TypePad is my tool of choice when it comes to creating blog sites. I currently have four active sites and numerous sub-pages in development. In the course of creating content, adding widgets, exploring ideas for grouping content, etc, I have found that I run across site elements that I may not want to use right away or need to test before publishing.
This is especially true for SmartCollegeVisit. Development of this site is an organic process. I did not create a final vision of this web site and launch a finished piece of work. Instead, I created a work in progress. "Dynamic" is perhaps the better word choice.
The best way I've found to manage a dynamic site is to create a duplicate framework of the live site. I call this my "resource site." It looks just like my live site, minus the actual blog posts.
It's here where I play around with layout, add new elements, and test new features. I also store items that only need to be used at certain times of year. This way, I know that when I add new features to the live site, I can do so with confidence.
**For step-by-step instructions on how to create a resource site of your own, click here.**
