Well, I did it. I moved to a new ‘house’ here on the internet.
I have been working on this off-and-on for over a month; first signing up for WordPress, then buying a framework and theme, finding a host/server and designing the blog itself. I held off an the actual move while I was tending to and then mourning for my Riley. I knew it needed a level of concentrated attention that I simply didn’t have. But by the time the weekend approached, I felt the time had come. Yesterday, I sat with my laptop all day long, hunched over (not a good idea for my back) tense (also not a good idea for my back) and scared something might go wrong. But, amazingly, it went off fairly smoothly.
How did I do it? I used this ebook:
How to Move from Blogger to WordPress by Sharon Hujik. This book is simply the best. Sharon gives you every bit of information you need to make the move. Step-by-step she outlines exactly what to do – so even a terrified, not-at-all-techy person like me can manage to pull it off. If you’re thinking of a move to WordPress, I can’t think of a better, more clearly written guide to the process. And Sharon is extremely helpful. I’ve sent her countless emails along the way and she responds quickly and cheerfully. Her words of encouragement really helped me. If you’re interested, you can order the book by clicking on the link in my sidebar. You can even download a free preview. I’ll write more about this book later, but I feel so strongly about it that I’ve become an affiliate.
Let’s face it – if you google moving from Blogger to WordPress, you will find lots of horror stories about trying to do it on your own. You can pay someone to do it, but frankly, I don’t have the money for that. And even if you pay someone, there is no guarantee it will go smoothly. I’m frugal by necessity and I was bound and determined to do it on my own and save money. And I did it!
I have to also mention the generous fellow bloggers who helped me as I was researching the move to WordPress: Marianne of Songbird took the time to write her thoughts and recommendations in great detail, Susan of Between Naps on the Porch and Ann of On Sutton Place also shared helpful information with me. I hope I’m not leaving anyone out! Whoops! Forgot Kari of Thistlewood Farm – she was ready and willing to share her experience with me.
I’ve lots of thoughts to share on the move that I’ll try to put together in another post. For now, you can see that the layout is fairly similar to my Blogger layout. As I said to someone, I don’t want to re-invent the wheel. I want Mockingbird Hill Cottage to look like a good friend who’s just had a wee makeover. You’ll find that I have to add lots of links yet – not everything works perfectly – but it’s presentable. I also want to add that, like many of you, I sometimes don’t like having to click on “read more” at the end of a truncated post. I’ve designed this blog so that there will always be 4 full-length posts on the main page, as I know most of you read this blog daily. Even if you visit once a week, most of the posts will be full-length. I hope this makes everyone happy!
Subscribing
I’ve been told by some of my blogging friends that the blog is showing up in Google Reader. But that may be the old feed from Google Friend Connect. If you already have my blog bookmarked, there will be no change at all – same address. If you followed on Google Friend Connect, which I can no longer have on this blog, you can make sure that feed is part of your Google Reader or you can click on the RSS symbol in the Contact widget on my sidebar and subscribe there. Or you can subscribe by email. I don’t want to lose any of you. If you haven’t already, you can also bookmark my website (that’s how I keep up on a lot of blogs.)
If you go to your Blogger Reading List, you’ll see “View in Google Reader” on the right hand side:
Did you know that’s an option for viewing your blog list? And if you go over to Contact on my sidebar, you’ll see a symbol like this (only mine’s in blue):
If you click on this symbol, you’ll be taken to a page where you can subscribe to the blog via Google Reader. There are a variety of options for different readers, but if you click on Google, you’ll be able to add this blog with its current feed to your Google Reader. I hope this helps.
Why?
I didn’t move to WordPress because I want to be a ‘big’ blog or for better SEO (my eyes glaze over immediately when I read about that stuff.) I moved because I had some problems with my Blogger blog on several occasions which alarmed me. The Blogger Forum, where I sought help, responded only once. I felt like I was stranded in a boat without a paddle. When I searched for others with the same problems, I found countless instances of people asking for help who never received an answer of any kind. Now I know Blogger is free and it’s huge and I’m sure that accounts for the lack of response. The same problems can happen to any blogger, but now I have a host/server looking after me as well as the fantastic support in the WordPress and StudioPress Forums.
You can do a lot more with a WordPress, too. I’ve been fairly cautious with all of that. I’m sure I’ll be trying new things as I go along. And I’ll be sure to write about it, as well. And everything else that you read about it holds true – now I own my content, I’m not dependent on the whims of Blogger – it was time to move on.
