Many bloggers, myself included, get so excited with all of the cool gadgets that go along with blogging that they put more importance on adding plugins than writing. Even promotion takes a back seat to adding all these fun little gadgets to our blog. My advice is to stop being spastic and wait until your blog is popular to add plugins like feedburner.
But Ryan, you have feedburner on your blog, how can you tell me not to use it yet?
Yes, I’m aware – but you’re going to have to do as I say and not as I do. The reason I got the idea to post this blogging advice is because I learned from my own mistake. Considering I just started this blog several days ago, I should not have added feedburner yet. As you can see from looking at it (for those who don’t know, it’s the little rectangle that says “feedburner”) – it’s quite an embarassing number that I’m boasting.
Embarassed? A little – but I’m making good on my mistake by educating newbie bloggers on what not to do in those first few weeks of blogging. On a side note, I’d like to mention that although I’m new to independent blogging, I consider myself very experienced in internet business. For those that follow this blog loyally, I’m sure you’re aware of my primary project – FitConnect.com.
Back to the point – here’s several reasons not to add feedburner to your blog until you have a solid reader base
- The first few weeks, even months, should be spent focused on writing solid content
Plugins can be confusing at times, and even when not confusing, they can be time consuming to setup. Meanwhile, you’ll get side tracked from the original blogging purpose – writing good stuff and having people read it. People want to read good content, not a feedburner stat. - Early along, you will probably change your blog’s style many times
With a million different catchy wordpress themes out there, it’s hard to pick one and stick with it. It’s been a few days and I’ve already switched mine like 8 times. I think I’m set with this one, but it’s still somewhat up in the air. Suppose I decide to change my color scheme? Then I’d have to go back and change my feedburner colors as well – which is no big chore, but it’s still one more task added to my busy, blogging life. Get your blog’s theme and style set before you add feedburner. - Your FeedBurner’s stats will be embarrassing in the beginning
Yea yea, my feedburner is a joke at the moment (unless you’re reading this a year from now). But that’s what really inspired me to write this – I’m looking like an idiot, so you don’t have to. If you’ve seen my feedburner stat, I’m impressed you’re even reading this. Credibility is huge when reading Blog Advice and Personal Development related articles. How credible is a feedburner stat that’s less than 5?Not very credible. You lose credibility when you boast an embarassing feedburner stat. People will then be less likely to listen to your advice, or even read your advice, if they feel you lack knowledge of the subject and credibiliy. Just another reason not to add feedburner until you have a large reader base.
So why haven’t I removed the feedburner if I’m so against it? Well there’s two reasons for that. For one, I’m done messing with any plugins until I finish a few more quality blogs. And for two, I am taking one for the team. I’m looking like an idiot, so you don’t have to. How could you really understand how dumb someone looks when they have a low feedburner number without seeing mine in action?
Your welcome my friend – In return, why don’t you subscribe to my RSS for daily advice similar to this? Maybe I don’t have to be a feed-loser forever.
This raises the question… When should feedcounter be added? What do you think?
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