7 things not to do when launching a new blog

The number of blogs launched every day is staggering, and the number of blogs that die out shortly after is most likely just as high (read our The Graveyard of dead design blogs for a sample). There are countless lists out there on what to do when your new blog is up and running, from submitting to search engines, to setting up social media accounts, to optimizing you site — lots of things to do. And that’s on top of actually writing useful content. But many fall into a trap of pushing it a bit too far, and we’ve gathered a few tips on what not to do when you launch that new blog of yours.

1: Don’t spam

You’ve most likely come across this comment on blogs: “Great work, thanks for sharing!“. No insights, nothing useful, just a few words and a link back to their own site. Just because it’s not done by a bot doesn’t mean it’s not spam, and whatever you do, don’t post these kinds of comments looking to get some traffic to your site. I makes you appear unprofessional, needy, and worst of all: a spammer. Do: If you want to comment on other blogs, read the post first. Then write an informative reply, pointing out what you agree or disagree with.

2: Don’t submit every single article to social media sites

Your roundup on the weekly design news isn’t breaking news to anyone, and when you submit these kinds of articles to Digg, Reddit and others, it just comes across as blog spam. Especially never share posts where you just mention a great article you’ve read and link to it. That’s what Twitter is for. Do: use social media sites like Digg and Reddit for your big posts, the ones you have worked on for a while.

3: Don’t get impatient

We all check our website stats obsessively — it’s completely natural. We’re all disappointed when our blog isn’t doing as well as we think it should. But that’s okay, it takes time and effort to grow a blog into something useful (and perhaps, profitable). Don’t get impatient if you don’t see any results in the first weeks or months, don’t go on a spamming spree like a maniac because your site only attracts 8 visitors a day and you think it’s unfair. Do: Be patient.

4: Don’t waste money on advertising

You’ll have far greater chance of attracting readers with great content than wasting money on advertising. When launching a new blog, you can get more worth for your money elsewhere, for instance, spending a few extra bucks on a better, faster hosting plan. Or paying a designer to do your site or a logo. Do: ask a few sites for link exchanges. Older, established sites will turn you down because you’re still green. That’s okay. Focus on newly established sites, as you both have something to gain.

5: Don’t spend too much time on SEO and too little on content

Your content makes or breaks your site or blog. It’s as simple as that. It makes no sense to spend time and effort on search engine optimization when your content isn’t good enough to be there in the first place. Search engines won’t notice your roundup posts, and they shouldn’t either. Spend your time writing great, informative content. Do: Write headlines and articles for people, not search engine bots.

6: Don’t spam all your friends about your new blog

Sure, you gotta spread the word about your new endeavor, but there’s a difference between informing and spamming. It’s okay to send an email to a few trusted friends and folks you know, but make sure whomever you tip off on your new site that it’s in their interest. There’s no point telling someone about baseball when they have no interest in sports. And whatever you do, do not repeatedly spam your friends on Facebook and your Twitter followers. Unless you’re asking to be put in the ignore list. Do: share your site with like minded individuals. They’re also best suited to give you feedback.

7: Don’t post the same content as everyone else

Before you start on that huge roundup post you’re thinking of doing, do a few searches online for similar posts and content. For instance, there are so many “Creative 404 page” collections out there that adding another to the mix won’t really get you noticed. Figure out a few original post ideas, something that stands out and that can get your blog noticed. And whatever you do, please don’t post any more 404 page roundups. It’s not 2005. Do: always research to see if something similar has been done. Then either give a new spin, new angle, or look for something more original.

In conclusion…

Your biggest concern when launching a new blog should be the content — what you have to offer the world through your writing. You’re not going to succeed if you re-post what others have done, even if you can amass Twitter followers and RSS subscribers and have great SEO structure. Spend as much time and resources as possible to write the best articles you can, the rest will follow suit. You can tweak your design all you want, post as many spammy comments as you want, test out different ad providers, stay up to date with the latest developments in your category or niche. All of that doesn’t really matter, because at the end of the day, it’s what you have to offer that counts. And for that, you have to just write. And write good. BV