My Last Days as “Kansas Girl?”
Posted in Once I Was a Kansas Girl and tagged with Blogness on December 17, 2008This is actually the post I was planning to post tomorrow, but I can’t wait. I want help now!
I’m itching to change blogs. I need someone to discuss this with, and since I don’t have any RL blogger friends that are close by, I would like to bounce this off you.
Here are my reasons for wanting to switch:
1. I find Blogger annoying sometimes. (I also feel like I’m cheating on it by writing this in a blogger post.) I’ve had issues with the comments, especially. While I love the embedded comment box, it doesn’t always work. That bums me out, and probably bums you out, too.
2. I want to change the blog title. “Kansas girl” is not an adequate description anymore. If I’m going to grow out of the title, now’s the time to do it. I don’t expect to quit blogging anytime soon, so it makes sense to make a clean break for it and shed the outgrown name.
3. Though I’ve known #1 and #2 for a while, I really want to move now because I’ve finally found a name that I love. I won’t share it here as I don’t know if I’ll use it or not and would like to keep it to myself for future use if I don’t. It’s from a Jane Austen quote that I enjoy, and feel like it’s a good fit for me and unique yet not difficult to remember. If you’re a bloggy buddy of mine and are dying to know, email me (or just comment if I have your email) and I’ll let you know what it is. In fact, please do. Before I do this, I want a few “Yes, I love that idea!” first. I don’t want to unwittingly end up with a confusing name.
4. I want a WordPress blog. I like that they have pages. I like that they have 3-column designs. I like their comment boxes better. If I’m going to change my name, I’m changing to WordPress (unless you have a better idea).
Here’s why I’m hesitating:
1. So many of you use blogger. If you use WordPress, do you have a problem with people coming back to you blog since it’s not listed in your blogger account? I know they have a “my webpage” feature thing, but I’ll also have the Book Nook still which will show up under “my blogs.” Will that make it hard for new people to visit me? Or would that be solved if I used my wordpress account to comment, instead?
2. I’m bound to lose people in the move. That would bug me. People that know me as “Kansas girl” will not be able to find me anymore. If you’ve made a similar name change, how’d it go? I’ve made a name for myself (in hopefully an un-Babel way) and don’t want to lose that.
3. Do I go with a regular blog hosted by WordPress, or do I get my own domain name? In all my searching, I haven’t really found any reason why I shouldn’t just let WordPress host it, at least not any that’s worth the cost and the hassle. Do you know any different?
4. As much as I love the potential name, it has a small problem. It’s two words, and the first ends in “t” and the second starts with “h.” That always makes it hard to read when you smoosh the two words together. Should I put a hyphen between: “*******t-h********” ?
5. Do I import old posts? I would love to, but I know that there are often issues with internal links (which I do a lot) and pictures (which I do much less frequently). If you’ve done this, I’d love your insight!
6. WordPress blogs kinda all look alike. There’s little customization. Can I handle that?
Any and all advice on this issue would be greatly appreciated! If all goes well, I’ll switch to WordPress near the beginning of next year!
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December 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Whatever you change ot, you have to keep writing… I truly enjoy your blog…. I understand about the blogger issues, but there are ways to make a blogger blog 3 cloumn…. whatever you do, you have to enjoy it and it has to make you happy…..
December 17th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Okay, now I’m thinking I’m going to stay with Blogger, but get a new blog altogether. As much as I get bugged by some things in Blogger, it has the customization and easy use that I crave. I’d have to get a new login to not get people confused, but then again, I’ll have to set up a new email anyway, as my current blog email is “taleofakansasgirl…”
December 17th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Seeing as this is my first visit to your blog, I feel I can’t really give you any advice. However,I had a wordpress blog, and changed back to blogger. I just liked blogger better. Anyway, thanks for visiting my blog today!
December 17th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I had an issue with Blogger a few months back and considered leaving, but in the end it just seemed like too much work.
December 17th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I’d love to hear the new name, first of all. :)
I haven’t blogged anywhere besides blogger, but I *am* able to follow friends who have blogs on wordpress via my google reader and “blogs I follow” thingymabob on Blogger, so I think I’d still be able to find you. I have had problems commenting sometimes on non-blogger blogs, but that is more typepad than wordpress if I’m remembering correctly.
Anyhow, that was probably all as helpful as a big puddle of slush, wasn’t it? Sorry, I’m having one of those days.
December 17th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Oh! I didn’t know that blogger let you export/import, but it does! I could actually just switch everything to the new blogger blog, and delete this one! Sure, it’ll be a problem for any old links and any searches, but that’s not too big of a problem.
December 17th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Just a few thoughts…
First of all, you won’t lose me. I’ll be sure to follow you. ;)
Second, at one point I thought I would switch to WordPress, and I had it import all my posts to test it. It doesn’t look like I had any problems with the pictures. It was very easy.
Third, I think it will be fine if you change the blog name. As for hyphens? I have no opinion on it.
