The main things I have learned, which primarily concern indoor growers:

1) Use a 4- or 5-gallon pot (or bigger)
2) Have an even canopy whenever possible
3) Keep your lights as close as you can without burning the plants
4) Use a decent nutrient regime
5) Use quality soil, with perlite and vermiculite mixed in
6) Don't overwater
7) Control your temperatures
8) Provide plenty of ventilation
9) Use as much light as you can without temperature problems

Do those 9 things and you are pretty much guaranteed a good yield. I don't think your lighting schedule (12/12, 14/10, whatever) at the end of flowering has anywhere near the effect on yield as those 9 things. In fact, from my experience with the two strains I have, changing the light schedule had no effect at all, but perhaps that varies from strain to strain. Personally, I just leave it at 12/12 and let 'er go.