If you were preparing to launch a new blog, what steps would you take to ensure that your had engagement from the get-go?

A few ideas:
1) Write a couple week’s worth of blog posts before you even launch. Backdate them. That way it looks like you’ve been doing it for a while. Or if you want to be more honest about it, write a couple wee’s worth of blog posts, publish them every couple days for a couple week, and then launch.
2) Identify your target readers. Connect with them on Twitter. Go to Twellow.com and start following the people you think would be interested in your blog.
3) Repeat #2 on LinkedIn.
4) Learn basic SEO. Do basic optimization — putting keywords in headlines, body copy — write good descriptions (sometimes, people see that on Google and decide to click based on the descriptions), and link out to interesting articles.
5) Use videos and photos. Posts with photos are read more than posts without. Posts with videos are read more than posts with photos.
6) Comment on lots of other people’s blogs about the same topic. Leave intelligent useful comments, not “nice post. I wrote one just like it here.”

7) Most importantly, write good shit. If it’s boring dreck, those first 6 points won’t matter. Good social networking can’t save a bad blog, but a great blog can save bad social networking.

@jackirhayes Definitely go with @erikdeckers tips, especially #6.  Blog commenting was what really developed my community when I began blogging.  :)

I think Erik’s most important point is the first one. Plan twenty or thirty posts and write a dozen or so well before you launch. That guarantees that the excitement of the launch will not overpower your ability to deliver. 

I would add something I wish I had known before I got started and that’s make sure you are on a platform and using a theme that you can live with. Do a little research, especially about what plugins you might want to use. Play with your theme while your site is private to make sure it delivers the features important to you.

Both of these suggestions boil down to making sure you are confident with your direction. If you are confident, you posts will show it and your quality will radiate!

I did not worry about instant success when I started. I was learning and was happy that readers started to find me four or five months down the road after I had figured out a lot of things by trial and error. By then I was confident and producing content fast and furiously and that has had my site growing ever since.

Hi,

I am currently developing a portfolio of work to help students develop their personal brand. My most recent one is about how to build a community and attain engagement before you start blogging…

http://www.ideasbynet.com/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-blogging-step-one-dont-blog/

Would love some feedback

Thanks

Carla

Thanks to Eric and others for the tips. I am in the process of starting my blog too but want to do it correctly. I have been writing down topic ideas and will branch them out into topic buckets soon. I heard that blogging about 3 times a week is good. Is that correct?

Thanks everyone for the input.  I have been blogging for about 4 years now, but have found that my current blog restricts me and doesn’t fit with my goals.  When I first started it was on a whim and I never knew what blogging could turn into.  Starting over is a bit scary, but I am hoping to do it “right” this time (not that it wasn’t right last time, I  just actually have goals this time around).

Thank you Roberta. It’s great to good feedback, hope it’s helpful to you

@seleanaw I don’t think it matters all that much how often you blog. Just make sure everything you put out is worth reading, commenting on or sharing.