When I wrote about how blogging is like a home, it sparked a firestorm of questions and a bit of a debate behind the scenes about whether Blogger or WordPress was a better blogging platform.
Here’s the controversial paragraph:
“Remember even an ordinary apartment can look like a million-bucks with a little planning and some style. Though many bloggers have moved to WordPress (and I think it’s fabulous), you can be just as successful utilizing a free blogging platform like Blogger. Work with what is in your means. Who’s with me on this one?”
There were some who were horrified I would suggest Blogger is okay. Others that just wanted to know which platform was best…
Well, let’s continue on with the house analogy, shall we?
Deciding whether or not to rent or own your own home is very personal, as is the decision of what blogging platform is best for you – Blogger or WordPress.
In both cases, fear of the unknown (can I afford it, will I be able to manage it, what happens if something breaks) can be a powerful driver in the decision making process.
Google has created a pretty dreamy home for bloggers. The drag and drop functionality makes it easy for bloggers to move their “furniture” in and rely on the “landlord” to take care of the more serious upkeep like development, increased functionality and hosting.
Best of all? Blogger is completely free.
So why would you want to move from Blogger to WordPress?
Total and complete ownership. You’ve put a lot of time and effort into your “rental,” but at the end of the day you don’t own your own pad. Google WILL delete blogs that receive complaints or that it believes doesn’t abide by its terms of service.
Your space, your style. In an apartment you can make some minor adjustments, but you’re limited by the framework. With WordPress, the sky’s the limit. You can change your design as often as you like.
Room to grow. With WordPress you have room to grow. You can set up pages that can be changed and updated quickly and easily. AND, with thousands of FREE plug-ins, you can use WordPress to add anything from a topic page to a storefront. Also with the integrated functionality of WordPress Multi-User, you can easily expand to a network of websites.
Return on investment. With WordPress you do have to secure hosting and that will cost you. But, it costs as little as $5 a month (more on how to determine your hosting needs). In return, you have access to thousands of free plugins that can do everything from managing your advertising to selecting giveaway winners, saving you loads of time. You also have a more professional platform that makes working with large companies and potentially selling more of an option.
Encourages visitors. WordPress’ efficient coding, organization and built in SEO makes it easier for search engines to locate. As a result, it is indexed much faster driving more traffic to the site with little additional effort.
Security. The frequent updates provided that can be secured right from the website. The changes “scare” the buglers away.
What do you think? Enough to make you switch if you haven’t already?
Clearly, I am a big fan of WordPress. Quite frankly, I think it’s easier to use and provides more short cuts. However, I am an even bigger fan of following your heart. At the end of the day, doing what feels right is what will make you the most successful.
Want another perspective on using Blogger? Go read Bridget’s post on “How not to Blog.”
I am curious. Are you on Blogger or WordPress? I’d love an informal count so that we know what types of posts and tutorials would be most helpful to our audience.
HI! I just found *SNAP! from Mandi @ Vintage Revivals! I can’t wait to dive further into your site! I will say as a blogger myself, I’ve been blogging for just over 2 1/2 years. I’ve used both and have to say that I do prefer WordPress.com over Blogger.
While they both have their pros and cons I can come up with more pros for WordPress.com. I will say that Blogger is insanely awesome for people looking to start a blog but are very tech savy. I feel like it’s much more user friendly for first timers. I’m no tech genius but I know a little and feel more comfortable working in WordPress.
My only complaint with WordPress is the lack of theme choices which isn’t that awful because you can choose from several themes that are 100% customizable you just need a bit of code under your belt.
Hi Lindsey, Welcome! Glad you have joined us.
I appreciated your perspective. I think it’s helpful for bloggers to hear from someone like you who’s had a little experience with both Blogger and WordPress.
xoxo
Tauni
I think she was actually talking about wordpress.org blogs. WordPress.com is wordpress’ version of blogger-free to use and actually (I think) is a far more limiting free blog platform than Blogger. But wordpress.org is the one where you buy hosting and install wordpress through your host.
So perhaps a little clarity in the post to let people who haven’t worked on all three platforms that the one she is talking about where you own your content & have unlimited flexibility is not wordpress.com, it’s the .org one.
