Is it necessary, desirable or functional to have tags and categories visible on a blog?

I don't think it's necessary at the beginning, because you don't have enough content to search. Useful categories may become obvious to you after a few months.

Search engine optimization is largely voodoo, particularly since whenever the people who do it find some trick that works, Google writes an algorithm against it. The best way get more search results is to write copy that includes the words you think people might look for and to get others to link to it.

Thanks, Ginger.

My goal for the new website is to have it be as clean as possible, letting the copy be the hero.

So, I think I'll tell the developer to leave the t&cs off altogether. He won't like it but, eh. What can I say.

I think I might just ask him to load the template and give me access. It'll be easier for me to tweak and ask questions later.

amych, I just went back up and reread your comments about my blog post and I'm ashamed that I thought I posted a thank you for your thoughtful response, but never actually did.

I'm embarrassed. I come in here for just that sort of thing and then made it seem like I was ignoring you.

I truly appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.

::hanging head::

I've been talking about needing to get motivated.

Well, this TEDTalk, in just 2:33 minutes, has given me a real boost.

Matt Cutt talks about trying something new for 30 days.

One of my classic coping mechanisms has always been, "I can do anything for 20 minutes." This mantra got me through many a 70 mile bike ride and, to be frank, some pretty ugly things in my life.

This last month, I kept a daily food blog and have lost 10+ lbs.

Now, I'm keeping a time log to up my lamentably weak efficiency.

Does anyone have a good template for such a thing? I've googled my fingers to the knuckle and have found a pdf, but it is only for a work day. I want a full day and would rather not waste the time of creating a new one!

Google docs has a great 'personal efficiency dashboard' with lots of cool features, but one of the reasons I am doing this is to get farther away from my computer!

bonny, do you just want something that looks like this? [link] Or do you want dates and stuff on there, too?

I use tags and categories to browse websites all the time. The more they purport to contain actual useful or entertaining content, the more I want to design the way I consume it. In a pinch, it might decide why I choose one source over another.

smonster, the one I have..and wish was adaptable is here in pdf.

It features spaces for categories and requires only lines or checkmarks to indicate time spent. It goes from 7 to 5.

I want to be able to add set categories and increase the hours.

ita, thanks for your thoughts on tags and categories. That's helpful.

Following on that, is it better to have the t & cs in a column, or can they be within the posts?

(I think I know what you will say, but I want to make sure...because it will make me wrong in what I said to the developer...up next, humble pie.)

eta: wish, not which

bonny, what's your spreadsheet of choice? Excel or Numbers or Open Office? If all you want is that doc with extended hours and the ability to add some categories, I can make you one in just a few minutes and would be happy to.

Or, you should be able to find a pdf-to-excel converter for free.

Excel!

You can do that?

I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Taking this party to email...