Wordpress control panel (ie the Dashboard) > Settings > Permalinks You want to set the permalinks so they are 'pretty' unlike the default, domain.com/?p=123, which isn't very helpful for the Search engines - you want ones that are SE friendly. It gives you some default options you can use or you can go for a custom structure (my preference). So you click on the custom structure radio button then use this (or something like it if you prefer your own version): /%year%/%monthnum%/%day%/%postname%/ Code (markup): If you have a post entitled, "My Happy Place," using that structure would give you: yourdomain.com/year/month/date/my-happy-place/ A ping list just pings (lets them know) when you have published a new post. The SE spiders are all over them so it helps get your pages indexed really quickly. Google for a 'blog ping list' - rummage around to get an up to date one. Then, Settings > Writing Scroll to the bottom and you'll see 'Update Services' - drop your ping list into the text box and hit 'Save' - job done. Now whenever you make a new post every one of those services gets pinged to tell them you have a new post - all automatically. You don't have to think about it.
I would use Wordpress and set it up on a server not at Wordpress.com. Setting it up is easy as most host's now use Fantastico or similar which is accessed on your cPanel. Make sure you use the SEO plugin or something similar and you're ready to start posting. Google loves Wordpress because it is so easy to navigate and find your pages and posts.