This question from my Ask Nile Series, comes at a great time. I’ve been seeing various people ask how much content should you have before promoting your site. I’m not talking about content for your about page, products or services, or contact page. I’m talking about blogging.
I was actually disturbed by some of the answers I saw out there.
One person answered that they were waiting to get finished with 5-10 articles before promoting. Another answered that they were waited until they had at least 3-5 articles in each of their website’s categories.
So, I’m going to set the word straight on this, right now.
How Much Content Should You Have Before Promoting Your Site?
Never wait. Don’t wait for a number of posts for anything. Just like blogging, start driving out word from the start.
You are missing on precious time to start getting people interested in your website. If you’re writing really good content, people only need 1 post to start reading before they’ve decided that they’re hooked.
If you wait, there are many other bloggers starting up and promoting. For some bloggers, waiting to have 10 posts or 3-5 in each category will take a lot of time! If your schedule doesn’t allow for you to blog 3 times a week, building up that much content is just insane to wait to promote.
From the very beginning of your website’s opening, you should be liking and sharing your blog posts. Do this aside from engaging people conversation on social networks.
Just because your site doesn’t have much content, doesn’t make it spammy. It makes people wonder what will happen, and if you’re someone to keep an eye on.
As a side note, I have to admit, I’ve found it fascinating to see a lot of new blogs and companies from their very start. Also, I’m going to give a few quick tips on making your debut even better so you don’t have to feel like you need to wait to promote your website once you’ve published 10 posts.
- What you can do during this time is to make sure you’ve gotten your site set up with a newsletter and sign up form.
- In WordPress, by default, there’s always a “Hello World” post. Don’t delete it! Use it to your advantage. Edit the post with your own words. Let people know who you are, and what you’re offering.
- Make sure to have a way to allow people to share your posts.
- Get a contact form up after your first post.
- Create your cornerstone content, products and other types of content after the first post. You can unveil it as it’s ready. Also, you can blog about it too! 😉
Not every professional blogger started out this way. Many of them started a entirely different website or online venture with just a post or very little static content. They eventually grew out of that with new ventures, and built sites that were fully realized. They ended up learning that other sites they wanted to build needed a good blog plan.
They learned through trial and error on their own blog. They learned from reading blogs that were dedicated to teaching other bloggers.
If you’re worried about being seen as egotistical, wait a few hours and a few likes from followers before liking your own posts.
Remember- the best thing about blogging and content creation is that there is an edit button, so how much content and making it all perfect does come with time.
For those who’ve been blogging for a while, did you wait, or did you promote from the start?
Content is important for every website and blog. Google loves the unique and compelling content. Thank you for the informative post.
I love this! Especially the tip about the “Hello World” default post – YES, use it to your advantage!
I think a lot of people don’t take advantage of it, when it literally sits there as a means to be played with. lol
Fantastic tip. I can see the rationale behind waiting but your reasoning is much stronger. Thanks for the education.
As always, good timely content. I am glad I am no longer starting my blog. I would much rather deal with the burden of having to consistently write than have to deal with that AND getting everything set up.
This is an encouraging and enlightening post, Nile. I did wait till I had a few posts up on my writing blog before making it public in the blogging groups I’m in. But I knew I couldn’t wait till I have an actual product up before introducing people to my blog.
I love this! I am one of those that always fears that I haven’t published enough content to feel comfortable about promoting. I need to just read this millions of times when my anxiety is creeping in.
Sorry Niel.. but i do not agree with you… I believe you must have couple of good articles before you share/promote your website otherwise why would they visit to your website.. Same as you must have good collections in your store before you start attracting buyers.
That’s fine on your opinion, but a lot of opportunity wasted in waiting to debut your blog or even startup.
Some really good startups have even started on merely an idea and hyping up people on social networks.
For the bootstrap business owner or blogger who is still working a regular full time job, they don’t have the time to create that much content. Sure you can blog about your product, or create a couple pages, but I’m talking about content creation in regards to blogging. 😉
Thanks Nile for more clarifications..
Btw I like your blog and have listed it in my post about CommentLuv enabled blogs
Hello Nile, I was so curious to nfind out what your advice was going ot be on this when I read the title! And Kudos. I do absolutely agree. There is no reason to wait and like you I to have seen some amazing bloggers out there right from their start.
Thanks for sharing.
Chery :))
I think that it not producing too much articles for your website to promote but instead producing a quality content the readers will read. If you are producing too much article with no value it doesn’t make sense in promoting your website.
Producing quality content is a definite MUST. Agreed on that. 🙂
Content and marketing both needs to be in an equilibrium,because excessive marketing and less content leads to confined options for the viewer,furthermore Nice post!
I couldn’t agree more Nile!
Just like you, I started strategically my blog as soon as I
published my very first post!LOL!
And not because I was convinced
it was the greatest content ever!
I did so because I was anxious to let my specific target market
know I was readily, willing and able to help them!
But truthfully Nile, I think part of the real underlying reason why
they hesitate, is because they simply lack confidence in the content
they’re sharing!
And that’s why they’re so reluctant to move forward!LOL!