And fourth, you might actually make me jealous by going to WordPress. Every time another blogger moves from Blogger to WordPress, I want to follow suit. It just looks cooler over there… or something.
Can’t wait to see what you do.
December 17th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I understand.
I had a WordPress blog. And now I am back at Blogger. Importing posts INTO WordPress are a cinch, but should you ever want to go back to Blogger, you have to do it post by post. Not so much fun. Something to keep in mind. In my opinion, blogger is better. My two cents.
I can give you a link to change your Blogger into a 3-column. Just email me and I will look it up for you. Blogger is just…easier. I had fits at WordPress.
You really shouldn’t have any problems with keeping your followers. I have WordPress and Typepad people in my blogroll and follow list.
A change is good every once in a while. I do it too often sometimes and make people crazy. I just get bored with the same ol, same ol. Yanno?
My inbox is open for questions if you have them! I am an experienced ‘blog hopper’. LOL
Would love to know the name! Then, perhaps I can better assist you with the hyphen question! :p
December 17th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I have to say I use wordpress for all my blogs and would never go back to blogger. WordPress is actually very customizable. I would be willing to help you out with that and do a design for you. I don’t know about fixing internal links, but I could check into it for you.
I would get a domain name. It is easier to remember without having to add blogspot.com or wordpress.com to the end.
I would love to hear the name you are considering and if you need any help, let me know.
December 17th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Personally I do not like WordPress, I love the personalization of Blogger.
I wish I knew what to tell you, but you have to go with what you feel like. I’ve thought about switching domain names a few times, but I don’t want to loose my readers! I’ve seen people do it though and what they’ve done was they kept the current blog and just had a post that said, “I’ve Moved” with the new blog address and that’s how you could find them.
Hope this helped! I’m curios to see what your new name will be.
December 17th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I’d say, yes, import your old posts, just to keep a record of them. No biggie if internal links don’t work on old posts.
Just use your wordpress ID to comment on other people’s blogs and they can find your blog from that.
I moved my blog during the summer. Just put a big ol’ “I’ve moved my blog to… ” as the last post on this blog so people can find you at your new digs.
I personally like having my own domain, but it’s not free and not necessary.
I’d have to see the potential name to give you my thoughts on hyphen or not. Personally hyphens are harder to remember in addresses. Can you email me your future name.
I have a friend who customizes WordPress blogs. Let me know if you want her info.
December 17th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I was leaning towards staying with blogger, but changing the name, but now I’m leaning more towards WordPress. I’d love any other opinions that might be out there!
December 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I LOVE blogger, but i can see your good reasons for switching. WordPress doesn’t load into google reader, but I think I could still get to you off my friends list. I say that if you want to do it—-do it! Can’t wait to hear what you come up with….you know I’ll keep reading!
December 17th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Stopping by to say I hope you have a blessed and very Merry Christmas! ♥ Hugs :) Shauna
December 17th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I switched from Blogger to Typepad. I love it and though I have fits sometimes due to my lack of knowledge, I wouldn’t go back if you paid me.
If you do switch, once you export your old posts just leave one post up that says “come visit me at my new home _________”. That’s all I did and I didn’t lose a single reader.
I’m toying with the idea of getting smoochiefrog as my domain name. I’m thinking that would involve a whole mess I’m not ready to deal with right now so I’m putting it off. Maybe one day.
Oh and I’d love to know the new name.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:12 am
I have a wordpress blog and I don’t think it looks like all the rest. There are several people who can help set up wordpress blogs. I’d personally go with a regular wordpress hosted blog unless you want to do more personalization with the html code. I haven’t had any desire to once I had my blog tweaked to make it look the way it does.
I LOVE wordpress!! The only thing I didn’t like at first was that you couldn’t insert things with flash or adobe or whatever (like a poll) but they are adding more and more things all the time.
My personal blog is with WordPress. The BPOTW blog is with blogger. I decided to do a blogger blog too just to remain current with both formats. I have to say I like WordPress better. I have gotten around the comment thing by creating a blogger account for my Not So SAHM identity. When I leave a comment on a blogger blog I’ll sign in using that id. If the person clicks on my details all I have written there is that I have a wordpress blog and to check it out. I hope that makes sense.
I’d love to hear the idea of your new blog name. And don’t give up on wordpress. I LOVE IT!!!!
December 18th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I will follow you wherever you go. :-) Sorta like Naomi, Ruth and Boaz.
I am rolling out a new blog at the beginning of the new year, too. I’ll still be with blogger, but things will be different.
I too would like to know the new name.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:53 am
We will follow you :) I dont mind going to others word press sites!! just let us know where you are!
I prefer blogger (well right now) because it is all attached to my gmail, it makes it easy for me, so I love that. Plus im still new…Im learning more everyday!
December 18th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I’m going to have to think and get back to you on this because I am no expert at all. But I definitely want an email from you!!!!