[waerhert]

Checking the datasheet is essential, they usually show the “must-have” parts around a chip. Beyond that, good habits are adding decoupling caps close to the pins, keeping ground solid, and following the reference layout. I also learned a lot just by listening to experienced designers explain their choices, like here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVUqaB0IMh4

[stavros]

Thanks, I'll read more datasheets, as I've kind of just been winging it (with terrible results, as you saw).

[mkipper]

If you're pulling the datasheet from the vendor website, you can also skim the list of documentation and see if there are any application notes available for the part.

For more "complicated" parts (e.g. lots of signals, high frequency, high power, etc.), integrating the part into a board design isn't necessarily straightforward. Rather than putting a ton of detail in the datasheet, the vendor will sometimes have an entirely separate document with design guidelines for the part.