So, someone finds your blog from another blog or via a search engine. They read what you have to say on the topic at hand - but will they ever come back? This is the most important question we need to ask. We all know acquisition can be expensive - but retention, well, that should be the easiest thing for blogs! I mean, you update often and interact more closely. Right? What else do you need to know?

Here are great tips from the Blog Herald here and here:

1. implement Recent Post features - make sure people who land on one of your permalinks can see a) articles you have recently written and, I would add, b) the last and next article after the one landed on
2. Have a good number of posts on your index - 10 to 20
3. Use layout effectively - take less important features such as search out of the hot area (that area seen without scrolling)
4. Use simple features to make the eye read the important text - try making the headline font/colour different. Easier to scan for good material.

What I also do:

1. have a good design. One that is easy on the eye but also highlights all your sections appropriately.
2. Use a font that works well
3. Make sure your blog looks great on many browsers
4. Insert images into posts whenever possible
5. Break up lengthy text with text effects (bold, underline, headings, etc)

Don’t forget, while you may want your readers to stay, it would also be nice if they found your ads relevant and well placed to catch their attention… more on generating revenue with your blog in later posts.

Thanks to Darren of ProBlogger for the tip and for his commentary.