Launching A New Blog

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[Lani]

It seems there are a few of us here in the process of launching a new blog.  I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread on the process and get our collective ideas on how to get all those ducks in a row.  Any thoughts?

[guera]

I am working on starting 2 new blogs (glutton for punishment ) but I am feeling a bit bogged down. I feel like I have looked at every possible theme on the net without finding the "perfect" one. I'm stuck at that stage of do I just work on getting it up and running and work on the bits and pieces later, or do I get it all perfect first? And that's before I've even thought about plugins etc!

I guess it comes down to first impressions. If you are going to do a big "launch" per se it should look good, but at this rate I'll never get it done...

Plus, am I putting too much emphasis on how it looks? Perhaps I should just concentrate on content and worry about the rest later

[neerav]

I guess it comes down to first impressions. If you are going to do a big "launch" per se it should look good, but at this rate I'll never get it done...

Plus, am I putting too much emphasis on how it looks? Perhaps I should just concentrate on content and worry about the rest later

I'd say lots of good content + a barebones theme is better than vice versa.

In fact if starting from scratch I'd err towards a basic black text on white background 2/3 column theme to start with and then add design elements over time

This podcast by Darren Rowse and Yaro Starak may help you decide http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/859/podcast-blog-design-darren-rowse-yaro-starak/

[Snoskred]

In my opinion  these are the most important rules to follow when starting a new blog.

RULE NUMBER ONE

If you are starting a new blog get your own domain.

Why is this so important?

Every time someone links to you, those links count - with the search engines, with Technorati, with various other ways of ranking blogs. If you start out blogging thinking "it'll just be a hobby, I'm not taking it seriously" and then find out you love blogging, get a few readers and then make the decision to move to your own domain (like I did) you will truly regret not having your own domain from the start.

You can use your own domain with Blogger, if you want to, or you can use it with a self hosted Wordpress blog - there may be ways to use it with other blogging platforms too, I'm not sure.

RULE NUMBER TWO

Find a unique nickname for yourself, and use it everywhere.

If you search for Snoskred, you'll find the majority of the results lead back to me. If you choose to blog as "Mary" there's already thousands of search results there for that name and none of them lead to you. I don't recommend using your real name on the internet at all, ever.

Places you can find unique names -

The Baby Name Network has a list of baby names by country origin which is a great resource to begin with. (I especially like the Aboriginal baby names, I've used them for other usernames around the place)

Different languages - Choose a word that you like, and then see if you can find out what that word translates to in other languages - that's how I got my name. I actually picked mine out from here - Norwegian - American Dictionary.

Before you make a final decision on the name -

Search for it on the search engines and see what comes up - are other people using that name? If yes, it will get very annoying fast when you keep getting Google Alerts for that other person. Trust me.

Do it right the first time

- it is very difficult to change your name later on down the track, and you can't get people to change their links to you - a *small* amount of people who linked to you will change the links, but the rest won't and you will find it very frustrating.

That's my 2c

[guera]

Thanks heaps for those tips, Snoskred. You´re so right about getting names and domains right from the beginning. I just moved from wordpress.com to my own domain and am starting again with links and ranks etc. I thought about changing the name of the blog and then decided I should stick with what I´ve chosen and turn that into a "brand" as such. My nickname is a word in a foreign language (Spanish) too - came about because we are living in Mexico and learning Spanish. Came up with it on a whim though 

[Lani]

I'd say lots of good content + a barebones theme is better than vice versa.

I agree on that point.  If it's clean, and functional, it's good to go.  I'd add though that it's good to have a central element of your branding in place that you're going to be happy with in the long term.  A logo, or something you can build on.

I feel like I have looked at every possible theme on the net without finding the "perfect" one.

I'm pretty sure I have looked at every available theme!  And I've never found the perfect one.  The best thing is to get something pretty naked, I think, from a reputable source.  And with a tidy stylesheet that you can work with.  Snoskred posted about SEO Wordpress Themes By Courtney Tuttle and I think that's a good place to start.  Even not taking into account that the themes have been "cleaned" and optimised, you'll limit your choices.

You're passed that point now, I guess.  But boy, do I understand that bogged down feeling.  I decided to just let it go.  I wanted to get to work on all the content, so that's what I've done.  And it feels a whole lot better.