I hear from a lot of my blog design clients they are so excited to get on wordpress & then I realize they joined at wordpress.com and I have to break the news that that is not the wordpress everyone raves about lol
Kristi, I think you’re probably right. I will have to clarify that!
xoxo
Tauni
I’m blogger – everyone seems to love wordpress, but I’m scared to make the jump!!
Mandy, You are definitely a case where I would really recommend making the change. I think that you’d really appreciate the additional functionality that WordPress would provide. Of course, the best advice I can give you is to make the transition with a well seasoned designer…As much as I love DIY, I wouldn’t recommend it on the blog 😉
You will have to let us know if you decide to make the change!
xoxo
Tauni
I’m blogger. My husband just started a blog on WordPress and tried to convince me to switch, but I already know how to do everything I want to do on Blogger.
Leslie, Thanks for sharing. I am not one to say your husband is right, but…Just kidding. I think that the most important thing for each and every blogger is to do what is most comfortable for them. I think that when you are in your element you truly have the most success!
xoxo
Tauni
Thanks for this write-up. I’m (still) on blogger and honesty, I’m happy with where I’m at. It’s been a learning process and I know I don’t know everything (html, design, etc), but I enjoy the process. I was on the fence awhile back and *almost* made the change but I held on. I do appreciate the SEO and reader encouragement WordPress has… I suppose that would be my biggest wish for blogger. If there is a way to work in SEO tricks for blogger – I would LOVE that. 🙂 ~Liz
Liz, Thanks for your thoughts on the whole Blogger/Wordpress issue. It’s nice to have your perspective and I will do what I can to find out if there are additional SEO options for Blogger as you’ve suggested.
xoxo
Tauni
I’m on Blogger, just started blogging last month. I looked at both Blogger and WordPress before making the choice, I figured Blogger was easier as I already had a Google account!
Sara, Sounds like you did your research and selected the blogging platform that works best for you – that’s fantastic! Thanks for sharing your perspective. It really helps us guide our content.
xoxo
Tauni
I am on blogger and I agree with that first quote. You can make blogger look clean and great too 🙂 For me, i feel I am not “big” enough for wordpress and that’s okay with me.
Lyssa,
I am glad to hear your perspective. I think that your comments are in-line with the way most of our community feels. And I honestly meant what I said about a blogger site looking like a million bucks – sometimes you can’t even tell the difference.
xoxo
Tauni
As a reader I don’t give as much credit or confidence to Blogger sites. I see WordPress as more professional. Perhaps I shouldn’t, but I do. (I automatically think that the WordPress person is seasoned and somehow knows more and that the Blogger person is a novice.)
You like me. You really like me…Thank you for commenting on this article my dear. I agree with your perspective *IF* the person is still using a blogspot address. If the blog is self-hosted then I don’t mind so much…
xoxo
T
I am in mid-air making the leap. Can’t wait until I go live. Too bad life keeps getting in the way. Thanks for your encouragement!
Woot! Can’t wait to see how things are when they are all “finalized.” Of course, isn’t a blog always kind of a work in progress?
xoxo
Tauni
I’m a blogspot…I don’t think I need all the bells and whistles, but as with everything else in my life, I say that now, once you expose it to me, I can never go back….big screen HD TV, fancy phone, designer handbag 🙂
LOL. I just giggling over your comment. I think you’ve described the exact situation I was in when I first made the switch to WordPress last year. Blogger was serving me well, but I wanted the bells and whistles (even if I wasn’t using them), Now that I’ve got them? I will never go back….
xoxo
Tauni
I’m on blogger but I am a contributing writer for a WordPress blog. I have a hard time when I’m writing my WordPress posts, for example I can’t figure out how to format my text, etc. It’s just enough to keep me with blogger right now. If I can’t figure out how to edit a post once/month I think it would get extremely frustrating trying to figure it out every day!
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
Hi Anna – I agree, the WordPress platform is a pain, which is why I use Window’s Live Writer to update my WordPress blog. It’s free and has a similar interface to Microsoft Word.
Andi, Window’s Live Writer is a great blogging tool and makes ANY post easier and generally more beautiful to look at 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
xoxo
Tauni
Anna, Thanks for sharing your perspective on our Blogger/WordPress article. Based on the comments from those who agree with you, I think it’s pretty clear that there are a lot of Blogger fans in our community. There certainly are features that make it a bit more intuitive.
