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How to Restart a Dead or Dormant Blog

January 4, 2009

By Darren Rowse

Got an old dead blog that you want to restart? In this guest post David Peralty of College Crunch shares some tips on how to get it going again!

Over the course of time, you might have left one of your blogs, or maybe your only blog to die off. You stopped posting, thought you would come back to it and never did. Days, weeks, months and maybe even years have since passed with no new content added to the site. It still gets a little bit of traffic, one or two visitors here or there, and might even have a few RSS subscribers.

You have recently decided to start posting once again, but do you restart the blog you let lay dormant for so long, or start new and fresh, either on the same domain or a new one? There are many questions, problems and issues to be worked out before re-launching, or restarting writing about your passion. Some people just charge in without planning, only to realize later on that they’ve done things the wrong way, and end up leaving the blog dormant once again.

Keep the Domain

My first word of advice would be to keep the domain you started writing on. If your topic is going to be the same, then you have many advantages here. Firstly is domain age, as a domain gets older it is inherently more trusted by search engines. This isn’t always the case though as massive additions of new content quickly can lead to a site getting a temporary negative effect on its search engine results.

The second advantage is back links. Previously, if people linked to your site, those links would still be relevant, could lead to traffic, and are also great for search engine rankings. Getting new links on a new domain might be more difficult, and so being able to keep the ones you’ve already secured is always advantageous.

The last reason, I’ll put forth is branding. No doubt there will be people that will recognize the brand, and have a more instant attachment to you, your site and what you are doing. Branding online is only getting more difficult as the number of blogs online increases and everyone competes for attention.

Note: If there is too much baggage related to the domain, and you just don’t feel motivated to revamp and refocus on an old site, then sometimes moving as far away from the “failed” project as possible is the best solution. I wouldn’t recommend leaving the domain behind unless you come to this point emotionally though.

Start Fresh But…

As for content concerns, I have always been one to start fresh as I feel the baggage of the past weighing down on my current pursuits. I also think it looks odd when a blog has an archive with a big blank period where there was no posting. This might not matter to you, and if not, then carry on as normal, ignore the break, and get back into the swing of things as quickly as possible.

For those of you that don’t want to show off a huge break in content, export your old content, archive your favourite posts, or those posts that were most commented on and repost them on the refreshed blog as new content. If you keep the same permalink structure, or know how to edit htaccess files like a ninja, you can make sure that anyone that had linked to specific articles can still find them.

This method also brings content to the attention of your new audience that you are building up, as people rarely dig through the archives of blogs, unless they are truly interested and invested in what the author had to say.

Find the Joy and Consistency

Usually people quit blogging on a site because they stop enjoying it or because they fall out of the habit. Set a publishing schedule that isn’t too taxing, and find ways to enjoy writing on your re-launched blog.

Take some small comfort in knowing that we have all been there, and that life can get in the way of building a successful blog. Remember that you can always re-launch, restart, and refocus your efforts as time allows.

Restarting a blog can seem daunting, difficult or frustrating, but the excitement in doing it successfully and watching it blossom is exhilarating.

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Blogging for Self-Discovery

December 15, 2008

Blogging for Self-Discovery

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Can blogging be a tool for self-discovery? I believe it can, and I’d like to share my thoughts and experiences with you on how it can. Self-discovery leads to self-improvement, and self-improvement leads to success–however you define it. I believe blogging is a path to self-discovery because that’s what I do.

Who can use blogging for self-discovery? Really, anyone, but here are some groups of people who I think might be more ready than most to take their personal growth to the next level:

  • Recent empty nesters
  • New entrepreneurs
  • New activists
  • Dedicated artists
  • Newly suffering a personal/family tragedy (such as a cancer diagnosis)

So what is blogging for self-discovery?

Let’s go back in time a bit. When blogs first came on the scene, they were described as “online diaries.” But blogs are much more than that. Traditionally, a diary is not something you share with others, but a blog is. People do not stop by your house and read your diary entries and then write their own opinions in your diary. But with blogs, that’s exactly what you do (makes comment spam seem even uglier, when you look at that way, doesn’t it?).

I know it seems obvious that I’m saying a blog is like a diary, except it’s online and people can leave comments, but that’s exactly what changes everything: You are not alone. Others will find you. The ones who need you will find you. As you blog for yourself and work through your own issues, you become a universal magnet for others. They will leave comments on your public personal issues diary–your blog.

And you will discover these other people in the same situation as you also blogging. Suddenly, you have both an audience and a support network at the same time. This is a key difference between blogging and being a blogger vs. any other kind of media or publishing endeavor. The barrier between publisher, reader, and participant has become a thin veil, through which we can pass with ease.

Several people have contacted me privately and have told me that they’re watching what I’m doing here at Remarkablogger with keen interest. In essence, what they have said is that they’re watching me grow. And it’s true: I am growing as a person right before your eyes. That’s part of what makes Remarkablogger what it is–a journey that you join in with along the way.

Tips and pointers on blogging for self-discovery

  • The most personal feelings and events are universally experienced by others: the more personal you get with your blogging, the more universal you get.
  • Others will project their problems and issues onto you. You are a mirror in which people see themselves and they may not like what they see, but they will blame you.
  • You can monetize any subject matter, but I recommend you build your audience and their trust first. It may be that your blogging will provide you with opportunity more than direct revenue.
  • Despite that you may be going through terrible problems, when you’re blogging for self-discovery, you become other people’s hero. Nobody wants to see their hero feeling depressed or losing it. Is that fair? No. Is it realistic that you can always put on a brave front? No. But nevertheless, this is where the support group aspect breaks down. This is where you need private communications with close friends or a mastermind group.
  • Provide opportunity for others to share their experiences in your space through guest-blogging and social media.

What’s your path to self-discovery?

There may be groups of people who are particularly ready to benefit from blogging for self-discovery I haven’t thought of, but you have. You may have a pointer or a tip about blogging for self-discovery I haven’t recognized. If so, I’d love to have you share that in the comments or write your own blog post on self-discovery blogging and tell us about it in the comments here.

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