It’s been an emotionally devastating, exhausting week. I miss my little boy more than I can ever say. Don, Scout and I have hunkered down here in the cottage while we tried to come to terms with Riley’s passing. Everywhere I look there is a memory and an empty space where Riley used to be. Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the loving, compassionate messages you sent to me. You will never know how much they have helped in this journey of grief and pain.
More tomorrow.
How exciting. I admire the fact that you did it on your own. I do that too-get bound and determined. It is clean and simple and easy to navigate..It looks great!
Claudia, I love the new look!
It’s fresh, soft and cheery !
(I love the font too!)
Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
xo
Lori
Claudia, Kudos to you on the new website! I can only imagine the hours of preparation and planning, but the site looks great and I know it will give all of us much to think about. I’m thinking about you, Don and Scout today and hope that a quiet day spent together will help ease your pain a little.
xo,
Martha
Hi Claudia ~ congratulations on the move. I know it was a big job, especially during a difficult time, and it looks great!
p.s. Would you please consider also creating a FB page (separate from your profile) in the future. It’s really easy to create (and I can even help you with that one) and more convenient for some ~ including non-bloggers.
HI CLAUDIA, LOVE YOUR NEW LOOK…….YOU DID A GREAT JOB………BLESSINGS TO YOU, DON AND SCOUT….
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY…….AND GOD BLESS OUR RILEY………..RIZZI
You have no idea how much I admire you for tackling this behemoth. I wish I had your nerve. You did it during one of the worst weeks of your life. And you did it splendidly. I take my hat off to you, dear friend!
Brenda
Awesome! Well done Claudia – glad to know the book was such a good resource. And I appreciate the nice words too!
Maybe the timing for a fresh start is just right. All this is greek to me! But sure do not want to miss your posts
Claudia – Love your new look!! Great job.
Judy
Glad it went so well for you! I know you’re relieved it is completed :)
Congrats on your move Claudia – your new ‘home’ looks awesome. You´re so brave. Looking forward to your posts about the move. I have been thinking this too – not sure I will ever dare.
Nice look Claudia! I look forward to learning more about WordPress. You are still showing on my blog roll. Ann
I considered the move to WordPress when I changed the focus of my blog in January, but I was told it’s a tricky thing and I didn’t have the time to dedicate to figuring it out, which I figured with my Comp Sci degree I should be probably able to…
So am saving your post (on my Google Reader, subscribed via the RSS feed ages ago) so that if that move ever happens, I’ll have a great resource!
Congrats on your move!
Good for you Claudia! I hope you are happy with your new move!~Hugs, Patti
Congratulations! Love the new look!
Claudia,
I enjoy your blog so much. You are such a good writer. Well done with the move!!
Woo-Hoo! way to go Claudia~
It seems it is in the air…lots of changes for people. People are ready everywhere I read to do something different…taking leaps of faith …no matter how big the span, can be scary for some. I’m doing some of these same things myself. On the inside it feels treacherous! and I hate it.
On the other hand it fills exhilarating and I’m full of excitement.
I hope I can see it through.
…blessings to you friend, Pat
I love your new look, it’s wonderful! Now you’ve got me thinking perhaps I should do the same, althouth I am no techno wizard and I’m afraid I’d really botch it up.
Again I am so sorry for your loss, no words really heal that kind of pain.. . But the knowledge that he had a great life with you.. may it bring you some comfort.
I’m so glad you aren’t doing the layout with READ MORE – option – I really dislike that, it seems to make the layout messy and hard to determine what’s what!
It’s looking good dear and still appearing in my Google Reader or whatever it’s called – I haven’t had to change anything YET!
I’M SO BUSY, sorry I haven’t written yet!
Hugs – Mary
Love the new look, you did a great job!!
Claudia,
It looks amazing! Congratulations! I love the clean lines and the colors are so pretty! You should give yourself a standing ovation :)
blessings,
karianne
Claudia, my hat is off to you! Good going! That is a huge accomplishment to move your own blog. It looks great, by the way! You have got to be proud that you did this yourself! Impressive!
Congratulations on the move, Claudia. I’m glad it was fairly stress free thanks to the technical support you received. I’m SO glad you’ll be posting full posts here without the truncation…. I find that kind of frustrating, myself. Wishing you all the best with this new ‘home’ for your lovely blog!
Hi Claudia, love your new look, and new space.
My only problem with WP is that the fonts they use are too small for comments. I have such a hard time reading what I wrote…aging eyes and all that.
It looks wonderful, I hope that you are very happy here.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Claudia I am so glad the move went well. Everything looks great. Sending you and Don big hugs, the hurt will continue but you have lots of love and support out here in blog land. Linda