Have you considered using Window’s Live Writer to post to the WordPress blog you contribute too? Sounds like it could make your life a whole lot easier!
xoxo
Tauni
Thanks so much for the shout-out! 🙂 I’m obviously one of those still smitten with blogger. It’s easy, it’s FREE,and relatively bug-free. No hosting issues, no “upgrading” to a larger server, etc. For now, it works for me. 🙂
Bridget, I am really glad that you wrote the post on Blogger. I really believe that the key to blogging success is to do “what works for you.” Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on the post too 🙂
xoxo
Tauni
Hmmm I’m toying with the idea of moving but blogger is just so easy, I’m scared Ill get in a mess with WordPress as I’m not that technical. I did make sure I had my own domain name though 🙂 x
Thanks for your comment on the Blogger/WordPress issue. I have to tell you, I don’t find myself to be a very technical person at all. I mean, I am a whiz at “googling” and using the internet, but the programming stuff? Not my cup of tea. Beyond the initial design (you can check out my not so great work at http://www.itsatradition.com, I recommend a professional like I used for this site) though, the back-end of WordPress is actually pretty darn user friendly!
You will have to let me know what you decide….
xoxo
TAuni
I use blogger. FREE is good. My blog is tiny and while I am trying diligently to grow it, it is not at a point where I can make a financial commitment.
LOL Sarah. FREE is good. I spent my first year on blogger and it worked wonderfully for me. Not only that, but there are several very large blogs that continue to be hosted on the site.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
xoxo
Tauni
I’m with Anna on this. For the moment, I have a very simple blog. I use Live Writer to compose and am familiar with how to do that and can do it fairly quickly and easily. I like the current design and plan on keeping it for a while. Fear of the unknown and the time investment involved in learning a completely new “blogging language” keep me at Blogger. But I’m also the type IRL that always gets the same dish at a favorite restaurant. I find something that I like, and never feel the need to search further, even though the next dish I try might blow my socks off. There’s also the risk that I might hate it, so I stick with what I know is good. Feel me?
Ann Marie, Reading your comment has made me thing about how reluctant I am to make changes myself. I honestly don’t know what made me change over to WordPress last year…When I first made the change most members of our community were still on blogger (let’s be honest they still are too). I guess for me it was the interest in “knowing.” I wanted to KNOW for sure which platform was really best…
I totally understand your desire to stick with blogger…it makes sense.
xoxo
Tauni
Anything but WordPress is not professional in my book. You don’t have to be a professional, but if you want to make ANY sort of money with your blog, you MUST be on WordPress. Obviously, I’m on WordPress.
Sarah, You are of course one of the original WordPress evangelists in our world 🙂 Of course, you know that I agree…
xoxo
Tauni
I’m on blogger for now, but am plotting fast and furious for a move to WordPress. I’ve been terrified of learning a new system, but as I’ve created a blog for a friend using WordPress to start, I’ve been pleasantly relieved. Yes, it’s a new system … yes, I miss the ease of the drag-n-drop features of blogger … but there are a lot of similarities at the end of the day. The set up and “adding” gadget processes follow a similar enough path to help the process feel familiar, even though it’s very different. The support on the web is amazing with easy access and quick answers whenever I have a question. Blogger has been a great place to start, but the fear of the “unknows” on WordPress are quickly dropping away.
Sigh. I am so glad that you are finding WordPress to be pretty user friendly. Although I enjoyed the ease of manipulating my site on blogger, I have to agree that the ease of adding plugins and widgets on WordPress is pretty incredible. AND, perhaps my favorite thing is the array of plugins available for free use!
xoxo
Tauni
I have both types of blogs. My family blog is not intended for any type of commercial use so Blogger is the perfect option for that blog- especially now that Blogger has improved the options etc. I really like the ‘followers’ option on Blogger and you can’t really do that on WordPress in quiet the same way. It requires slightly more work to ‘follow’ a wordpress blog. I don’t want to switch to wordpress for my family blog because I don’t want the hassle or risk of moving it all over. I’ve had the family blog since 2008 and I like the easy maintenance.
My business website is a wordpress ‘blog’ and my newer special-interest blog is also WordPress. I agree that WordPress offers more in terms of functionality but I find it a huge pain to work with. I don’t make a lot of changes and so I forget how in between overhauls- which means a lot of late nights trying to figure it out. I’ve found WordPress to be really technically frustrating when I’ve tried to purchase and install high-quality themes. That said, once you get through all of that, the options it enables are pretty cool.
