We all know that when it comes to blogging, content is king. That makes design the all-important sidekick. Here are three tips for creating a blog design for your small business that lets your ideas shine.

1. Define your focus

You may consider yourself an expert in many areas, but it’s important to choose one well-defined theme to help your business stand out in a crowded blogosphere. Focus on your most compelling information and make it the center of your design idea. From there you can begin building out a design that’s highly organized and easy to navigate.

2. Share inspiration

When you develop your creative brief—whether for a 99designs contest or for an individual designer—be sure to describe in detail the look and feel you’d like for your blog. It’s often helpful to create a mood board or collage that shows images and colors related to your theme. This inspiration will get your designer’s creative juices flowing.

3. Practice storytelling

In addition to the mood board, you’ll want to provide your blog designer with at least three sample posts. This will help structure the page and also give you an idea how your content will appear to readers. Once you get rolling, keep going! All too often we see well-intended blogs turn stale after priorities shift. Keep your blog fresh with unique stories and you’ll continue creating connections.