I've noticed that one of the hottest topics that appears to have come out of last weeekend's Nuffnang Blogopolis is the WordPress Vs Blogger Debate. It's one I've heard a little of before, but confess to paying very little attention to. I hadn't realised it was quite such a big deal and could actually shape someone's opinion about a blogger or their blog (oh, how innocent I was!).
A few are getting a bit defensive about their blogspot blogs (I was one of them, a little. And I wasn't even there!) and there's been a bit of backpedalling since. "No we're not saying you have to change". "Different things are important to different bloggers". And I see this point. I'm sure that's true.
So my question is this. What are the different important things that WP blogs have that Blogger doesn't? I'm not being faecetious, I really want to know. What does Wordpress offer that Blogger doesn't? Or vice versa, for those who love their Blogger Blogs.
Why is it more 'professional' to choose one over the other?
And, while on the tech questions. What about purchasing your own domain name? I'd like to get my own domain. Firstly. Which is best - .com; .com.au; .net; .org etc? Which did you choose and why? Is there a best option?
And for those of you who don't host your blogs on the popular hosting sites (all that come to mind right now are Blogger, WordPress and TypePad, but I am sure I'm missing heaps). How does one set up their own? Is this expensive? Can one be set up that still looks like mine, for example? I'm a little attached now to my banner, and like having the pretty pics up (I realise that's not to everyone's taste, and may be distracting. I am considering a bit of a cull).
I may be utterly addicted to the internet and my blog (or the 200+ blogs I read) and FB and Twitter (very new to that bandwagon, still getting the hang of it), but that doesn't mean I understand how any of it works.
How does it all work, people? (insert a bit of a foot stomp and pout here). I'm overwhelmed! Is it hard to move an entire blog (I'm talking 1000 posts here and then there's all of the links, photos and comments) over to another domain? Is it worth it?
Sell it to me. Sell me your host. What do you use. Why do you use it. From a professional/marketing standpoint, what do you think is more 'impressive' or has more gravitas (not that I'm looking at ever being a superblog that makes money, but you know what I mean. A girl can dream).
I've never made a secret of the fact that I'm not tech savvy. For the most part (though it has slipped since I've been ill), I have always wanted my blog to be content driven. Sure I'd like bigger numbers. Sure I'd like a more engaged readership (though I'm so grateful for my 'regulars', who feel like such dear friends now). And of course, (especially given my health) I'd love for this blog to one day provide a small income.
It's just the logistics that scare me. Starting this blog on blogger 3 and a half years ago was so easy. I made a rash decision to start it, and an hour later, my first post was up. Then I kind of learned to work it as I went. Kind of.
Also, while I'm here. Can you explain RSS and Feedburner and the like for me? How is it different to 'subscribing' by becoming a follower?
I also have (according to Statcounter) abotu 65% of people staying less than 5 seconds. How does that work? How do you even decide if you want to read a post in 5 seconds? How can THAT many people hate my blog?
Teach me, innerwebz. You're my only hope.
A few are getting a bit defensive about their blogspot blogs (I was one of them, a little. And I wasn't even there!) and there's been a bit of backpedalling since. "No we're not saying you have to change". "Different things are important to different bloggers". And I see this point. I'm sure that's true.
So my question is this. What are the different important things that WP blogs have that Blogger doesn't? I'm not being faecetious, I really want to know. What does Wordpress offer that Blogger doesn't? Or vice versa, for those who love their Blogger Blogs.
Why is it more 'professional' to choose one over the other?
And, while on the tech questions. What about purchasing your own domain name? I'd like to get my own domain. Firstly. Which is best - .com; .com.au; .net; .org etc? Which did you choose and why? Is there a best option?
And for those of you who don't host your blogs on the popular hosting sites (all that come to mind right now are Blogger, WordPress and TypePad, but I am sure I'm missing heaps). How does one set up their own? Is this expensive? Can one be set up that still looks like mine, for example? I'm a little attached now to my banner, and like having the pretty pics up (I realise that's not to everyone's taste, and may be distracting. I am considering a bit of a cull).
I may be utterly addicted to the internet and my blog (or the 200+ blogs I read) and FB and Twitter (very new to that bandwagon, still getting the hang of it), but that doesn't mean I understand how any of it works.
Sell it to me. Sell me your host. What do you use. Why do you use it. From a professional/marketing standpoint, what do you think is more 'impressive' or has more gravitas (not that I'm looking at ever being a superblog that makes money, but you know what I mean. A girl can dream).
I've never made a secret of the fact that I'm not tech savvy. For the most part (though it has slipped since I've been ill), I have always wanted my blog to be content driven. Sure I'd like bigger numbers. Sure I'd like a more engaged readership (though I'm so grateful for my 'regulars', who feel like such dear friends now). And of course, (especially given my health) I'd love for this blog to one day provide a small income.
Also, while I'm here. Can you explain RSS and Feedburner and the like for me? How is it different to 'subscribing' by becoming a follower?
I also have (according to Statcounter) abotu 65% of people staying less than 5 seconds. How does that work? How do you even decide if you want to read a post in 5 seconds? How can THAT many people hate my blog?
Teach me, innerwebz. You're my only hope.
Oh me too! I'm so new, and still don't understand any of it... I'm just having my say and giving weird "what language is THAT?" looks at my computer screen when I see all this tech talk.
ReplyDeleteI will follow along behind you, soaking up the nerdy knowledge, and hoping I understand sometime (if that's okay with you!)
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI dont know about the blogging stuff but as far as I know, there are restrictions on domain names ending in .au. If you want to use .com.au or .net.au you need an ABN with a registered name similar to your domain name - e.g. The company "Smith Brown Bloggs Lawyers" could have www.sbb.com.au or www.sbblawyers.com.au or www.sbblaw.net.au. If you want to use .org.au you need a similar thing but need to be a not for profit organisation like a church or charity. The .com, .net, .id domains don't have these restrictions. I'm not sure about .org.