I think people who want to review products or use their blogs for any type of business or promotional purposes would be most happy with WordPress because of the functionality and options. I think that for people who simply want to stake out a place in the blogsphere for their own non-commercial purposes would be perfectly fine to stick with Blogger.
I’m Blogger. I’ve had Blogger for 2.5 years now and find it really comfortable and easy to use. I’m somewhat sufficient with html and find that I can easily manipulate my blog format to my whim with little trial and error. I find that my SEO is very good, but I also know how to develop that SEO. (Plus, well, Blogger *is* hosted by Google, the number one search engine.) 😉
I’m super curious about WordPress. I’ve heard great things about it from other bloggers (aside from hosting issues), but am a bit dubious about it. I think it may be one of those “you’ll love it if you try it” things that you just don’t “get” until you’re there. I hear a lot of general love about WordPress, but I want to delve deeper and get specifics.
*What widgets are so great (I have access to a ton of widgets on Blogger – what’s different)?
*What can you customize in WP formatting that you can’t in Blogger?
*Why shouldn’t I DIY my blog look for WP? Why the need for a blog designer?
*I’ve been wanting to try Window’s Live Writer anyway, but what makes the WP writing platform so bad?
*How do you choose a server to go with and what cost to go with? Is it based on the size of your blog and the amount of blog traffic?
These are just a few of my personal inquiries. But definitely things I would want to know if I were to make the switch. I dunno, I may be a die hard Blogger. lol! 🙂
Michele,
I am not an expert, but I am going to try to answer your questions in the most proficient way I can…I am going to stick to replying in the comments because I think others may have similar questions.
For every five widgets you may find for your blogger blog, WordPress has 50. They are typically more proficient and easier to install (one click installation) and use. They also have better support.
The truth of the matter is that many WordPress plugins are behind the scenes tools that your readers will likely never see. For instance, I am replying to you in the comments section of the SNAP blog, but my reply will automatically be sent to you in an email. Another great plugin? And the Winner Is. With one click you can designate a post as a giveaway. The plugin will select a winner at random (although you do have the opportunity to reject and have it re-select need be), close your comments and email the winner. Nice, right?! If you run ads on your site, there are ad management plugins that will activate and deactivate your ads as scheduled so that you don’t have as much leg work. There are also widgets to help your page load faster, work SEO magic without a lot of effort on your part, create printable recipes…it’s endless.
You can customize EVERYTHING in WordPress. Everything.
You can totally DIY your blog if you’d like. I built my personal blog. Kendra over at My Insanity just re-designed her WordPress blog…The better you know html, the easier it will be for you. The thing you will need help with is transferring your blogger blog (followers, comments, etc) over to WordPress. It’s a skill. Trust me.
I don’t mind the WP writing platform and that’s what I use, but it’s not as user friendly as some platforms. For instance, WP is not WYSIWYG. Your post is not necessarily going to have the same formatting as what you see in the writing pane. With Windows Live Writer, what you see IS what you get. I actually think it improves things for bloggers working on the blogger platform too.
Servers are based on the size of your blog and the amount of traffic. We actually posted a really great outline a couple of weeks ago: http://www.snaptheconference.com/is-it-time-to-upgrade/ To put it in perspective, our site gets about 40K uniques a month. We operate on a shared server. It’s a cost of about $6 a month…However, I am looking into a more secure site and plan to move to a VPS.
At the end of the day, this is a very personal decision. The blogging platform you work from will never determine your success. That comes from within. The number one biggest reason I would make the switch? None of the above. I simply want to OWN MY CONTENT and not have to worry about loosing it all to someone else. I am personally aware of at least two bloggers with a fairly lengthy history who’ve lost everything to Google because their site was flagged or taken down.
I hope that this answers some of your questions. If you have additional thoughts/comments I encourage you to return. I am happy to share the information I have…
xoxo
Tauni
Thank you, Tauni!! You are truly a wealth of information. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to answer all of my questions. I definitely feel like a have a better insight into the draw of WordPress.