[mountainmama]

I can relate to all of the above. Choosing a platform or hosting option, a theme, a header, a logo - all the bells and whistles - can be so entertaining and frustrating and distracting all at once.

But, one message which I have received loud and clear from my research is that: Content is crucial. With that in mind, I have been spending a surprisingly large portion of my time OFF-line with a good old-fashioned pen and notebook, writing, sketching, mind-mapping and planning. I've found it really helps to get away from the visual distractions and visceral temptations of the computer and internet, and when I do come back to it, I'm clearer about what I want.

As my content ideas spill onto the page, the visual form of the future blog seems to take shape in my head. Whether I can find a suitable template to start with, or look to a more customised option down the track a little...well, I hope I can be a bit flexible on that. Get the platform, get the content down, get the blog going and get some readers - they are my primary objectives now.

[Kelley]

But, one message which I have received loud and clear from my research is that: Content is crucial. With that in mind, I have been spending a surprisingly large portion of my time OFF-line with a good old-fashioned pen and notebook, writing, sketching, mind-mapping and planning. I've found it really helps to get away from the visual distractions and visceral temptations of the computer and internet, and when I do come back to it, I'm clearer about what I want.

Funny you should say that.  On my wanderings around I have found bloggers that have posted their Avon orders with 40+ comments, really fluffy one photo with 'look at this' ones with tons of comments, and they are only posting a couple of times a month.  What is with that?

[Kelley]

In my opinion  these are the most important rules to follow when starting a new blog.

RULE NUMBER ONE

If you are starting a new blog get your own domain.

Why is this so important?

Every time someone links to you, those links count - with the search engines, with Technorati, with various other ways of ranking blogs. If you start out blogging thinking "it'll just be a hobby, I'm not taking it seriously" and then find out you love blogging, get a few readers and then make the decision to move to your own domain (like I did) you will truly regret not having your own domain from the start.

You can use your own domain with Blogger, if you want to, or you can use it with a self hosted Wordpress blog - there may be ways to use it with other blogging platforms too, I'm not sure.

*snip*

That's my 2c

This is something I have been pondering with the whole 'Santa bringing me a new blog for Christmas' debacle.  While I would love to have the option to do what I want without the constraints of Wordpress, would it be worth it?  After the amount of work it has taken to build up a readership, will they all disappear if and when I move?  Then there is the issue of that pretty pink button that I love so much.  Top 50 Australian women blogger.  And Technorati.....

What would you do?

[Snoskred]

I'd been on Blogger for 9 months and had built up a pretty reasonable readership.. I made the decision to move and I'd never undo it now.

I say move.

[kathiemt]

I use Wordpress and always register a domain name for each blog.  I'm totally addicted and own 14 these days but only post to a small number on a regular basis - the others from time to time.  I love to write and I'll find topics I want to write about and then realise that there are more than just a handful of articles so I create a blog instead.  All of my blogs have readerships, some much more than others.  My most successful (most readers that is) are ones relating to business or about women working from home.

Cheers,

Kathie M. Thomas

[Meg]

Kelley

Just to address one of your concerns.

If you set up a feedburner feed on your current blog and (automatically) redirect all your current subscribers to that, if you do decide to self host then you simply move your feedburner feed to the new blog, taking all your existing subscribers along with you. I haven't explained that very well but I wrote about a similar topic recently. A feedburner feed is fully portable so you can take it with you wherever you chose to blog.

Specific instructions for wordpress.com blogs is available at http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/help/wordpress_quickstart# (you may need to look for a link at the top of the page for wordpress.com if it's not displayed).

[Kelley]

Kelley

Just to address one of your concerns.

If you set up a feedburner feed on your current blog and (automatically) redirect all your current subscribers to that, if you do decide to self host then you simply move your feedburner feed to the new blog, taking all your existing subscribers along with you. I haven't explained that very well but I wrote about a similar topic recently. A feedburner feed is fully portable so you can take it with you wherever you chose to blog.

Specific instructions for wordpress.com blogs is available at http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/help/wordpress_quickstart# (you may need to look for a link at the top of the page for wordpress.com if it's not displayed).

