So, dear readers, I’m going to make you work for it today. Most days, I’m happy to just let you all sit back and just read without giving any sort of feedback or anything but NOT SO TODAY. Oh no, I need you all to help me out with some things. That’s going to mean clicking out of your feed reader and leaving a comment. It’s a lot to ask, I know, because there are so many fabulous blogs to be reading and mine is just yet another drop in the bucket. BUT… I don’t ask for much and this would make me happy. You want to make me happy, don’t you?
I thought so.
First off, I’m thinking of doing a series of posts on various WordPress “How To’s”. Things like getting started with WordPress including how to move off sites like Blogger and Wordpress.com, finding a theme and how to use it, what plugins are, where to find them and how to use them, etc and so forth. But what I REALLY want to know is what YOU guys want to know. Particularly those of you on Blogger or Wordpress.com. What’s stopping you from switching to self-hosted Wordpress? What are you nervous about when it comes to WordPress? What do you want to know? Tell me your burning questions and I’ll answer them in this series. Sound good?
Edited to add: I guess my big question is: What is keeping you on Blogger and away from WordPress (as in, what do I need to do to convince you to move??)?
Okay, next order of business: Have you seen the new Savvy Source widget I have over there in the righthand sidebar? Sure is purty, isn’t it? Anyhow, if you have a moment or two, take the quiz because it’s for a good cause (not just putting $ in my pocket, which it does that, but also there’s the whole children’s eductation benefit). You don’t have to tell me if you’ve taken the quiz or not, but I wanted to point it out either way. Also, if you’re interested in running this widget on your own blog, I have some invites available to the first five people who want them. So if that’s you, then you do have to tell me. Otherwise, how would I know? I don’t read minds, yo.
Here’s another question for you guys: What do you think of the blog, in general. All criticisms about writing aside, how do you like it? Is the design working for you all? Are there any features to the design or the blog in general that you love or hate? Anything that I don’t do that you’d like to see? Would you like to see a different look? Do you have any issues with the current design (doesn’t load correctly, etc)? Sound off! Give it to me with both barrels. I WANT TO KNOW. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know.
I think that’s all the questions I have for now. If I think of anything else, I’ll be sure to let you know. And I want to thank you ahead of time for your answers. I’m continually amazed by the fabulous people who read this blog. You guys, quite honestly, are the wind beneath my internet wings.
{ 13 comments }
dee (13 comments.) 08.15.08 at 10:23 am
1) Don’t have any WP questions. Already run several sites on it.
2) Definitely interested in the Savvy Source widget if you still have some.
3)Love the blog, just wish I had more time to read it!
dees last blog post..Feels Like Home
lemonade (6 comments.) 08.15.08 at 10:46 am
Wow! I’m so glad you asked.
I’ve been stuck on blogger(withnowheretogo.blogspot.com) for the last couple of years and find it pretty great, but with the stuff people have to say about wordpress, i find myself wanting to move! The thing is, i design (lemonadedesigns.blogspot.com) my own templates for blogger, but im scared i wont get the look that i want for wordpress because i wont know the proper way to code it. that’s my main issue.
Another great tutorial would be how to buy a domain name and set up wordpress on ur own host, i’ve been looking for a tutorial that makes sense, for awhile, but haven’t been very successful.
if you could enlighten us on this stuff it would be awesome and i would be forever grateful!
thanks a bunch
Rhi (55 comments.) 08.15.08 at 10:56 am
AWWW! You’re the wind beneath my internet wings, too!
I’d love the Savvy Source widget dealie
Also, switching from Blogger to self hosted WordPress was the best thing I’ve ever done.
Rhis last blog post..Friday Bullets! Bed Rest Edition
Rhi (55 comments.) 08.15.08 at 10:57 am
Never mind! Savvy source is for parents! HEE!
Rhis last blog post..Friday Bullets! Bed Rest Edition
cagey (99 comments.) 08.15.08 at 12:01 pm
Hmmmm, I like Blogger. They fixed the two big things that bothered me (lack of emails for replying to comments and easy archival of entire blog), so now I have no reason to move. Truthfully? I have used Wordpress for two different blogs now and I just don’t see what all the love is for. I really regret putting the FoodieBytes blog on Wordpress.
I like the colors on your blog. Sometimes, it is hard for me to find what I need on two-columned sidebars. For example, I had a VERY hard time finding your cloth diaper blog when I was hunting for it. I would definitely have a clearer section for “you can find me here” kind of stuff.
Sorry.
cageys last blog post..If it’s not snot, then what is it?
Stacey (10 comments.) 08.15.08 at 12:14 pm
I like Blogger. There is nothing I feel any real need to do that Blogger can’t. Mostly though I don’t use Wordpress because my ISP’s server software is so out of date I can’t run it. I’m not paying to host my blog anywhere else, so I’m sticking with blogger until the ISP gets around to outsourcing their hosting.
I like the pink & the flourishes here. I’m not seeing anything under your Blog Her Ads setting.