*Blush* Why thank you Michele 🙂
Hi there…I ended up here by way of…well, I’m lost I guess because I don’t know how I got here. {ops! My bad!} Anyway, Hi! Nice to meet you. You have a lovely place here. =)
I’m at blogger and I’m pretty happy. I’ve tried moving to wordpress and typepad, but ended up back on blogger both times. I blog for myself and to maybe meet some blog friends. I’m at the computer all day and just want to get away every now and then. Sometimes, while blog hopping, I get the “keeping up with the Jones” feeling. You know, the fancy pants blogs with the fancy bling, fancy pictures and about a bazilliion so called “friends”. I’m not at all fan of product reviews, give aways and/or advertising. If there’s too much going on, I’ll pass on by. And most of all, yes I’m gonna say it, I Hate Braggy Blogs! Period.
I guess I’m just not part of the in crowd…and that’s ok. You can call me “The Odd Blogger Out” I guess. I never was one to follow along just to be like everyone else. That’s booorrrriiiinnnng! It’s kinda like, remember when we were teenagers and everyone shopped at The Limited? Ya, I stopped shopping there because then I would see everyone else wearing the exact same thing! Frustrating. That’s why I don’t do home parties either. So, with that said, I’m happy where I’m at.
I know I’ve gone on a little rant here…thank you for letting me do so. I am a very happy gal…really.
Enjoy your day and I hope to see you around!
~Jill
Jill, So you don’t know how you ended up on our site? Well, that’s okay, we’re just glad you stopped by 🙂
Your comment made me giggle out loud. I think your sentiment is shared by many. Our goal is to share tips and tricks that you can translate into a blog that works best for YOU! Whatever that may be….
xoxo
Tauni
This is great information. I’ve used Blogger from the very beginning of Addicted 2 Decorating. Overall, I’ve been pleased with it, and if I were simply wanting to do straightforward blogging, I’d probably stick with it.
However, I’m about to make the jump to WordPress (if I can find someone to help me that won’t break the bank!!). Over the last two years, I went from a straightfoward and simple blog, to a content website with a separate host and my Blogger blog set up as a subdomain on that website, to now having three different Blogger blogs set up as subdomains on the main website.
Because of Blogger’s limited functionality, the only way I could think of to make everything work the way I wanted it to work (and to keep different types of content separated on the site) was to do three separate blogs with each as a separate subdomain. As it’s grown, it’s gotten very confusing, and has become a real headache on the administrative end.
With the dramatically increased functionality of WordPress, and the sky’s-the-limit programming options (as long as you can find someone who knows how to do the programming), I’ll be able to have everything set up just like I want, while integrating everything on one site. No more need for subdomains and different hosts for different parts of my site.
I’m so anxious to make this switch and get everything streamlined, but I’m going to have to pay through the nose for it (could cost as much as $1800 to move all three blogs plus a content website to a consolidated website on WordPress).
So my advice to anyone who is really wanting to be serious about their blog, and possibly turn it into their full time job at any point in the future, is to think about what you want NOW, come up with a plan NOW, and make the switch NOW if you need to. The longer you wait, and the more content you have, and the more complex your site is, the more costly a switch will be. If I had done this a year ago when I first started considering a switch to WordPress, I could have saved myself quite a bit of money.
Kristi, Great feedback! I am with you…I would advise any new blogger to simply start out on WordPress. I know there’s a hosting charge associated, but you $6-10 a month is a lot cheaper than the price tag associated with switching everything over. You just never know where blogging will take you and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I don’t know if you’ve determined who you’re going to have help you with the transition, but SNAP was designed and implemented by Amy. She’s got worlds of experience having worked on most of our teams individual sites as well and I would recommend her in a heartbeat. Here’s a link to her new site: http://www.lexilynstudio.com/
xoxo
Tauni
I started blogging not long ago. I started my blog with Blogger…. mostly because Brook @ All Things Thrifty is on there. (I just read that she is making the switch) Anyway, I decided to make the switch over to WordPress about a month ago. I like that a person does not have to have an account to leave a comment. That was the biggest draw towards it. I am all moved in now, and I am really happy there. I have found it pretty easy to use, and my blog looks great (if I do say so myself)! Oh, and great jog replying to all the comments.
That’s awesome Donna! You will have to let us know how you like it after you’ve been there for another six months or so…Is that a beagle or a basset hound I see on your blog? I have a little beagle myself 🙂
xoxo
Tauni
Hahaha, thanks. That’s is my Basset Hound Olie. Thanks for asking.