I remember reading that and thinking Whoa!  That seems too scary    Gotta get over my fear of breaking the internet methinks....  I have popped over to your blog and had another read and will save it to digest later.

Smootches!!!!

[Sueblimely]

I am working on starting 2 new blogs (glutton for punishment ) but I am feeling a bit bogged down. I feel like I have looked at every possible theme on the net without finding the "perfect" one. ! ....... Plus, am I putting too much emphasis on how it looks? Perhaps I should just concentrate on content and worry about the rest later

I have a couple of sites in the pipeline too but time is lacking. I intend to ensure I have a good amount of content ready in advance so that I can post every day (at least to begin with) and make sure these posts are well thought out and well written - rather than having to rush them. A plain clean theme is a good way to go to start with, I agree. You can always just jazz it up with a  logo or heading image to start with. You have a great heading image in your current blog.

After the amount of work it has taken to build up a readership, will they all disappear if and when I move?  Then there is the issue of that pretty pink button that I love so much.  Top 50 Australian women blogger.  And Technorati.....
What would you do?

I moved over to self hosted Wordpress at the beginning of November. I was 50 something in the Top 100 blogs list with my Blogger blog. I am now back in the list again - after only 2 months - so although it may feel as if you are starting all over again you aren't - you will already have blogging mates to help you get back to where you were.

[Boneblower (Anita)]

I've recently started blogging (1 week today) & want to know;

When does a 'bloggin virgin' stop being a virgin?

Do the number of visits to your blog or the number of comments on your blog dictate the response to this question?

Also, is there a blogging dictionary so I can try and understand all the terminology used in this arena? I'm feeling really lost at the moment - help! 

[Snoskred]

A blogging dictionary is a fantastic idea.. we might have to put one together in this forum..

but in the meantime just let us know what you're not sure of, and we'll let you know what it means.

[Boneblower (Anita)]

but in the meantime just let us know what you're not sure of, and we'll let you know what it means.

Really??? Are you sure? 

I've been reading about RSS, feeds, bloglines etc but don't really understand how to set up the thingy you all seem to have that notifies you when one of your fav blogs has posted............... I've subscribed to bloglines but that's as far as I've got 

[Boneblower (Anita)]

So.........um..........guys - how do I set it up!!!!   

[Sephyroth]

I've been reading about RSS, feeds, bloglines etc but don't really understand how to set up the thingy you all seem to have that notifies you when one of your fav blogs has posted............... I've subscribed to bloglines but that's as far as I've got 

You've got a start with that

What you need to do now is go up on the upper left side of the window and click on the Add link -



Then, in the right panel, a page will load that asks you to put in the address of either the blog you're wanting to subscribe to, or the actual feed address -



If you put in a site's address (like I did here - using my blog's address), it will return a set of options; all you need to do is, generally, tick the box next to the one with the most subscribers, go through the options that are below, and then click Subscribe.



After subscribing, you'll get the most recent posts from that feed, and then it will check periodically to see if there are new posts on that feed.

Hope this helps!

[Vanessa_vjad]

I've subscribed to bloglines but that's as far as I've got

Hi,

I don't use bloglines as well as I should but I have the basics covered (well enough that when I click on it if my chosen blogs have been updated it gives me the posts)

Once you've joined up for bloglines you can simply click on the little rss button (orange button) in the address bar to subscribe- take this forum for example - if you click on the orange subscribe button you should get taken to another page that will ask you where you want to subscribe from - bloglines, google reader etc - make sure bloglines is selected then click the subscribe now button - you'll get another page which then gives you some more options - where you want to save the feed etc - you can divide it up into several different folders/categories - then whenever you log into bloglines - each time the blogs you have subscribed to are updated it'll show up.

That's probably not the best explanation - and leave it with me because I have seen a video on it somewhere so I'll go searching and get back to ya

edited to add

LOL or you can do what Sephyroth said :-) too quick for me and a much better explanation and lol again I think I've even linked to that post in my blog
but just so my entire post makes some sense here's a couple of videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKGz-y_SGL4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVL6w20wTFM (ignore the first couple of minutes of it)

[Nomesque]

There are some great tips here people, thanks!