fully functional. Again, a good blog design is not just about the theme or template but its also about the features it contain. I hope this helps. By the way, anyone who wants to guest post on my blog? Feel free to contact me:) Thank you and more power.

Comments

[DiTesco]

Wow. This is an awesome list of "must have features" to have in a blog. You are post on everything here and I completely agree that your"blog" design is utmost importance. It does not need to have bells and whistles but surely all of the components are almost mandatory. I myself am guilty of not following some of them and I guess I have some homework to do. Kudos.

[Earn Money At Home]

Nice tips my friend. I would agree with you my friend. Most newly created blogs today have a good design with many nonsense widgets that could only make untidy looking.

For some reasons, most newbies are amazed with widgets but later on they will realize that widget will only get their blogs slower to load.

I can say this because I did that before. But if something lacks on my blog, I would rather suggest you my friend what makes it lacking.

Thank you for the tips and I am hoping for your suggestions.

[Aswani]

Well written and well understood. I also completely agree to what you wrote in the 2nd para about blog's design. To me its the most important thing and it is the reason why I spent most of my time working on it. I think I got it right finally. No doubt, first impression is the last impression. And so, its so important for bloggers to go for a good design to create a lasting impression. Even I had spoken about it all in one of my recent posts - http://www.aksindiblog.com/2009/09/blogging-lessons-learnt-part-1.html

And yes, all these 8 things are really useful in making a fully functional blog. Great tips..Keep it up !!

[samjien]

Thanks for the comment Ditesco. I'm glad you totally agreed with my idea about the must have features one should have in his/her blog to make it fully functional. I must say that your blog is already in the utmost even if you're saying that you miss some of the must have features in it. So i guess it won't matter a lot whether you add a particular feature or not. :) But adding it will exceptionally give more outcome ^^

[samjien]

Thanks Felix. Yeah I also experienced that one in my early days of blogging. Yes, there's something that is missing in your blog and that is my link on it. I thought we have exchanged link :)

[samjien]

Hello Aswani. It always feels great to have you commenting on my blog :) Well i can say that your blog design is already good and you don't have to make a lot of changes on it :) And the widgets installed on it has a particular function and purpose and i think that's what makes it really important so there's no reason taking it off or changing it. Its all good my friend :)

I also agree with what you said about the "first impression is the last impression" :) goodluck my friend and more power to you.

[satrap]

you know these are simple but very important factors in a blogs success that sometimes we just dont think about them thank you for bringing this topic up.

[samjien]

Definitely true Satrap, these features certainly plays an important role for the success of our blogs or blogging career. I'm glad to have you visited Home affiliate. Keep in touch.

[satrap]

well thank you for having me here. ill definitely will be following your blog. you write very informative articles.

[Doug Dillard]

Hey Samjien... Very good post. Lots of great points that should all be followed. One other suggestion would be to create a subscription list with some type of autoresponder company like Aweber. The benefit to this vs. Feedburner is you can contact your subscribers with information other than just your blog posts which I think is very important.

We are actually going to be getting rid of our Email by Feedburner and going with just Aweber, as Aweber can be set-up like Feedburner to send out your newest posts at whatever intervals you like... plus you can email your list whenever you choose with other information you want to relay to them.

[samjien]

Hello Doug! Wow! its overwhelming to have you commenting on my blog at last. Thanks Doug. Yeah you're right. With all the points you've shared about autoresponders, its definitely ahead compared to feed burner email subscription :) only though. You have to be proficient and established enough before deciding to go for autoresponders specially newsletters. On your case, i couldn't more agree with all the proficiency you have. Congrats :)

Anyway, I should have included it on the must have features that one should have on his/her blog. It would then become "9 must have features to make your blog fully functional". How about a guestpost on the importance of autoresponders? I would be very happy to publish an article of yours here at Home affiliate:)

Thanks Doug and more power to you. Goodluck on all your plans! I really appreciate your visit here:)

[samjien]

You're welcome Satrap and thank you so much. :) I'm really happy.

[MichaelR]

Excellent tips samjien.

But I can't find your top commenters in your page. Did you stop using it?

MichaelR

[samjien]

Hello Michael, welcome to Home affiliate. Thanks for the complements. Well i didn't stop using it because eventually, i've never tried using it at all. As much as i would want to, i can't because the top commenters feature is only available for wordpress users. But I'm hoping that this feature will be available in Typepad in the near future :)

Thanks for your visit, keep in touch :)

[TC]

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I just briefly looked at yours and think it will provide plenty of useful information for me to improve on my blog. Thanks. I will be back since today has been a 13hr day for me and need to grab some dinner.

[samjien]

Hello TC, you're welcome. Thanks for dropping by in Home affiliate too. I'll be expecting your regular visit then. Take care and more power to you. I'd be very happy to help you with my articles.

[jojo]

Thanks for this post, I think I should dropby more often to learn more, keep on posting specially articles on blogtraffic.

[samjien]

Hello Jojo. Welcome to Home affiliate. I'm happy to know that you find my articles helpful. I'll try my best to create more articles about traffic building. By the way, you're always free to drop by anytime you want. Have a great day and thank you.

[Linda W]

Good post!

[Instant Money Code Review]

I agree with many of the plugins and features youve mentioned here. Along with Top Commenters I also add in keywordluv and commentluv - these seem to drive a lot of fresh comments to my blog.

[eMoneyMakingOnline.com]

Showing "Top commentators" is one of the idea which brings in more interaction with the blog readers. It makes the regular visitors to come back again to your blog esp for commenting...

-Ven