Well, Olie is adorable!
I’m a bit late to the game here, but am in the beginning stages of starting another blog and wanted to do a little research first. The blog that I’ve been writing for the past year is on Blogger and I haven’t had any issues so far. I find it fairly intuitive which is saying a lot for this less-than-tech-savy girl. HTML is VERY hard for me and I know I could be doing more if I could just wrap my head around this. And that’s just on Blogger! I’m scared to death to jump to WordPress, but based on this article and the comments, I’m thinking that’s where I should start with my new blog. I’m going to be keeping my current blog focused on crafts/recipes/life and make the new blog more of a coupon/deals site (i.e. earning money), so from reading this it seems I should go directly to WordPress and start there?? Aaaahhhh, SO much to think about!!!
Natalie,
A new blog – how fun! I think it’s probably pretty clear where I stand on the whole Blogger/WordPress issue, but I thought I would throw one more thing out there…
If you ever have to transfer from Blogger to WordPress the biggest challenge is moving over your following and comments (so important to advertising and sponsorship). Coupon/deal sites run so many giveaways and gain followers so quickly, it could be a real problem for you. Just my two cents 🙂
xoxo
Tauni
Thanks, Tauni!! I’ve decided that WordPress it is for the new blog, now I’m going to go give myself a migraine trying to figure it out! I peeked at it a bit last night and couldn’t even figure out which host to go with, so I have a feeling I’ll be getting stuck every step of the way. Fun times!
Thanks again for this article and all your input! Highly appreciated!
Sure thing Natalie. Keep me posted on how things go…Excited to see your progress!
xoxo
I’m on Blogger and want to switch to WordPress. Quite frankly, I’m tired of Blogger. Something is always going wrong and they take days (sometimes weeks) to address it. I also want to create a website, not just a blog, and WordPress will be great for that. I just wish their install was easier. They call it the “five minute install,” but that’s a bit of a joke. I consulted a fellow programmer I know, and even she laughed at that, telling me she had just spent an entire day doing it. But I’m resolving to patience. I’ll get there soon, along with having my own shop for my bridal pieces.
Oh my Stephanie, five minute install?! I think not 🙂 I think I spent weeks getting everything ready and that was with help!
I agree with your assessment of the highly customizable look of WordPress sites. They can look so much more like a website…That was one of the big reasons I switched over too. I think it looks a bit more professional.
You will have to let me know when you get your install complete so that I can stop by and take a look!
xoxo
Tauni
Just a quick thought on this post from someone with extensive WordPress experience. This talk of taking days and tons of work for the install isn’t quite right from my experience. Yes I am a geek, but the install for WordPress is pretty basic, unless maybe there are problems with your host or something, and most hosts nowadays will even install WordPress for you. Now, I do mean just for the install, not the completion of the entire site to one’s satisfaction, because that can be a fairly subjective process.
And as for hundreds of dollars to switch from Blogger to WordPress, I am curious as to where that cost comes from? Is that for some custom theme development or something? Because WordPress is free. There are literally thousands of free themes and plugins on the ‘net that you can download and install with the click of a button. So, barring whatever your host is charging (you mentioned $5 per month which sounds about right, that’s about what I charge), there isn’t much else unless I am missing something. I am just very curious to see a perspective that seems different from mine so that I can understand it better.
Please understand I am not trying to argue or say anyone is wrong or anything. I have been in IT and hosting and related services for a couple of decades and I am simply curious. I host a lot lot of WordPress sites for friends, family and customers, and I try to do the “heavy lifting” for them, like theme and plugin installs, updates, backups and such. I even play around with theme design now and then, but I am a code monkey, not a graphic artist, it’s not always pretty!! 🙂
Anyway, thanks a lot for getting this far, I just found your blog but I find it pretty nifty.
Laz
Hey Laz,
I agree WordPress isn’t necessarily pricey. However, my audience tends to look beyond a free theme (I recommend Genesis) and then add customization.
When you’re moving hundreds of posts and photos from Blogger to WordPress, it’s typically a job left to a professional…That’s where the cost comes in. The cost of a move runs between $2-500 depending on the size of the site.
Thanks for your thoughts. Your friends and family are super-lucky to have a techie on their side!