Staceys last blog post..I’ve decided normal life begins again Monday
Moon HalloranLeady (73 comments.) 08.15.08 at 5:58 pm
Well I’m such a newbie here! First of all I like the way your blog looks. It’s all cute and frilly but inyourface as far as your posts go, and I bet that’s just the way you as a person are! And whoa I just noticed I’m one of “This month’s cool kids” — I’m *somebody* now
mwha! Oh and can you make the blog font a bit bigger for this old lady here (I just turned 43)? My arms aren’t long enough to reach the keyboard if I have to move my chair back enough to read it LOL
Ok here’s the Q’s from me…and don’t laugh, ‘k?
* What is a “tag” and how do I “tag” someone? I wanna do it! (toldja, I’m clueless)
* How do I link to something…like when I put something in my post and want it highlighted so the reader can go look at whatever I’m referring to (’cause I’m just THAT important).
* I am just on wordpress.com. I don’t know if I want to have my own site, but I guess I wouldn’t mind the ad income. I just really wouldn’t like all the ads in my blog. Back and forth on that really. I seriously I don’t expect to get enough traffic to warrant ANY ad being there. It’s pretty much just me and my lonesome over where I’m at but I just started so I’m not worried. And besides, even if no one ever read me that would be fine. I have always kept journals and this one just happens to be online. But mebbe in the future…I might consider a site like this. I sing and write songs and music and play guitar so in addition to my MySpace (ugh, don’t get me started on that!) site I might be able to post stuff here.
* How in the blankety-blank hell do I stick twitter banners or other stuff? I am guessing I would have to be on the wordpress pay service and not the free one, righty? That’s kewl. I’ll stay free for now.
* What’s a widget? (::sigh:: I’m hopeless)
I have asked all these things to my uber geek boyfriend but he doesn’t know html and besides he is a gamer and really isn’t interested in the blog scene or web design. He would rather write and design games and leave his beloved girlfriend adrift in a sea of idiocy to figure out this @#$% blog-o-sphere of phun. But ya gotta love him.
* As for the Savvy Source, well, my kids are teenagers and I don’t have any little ones. This would have jived with me had there been blog sites or stuff like this when they were little. Geez, I would have been on here all day, so I know what you mean.
hugs and all that
Moon HalloranLeadys last blog post..August Memories
mojavi at Simple Things (13 comments.) 08.15.08 at 9:28 pm
i guess the only thing that keeps me on blogger is I only have so many reader now and I am affraid if I move none of them would follow me or be able to find me
plus I didn’t know wordpress Hosted your own domain
mojavi at Simple Thingss last blog post..hiding something?
Missy (20 comments.) 08.16.08 at 2:37 am
Yes, we do want to make you happy. That was totally the easiest question ever.
I’m on Blogger because … I haven’t moved? There are definitely things I’d like it to do that it doesn’t, but
- I’d want the prettiest design ever if I moved, and you pretty much already stole it (see how I answered the design question right in there?)
- I’d have to learn how to use something Wordpress
- I’d have to pay money, right?
- I couldn’t just say “stupid Blogger” when something went wrong, because probably I broke my own site.
I like the site design, there’s really not much I’d change. That was unhelpful, wasn’t it. Oh, maybe have the popular posts in the sidebar somewhere instead of hiding way down there. There, I found something to criticise, hope you’re happy!
Randi (18 comments.) 08.16.08 at 7:30 am
I love the coloring on this blog - absolutely!
I’m still with blogger simply because
1. it’s free
2. I don’t want to lose all of my stuff and don’t know how to transfer it to wordpress
3. I’m lazy
That’s pretty much why.
Love the quizlet thingy! If you’ve still got invites, I’d love to have one!
Good questions!
Moon HalloranLeady (73 comments.) 08.16.08 at 10:57 am
Uh oh…I think this 12th post just might qualify me as stalking you
uhm…but I’m not. really. I’m not.
Anyhoo, does it cost to have one’s own doman? In my mind I’m think in the “duh” department and yuppers it prolly does but I’m still asking.
And that little RSS feed thingy. Uhm, I barely get it. I have signed up at Technorati, and BION I actually had someone it Greece find me and sign up for my feed. He obviously speaks English, but I can’t read his blog because it’s in Greek (duh, again).
‘Nother Q. Do I have to learn HTML to have my own domain? Not that I couldn’t, but just asking.
Love your site, so don’t ever change. You are so real and so out there — you remind me of ME about 10 years ago when my kidlets were little. There wasn’t all this fancy internet stuff back then (better get out the cane right now, ’cause I guess I’m officially old)….LOL
Moon in MO
Moon HalloranLeadys last blog post..August Memories
Loralee (5 comments.) 08.16.08 at 12:55 pm
Do you know what I would love? A step-by-step guide on how to make a FREAKING HEADER and how to install it.
Because I am HOPELESS.
Gah.
Loralees last blog post..Peeper Party
Laurin (1 comments.) 08.17.08 at 4:38 pm
My site is a premium Typepad but I don’t know how to do an advanced template yet. Do you have any advice on Typepad vs self hosted Wordpress? I really want the CommentLuv plugin.
And I think your design is fab because pink is my favorite color.
Laurins last blog post..Am I the only one who doesn’t drink coffee?
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