Blogging Tips, Round Two

I thought my previous post was on point, but could be improved with a bit of personal research in regards to what other bloggers had to say about improving your blog in general, or its rating.

Rather than flow, Stated Purpose.
My current description of my blog: I'm trapped back in suburbia after a several year hiatus in the city... My funds ran out so now I'm back. What the hell is there to do in regards to bars, entertainment, restaurants, golfing, fishing, etc in the West Suburbs of Chicago? New places, old places, me bitching about it all and maybe even enjoying it.
I often bitch and moan about how bad it is out here.... But, on the bright side it's cheap. Hopefully my dull weeks will have some highlights and maybe point you in the right direction if you're ever out west of Chicago.

I figure if I refine this and state that I am in the West Suburbs, travel around this area (not just limited to Geneva) and have some dining experience and a decent palate my opinion may be taken more seriously. I'm still undecided on whether or not mentioning age will give credibility, or discredit my blog.

Improving Theme
I find some comfort in the templates provided by blogger.com, but they don't suit my needs as well as I'd like them too. In any case, I feel the need to learn how to further edit/revise the template or even better yet, create my own from scratch to fulfill my desires.

My current template doesn't work in regards to my topic, or at least in my mind it doesn't.


Social Networking Activity
Blogging is all about numbers, and I don't seem to have any. If I were to link my blogging efforts to a twitter account or show updates through my facebook account I could drastically improve my number of readers. The only problem I see with this is many people I know are from Geneva, and may not care to read my reviews, or just have little interest in general since they have more than likely been to these places.

Links
I still believe links deserves a spot on the refined list. Without links to what it is you are talking about, or attempting to explain people may become nauseated by my rambling or efforts to describe the texture, taste, colors, etc of something I ate. Why struggle to explain in such great detail? My structure becomes affected, the page is less scannable, and it is much easier to get a 'feel' for something when the reader can actually see the item.

Visual Aid
This goes rather hand-in-hand with links. It is more convenient to the reader when they have the image laid out in front of them versus having to click links, or navigate to the page on their own.

In my post on Surviving Suburbia, I didn't post a picture of the delicious pretzel burger I raved about. How can I explain a burger well enough to the point where you'd want to taste it? Also, the website, nor myself, had a picture of the burger. I felt it inappropriate to post a random picture of a burger, but a burger is a burger is it not? They all generally look the same.
This picture is from Kumas Corner... The burger at Ale House is the same in and out.


I realize I talk about these things, but haven't included any examples in my post. I'm not sure how I can justify using the examples or use them well. As I explain, I find it hard to find an appropriate example of what it is I am talking about.