Do You Make These 7 Mistakes Setting Up Your Blog?

Jul 9, 2008
15 Comments

Can the average person set up a self-hosted WordPress blog? Should a professional be hired? I’m sure you’re expecting me to say you should hire a pro, but that’s not what I’m going to say. Bear in mind, though, the bar has been raised. You gotta start out as strong as possible for the best chance of success. How do you know if you’re making serious mistakes? Keep reading and you’ll find out.

Yes, the average person CAN set up a blog… but that’s not the real issue. The issue as I see it is this: will the blog be set up the best way possible? Unless you know the technical stuff and have experience, you could have a rocky road ahead of you.

Here are some mistakes that non-professionals make that we should be aware of:

1. Using a "one-click install" service from your web host

One-click installs seem worth it for convenience and for folks who don’t feel confident in their tech knowledge. But it’s often not the latest version, which is a security vulnerability. 

2. Not setting "pretty permalinks" for better post URLs

Using "ugly URLs" hurts your search optimization big time. This one’s pretty easy to deal with if your blog is already installed, but if something goes wrong, you need to have access to files on your web server via FTP in order to fix the problem.

3. Uploading the wp-config-sample.php file to the server

WordPress has a file which needs to be changed in order for the blog to be installed. This file has your database connection information. It’s called wp-config-sample.php. It must be uploaded to the server as wp-config.php, but people upload the original "sample" one, too, which is a security vulnerability.

4. Not deleting the default "admin" user

WordPress creates a default user with the user name of "admin". For security reasons, you should never use this user. Immediately create a new user with a unique user name and password for yourself.

5. Not using certain plugins

Certain plugins are incredibly beneficial, such as All-in-one SEO Pack or Subscribe to Comments. All my clients get the best plugins installed on their blogs for them, but you can install plugins yourself if you know how to use an FTP program (which isn’t all that hard).

6. Not using FeedBurner for RSS feed handling

FeedBurner redirects your blog’s RSS feeds through its own service, which gives you all manner of fantastic options if you know your way around FeedBurner. Every successful blog that I know of uses FeedBurner.

7. Not having posts written in advance of launch

For the best chance of success, you want content ready to go before your blog officially launches. You don’t want people coming to a nearly empty blog! In fact, before you launch, you have all the time in the world to write your best stuff, no hurry!

What’s Possible Isn’t Always What’s Best

Yes, you can do it yourself. It’s a very empowering feeling. We all have our areas of expertise. I would never pay anyone else to do what I can do for myself with websites, but I pay to have my car repaired, because that’s not my thing. I don’t want it to be my thing. You have to decide where your priorities and wants are. It might be totally worth it for you to hire a pro, but the learning experience of doing it yourself can be very valuable. It’s your choice. Nothing is right or wrong, but each carries different advantages and disadvantages.

  • @Thomas, I've emailed you!
  • thomas tantullo
    hi, i need someone to set up a complete blog for me to promote and sell my book.

    I need to install click bank to get paid and whatever else, how much to do the whole job? tks tom
  • Sharp tips, Michael. I have been trying to get rid of the silly dates from the WP blog entry URLs, but it has caused more problems than fixes. Dagnabbit.
  • Another one to add: not setting up a regular backup solution. There are great plugins that handle that. You just would never want to lose your blog.
  • I disagree with the #1 item on the list. Using a host that features one-click WordPress installations is a great intro to running WordPress on a self-hosted site. Even though there may be a lag in one-click updates, once you're comfortable working with and within WordPress, you can do a normal update just like any other WordPress admin.
  • Hi: I just downloaded the All-in-one SEO Pack and Subscribe to Comments plug ins and activated them on my blog, thanks for the tip!
  • Security wise. Installing the newest version of WP and deleting the admin account are the best for security. This is how most blogs are hacked.

    This is a good list of mistakes.

    Not knowing your niche and not writing in that niche (being too general) are other mistakes I would add. I've seen a number of blogs fail because they post about everything.
  • @Mark - You're welcome!

    @Dave - Most people don't realize the importance of keyword research until later. As long as your URL isn't too specific for the wrong keywords, you can turn that ship around any time you want to.
  • I'll add one ...

    Starting a blog without the keywords you want to rank for in mind :-)

    Learning this the hard way ...
  • Good post, Michael. Picked up on a point or two, actually. Thanks.
  • @James - It's a given that we're talking about self-hosted WordPress only for this article. What you're talking about is a decision that is made before setup occurs. But you're right, it's a big mistake! :)

    @Patrick - I wrote a post on using a starter blog for the same reasons you bring up. Good point on using the default theme.

    @Sharon - thanks for the info on BlueHost being up-to-date. Many people use them.
  • Well, I've not done too badly on this list, but must check for that sample file. I agree that setting up a professional blog means paying for hosting, but not all 1-click installs are bad. Bluehost keeps their install pretty up to date, especially if you go through SimpleScripts rather than the Cpanel install.
  • I agree with the above comment about using a free blogging service for their business or organization. You have so many more options when you have it set up on your own server such as more customizations, a greater choice of plugins, etc. However I will often tell people who "thinking about blogging" or want to get a feel for it to "test drive" blogging by opening up a free account and talking about something non business related. While my I have stuff on my own server for business I will sometimes set up a blog for something I am not getting paid for just to get my foot in the door with some people.

    Another thing to add to the list is using the default theme. If you do you will look lazy or worse like one of those "spam blogs" if nothing else create a custom header image with you name, logo, etc.
  • I'll add one to your list, Michael. One of the biggest mistakes we see people make is to sign up for a free blog like Blogger or Wordpress.com

    A few months in and they realize they can't get all the features they need for a solid blog, the look can't be professionally customized and they're stuck migrating everything to a self-hosted blog.

    If you're in business, don't go the free blog route. Period.
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