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1. Spash Page
If you have nothing worthwhile to put on your splash page, then don't use a splash page. A splash page is the most useless thing unless you implore the visitor to choose a skin, or state the requirements. NEVER have a splash that just says "Enter", unless you have a pop-up layout, it defeats the ultimate purpose of a splash page.
Most people desire for the splash page to give a little taste of the layout, so a splash that matches the layout can be useful. Your splash page shouldn't have a tagboard because a tagboard is for commenting on the site, NOT the splash page. A good rule for the size of a splash page is: if your splash has a scrollbar, there is too much on it.
2. Layout
Your layout should be unique and somehow make known YOUR individuality.
Your layout shouldn't have too much animation cause it drawns the attention from your content. Try to avoid using premade backgrounds, layouts and layout images. When creating your layout, make sure - if it is an iframe layout - that the frame space is large enough to hold your content. Site with more content normally require larger layout pictures. The colours should match mustn't be blinding and simplicity is normally better.
Your site name has to be on your layout, it's the key identification that your layout isn't premade.
A good layout is the main impression and normally decides if your content is actually worth looking at -- so put EFFORT into your layouts, it really shows. (TIP: saving images under "jpg" makes your layout have bad image qualities unless you change the quality of jpg saving before you save.)
3. Coding
Make sure you code your layout with a css that matches the layout and try to avoid the "hover" on your links being bold cause it makes all your content move when you hover over it. Try to code in ways where your site is browser friendly, even if your splash page says "internet explorer" no one is actually going to change their browser JUST to see your site.
It's a good idea to get a grasp of the types of coding using tutorials before actually putting forth the effort to create a site.
4. Content
For personal sites, include A LOT of pages about yourself! It is a really good idea to include visitor content as well. Start off small, then build slowly your amount of content. Remember Quality > Quantity. If you have one good adoptable pixel, something is far likely to be adopted as compared to a gajillion bad pixels.
AVOID StIcKy CaPs it is the MOST juvenile mistake. NEVER put sparkly "welcome" signs, they give an impression of how bad the rest of your content would be.
Keep each page to a miminum, slow loading pages are dreadful. Always have "back" links at the bottom of a page.
Have an easy navigation system try to avoid image maps that aren't labeled. If you have three stars as navigation on your layout, label them, or inform the visitoron the first page how to navigate.
Organize your site well! Neat and organized sites are easier to navigate and more inviting.
Have unique content; who wants to see "charmy kitty" adoptables on EVERY site ... (I know for a fact I wouldn't - I HATE charmy kitty). Think up your OWN ideas, and NEVER steal the ideas of other sites.
Show your bias, who likes a site without the charm of the owner's writting style and opinions stuck between the lines? But never TRY to be funny - it doesn't work that way.
NEVER put dolls on your site. ANY doll is a slutty doll. Do you want to scare your visitors with those big-eyed-half-dressed-dolls?! I DON'T THINK SO! It's called porn, and a rule in almost every affiliate application thing is "NO PORN".
5. Name
Your name should reflect you. Your site name has to be unique. Avoid site names with hyphens, they are severly hard to remember. Don't have a site with the following words:
Girl, so, cute, kawaii, vintage, pink, sparkles, glitter, sugar, etc.
Those words are too hard to remember for your visitors! So many sites already possess such names with those words.
8. Fonts
Never use small fonts, fancy fonts or downloaded fonts for your main font. It drives everyone crazy. Try to find a font that matches your layout, that has good spacing and won't get eyes crossed.
NEVER use "pf mil" for your tagboards. First, you can't read it. Second, it looks ugly. Third, not everyone has it downloaded. It drives everyone up the wall when you use "pf mil" on tagboards ... it's just juvenile.
7. Other
Get hosted or get a domain. Freewebs reflects that you either have attitude problems thus no one would host you, or your graphics are horrible thus no one would host you.