–Tauni
I’m still on Blogger. I’ve been able to tweak things just enough to keep me happy, and I haven’t had the energy to learn WordPress editing. But I must say, I will most likely make that jump in the next 6 months or so.
Crystal-Lee, I totally understand where you’re coming from. Sometimes it is more important to be comfortable than anything else. This topic is top of mind for me tonight as I was just speaking to a blogger who’d been locked out of their own account. It’s still hard to believe that happens! Make sure you keep backing things up 🙂
xoxo
Tauni
I am really late to this conversation but I have been enthralled by it. I have a blogger blog right now that I’ve been relying on. I also have the same blog with wordpress only I couldn’t figure out how to work wordpress without it being an all day affair to post one blog post…. so I got frustrated and just kept posting on Blogger…. I am paying for my wordpress and have my own domain.. I know I’m nuts. What does something like that run to switch what I have on blogger now to wordpress… and I also need help with the design of my wordpress blog. It’s not my home, right now its not even my apartment. I trying to learn how all this works and am getting frustrated with myself. I can’t even figure out how to put a FB or Pinterest or Twitter button on my blogger let alone my wordpress. I love your blog and all your information… thanks so much for letting me vent, this type A personality needs computer classes. (That or a valuim! HA)
thanks again,
Carri
Hey Carri, thanks for your comment. Gosh. Sounds like you’ve really had a hard time with the technology side of things. So sorry to hear that. I was able to pick up WordPress pretty fast, as have most of my friends. I have one or two however, that just don’t get along with it to this day…
One thing that may help you whether you’re on Blogger or WordPress is utilizing Microsoft Live Writer. Have you heard of it? It’s a free download that works for PC’s and as you write your post, it looks EXACTLY like it will look live on your blog…If you haven’t tried it, check it out. Super simple to use.
I did post a tutorial on installing the Twitter button http://www.snaptheconference.com/twitter-follow-button/ Check it out and see if you find it helpful.
A switch from Blogger to WP runs about $150-200. A full switch and design is probably around $400 (WP design is typically more than blogger, but there are so many options available for personalization).
If you’re interested in sticking with blogger, I recommend contacting Kendra at KeyLimeDigitalDesigns.com. She’s fab and could totally help you out. If you’re interested in moving over to WP. I recommend working with Amy from lexilynstudio.com/ Amy is responsible for this site and has also helped several of our team members.
Stop by and vent any time 🙂
xoxo
Tauni
Hi Tauni, im a little late to the party but Im on Blogger and am afraid to swtch to WP because I heard the Follower GFC widget is no longer available and I dont want to mose my Followers. See you tomorrow at SNAP!
Justine, Guess what?! You shouldn’t loose your followers regardless!
xoxo
Tauni
Hi Tauni,
I’ve been debating on whether to switch to wordpress. my question is this…I have a custom url and have it linked to many different sites and places where people follow me, like bloglovin’, will those followers still find me if I switch to wordpress, without having to “fix” the links?
Hey Denise, this is a great question. If you change platforms, you will need to redirect your feed, but as long as it’s all done correctly you shouldn’t have to change anything else. If you’ve been blogging or a while, have a lot of content and followers, I actually suggest hiring someone to switch you over. I have experience with Amy, from Lexilyn Studio; Kendra, from KeyLime Digital Designs and Aaron, from RFE Hosting. Good luck! –Tauni
I’m a brand new blogger, onWordpress and hosted through Bluehost. I want to set up oars on my blog to better organize before it gets out of hand. Can you tell me how to find the answer? Also, there is a $149.00 plugin to allow me access to links and link backs. My budget is closest to zero. Can I set up the plugin I just described? HELP
Hi! I am not sure what you mean about setting up “oars?” Do you mean navigation? Here’s a post about that >>> https://taunieverett.com/create-a-navigation-bar-wordpress/
I don’t know why you would need to pay to access links and backlinks. Is there something specific you’re looking for?
I’m looking into starting a new blog and planning to host or “own” my own content, as you explained. My biggest question is, what options do I have other than wordpress.org? Does anything else measure up? I’m not selling anything or displaying much photography. For me, the main focus is sharing my writing.
In my view, there is no other platform that measures up. Most hosting platforms “own” the site. Best of luck to you as you embark on this process! xo Tauni