Hope that helps and best wishes with it all.
The platform makes no difference to whether I read a blog - as long as I can subscribe to it through my Google Reader account on my iPhone RSS app, I'm happy.
LOL!
ReplyDeleteI switched from blogger to wordpress because blogger had problems with their comments bit (I'm not techy either!).
It was really easy to switch, but I had lots of drafts in blogger that didn't switch (so I would publish all your posts - drafts included - then switch - then edit your posts back to drafts...) I'M SURE there is an easier way, but I'm buggered if I know what it is! :-)
There are all sorts of different 'looks' so you would easily find something that appeals - and you can keep tweaking till you do.
I haven't tried using pretty pictures as you do - but I love them (the world needs more pretty), so don't take too many out :-)
As for, 'professional'- I haven't a clue.
Fun, this blogging lark, isn't it???
Good questions!
ReplyDeleteSorry not alot of help from me.
I use Blogger and love how simple it is to use. I used WordPress for about a week and then went back to Blogger because i found it easier to use.
Looking forward to reading other peoples comments! :)
I've used Wordpress before. Switched to Blogger & much prefer it.
ReplyDelete(I like reading blogger blogs more too.)
As for 'professionalism' and all the aesthetic qualities etc...none of that really matters compared to content. Aesthetics may attract, but content satisfies. xx
I am a blogger blogger if that makes sense. I really love that it is easy to use and plan on staying. I did buy my own domain name to say that I am more serious about my blogging though. I like a well organised, clutter free site and love a simple pretty blog. I stay to read if the content is great and I can relate to it. That is all for me. Good luck working out what you want to do. You are not alone there is so much to learn. N x
ReplyDeleteTeam Eden! I just faff around writing so Blogger is all I need.
ReplyDeleteSorry, can't help. I'm clueless, too!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I started exactly the same way you did. :)
I'm another one that no clue lol. I use Blogger because it is easy and simple and like you the whole blog thing was a spur of the moment idea.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the RSS burn thingies either, not a clue!! Would love someone to actually explain.
Please Melissa if you become enlightened would you pretty please share with us all lol.
Geez I don't even really get the facebook and twitter stuff, thats how behind in the tech world I am!
I don't know about all this either. But I am taken aback (but probably shouldn't be) that we are being judged on the platform we blog by. God! Does it ever end??? I too am happy reading whatever as long as I can 'follow' and have recent posts come up in my reader. If I have to remember to go back to a blog then I know I won't!
ReplyDeleteI like blogger b/c it's easy and I'm lazy. I didn't shop around, I just started and am not sure now I could be bothered switching.
Will be watching for much more intelligent answers than mine!
When I started blogging, I started with a Blogspot blog because I didn't know if I was going to stick with and I didn't want to spend any money on it if it was just a passing phase (LOL!)
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against Blogger. I know some quite successful bloggers who have Blogspot blogs and are doing really well.
For me, it was a matter of being able to have more control over my settings and be able to tweak things to my own liking.
My blogs are hosted through Optic Empire (an Aussie company). The hosting is cheap (I think from $5/mth)
As for domains, I think .com is the most common. Because my blog is a personal blog, the .me caught my attention. I like playing on it in my blog name :)
In terms of moving from blogger to wp, your blog host can help you with that.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email me :)
one of my old blogs was a wordpress blog - it was ok, took me quite awhile to get used to using it and navigating my way around it.
ReplyDeletei came back to blogger because i like how easy it is to use, i like how i can customise it easily - i felt like i needed a degree to do the same with wordpress.
i say use whatever blogging platform works for YOU :-)
I went to Blogopolis and was hoping that listening to all the techy stuff would help me, but I'm still too scared to take the plunge and self host! I know it's not expensive, and it would give me so much more with my blog, but for now I feel happy and safe with a wordpress hosted blog. One day I'll jump into the real blogging world, and when I do, I'm pretty sure I'll stick with Wordpress.
ReplyDeleteI like blogger and am staying here. My daughter migrated to WordPress and had issues with old links not working and all sorts of things, sure there were plug ins to help but they took lots of time. Then you have to have someone to host your blog. She has had issues and need to ring America when that happens.
ReplyDeleteSure blogger occasionally has commenting errors but that has never happened to me.
Personally I don't think you need to swap, and I was a little peeved at the push for people to move.
You can purchase a domain name and I think .com seems to be the way to go, but you could also find that the domain name that matches your blog is already taken which then raises another issue.
I was at Blogopolis and didn't feel they made an argument for me to switch, but I suppose if you want to become a huge money making blog it is the way to go. Well that is what they seemed to be saying.
I am staying with blogger too, I don't want to make big money and I am happy with what it ALLOWS ME TO DO.I've been here happy for 4 yrs plus.
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone there is so much to learn about RSS and techy side of bloging .
If you go to site, you just copy it and paste it to your blog settings and then add the widget so people can see it.
see if this helps http://www.google.com/support/feedburner/bin/answer.py?answer=79408
I have no idea, but I have been on blogger since 2005 and have not felt the need to change over at all.
ReplyDeleteYou can purchase your own domain name to use with blogger which can present a more professional look, but unless you want to do wizzo-bango things like add a shop, a forum, god knows what else, I cant see any need to change.
RSS and Feedburner: My feed is burnt through Feedburner which means that people can subscribe to my feed and have posts available in a reader. Go to the Google Help page, there is heaps of info about how Feedburner works.
I read my blogs in Feedly (which is similar to Google Reader) and only visit a blog site when I want to leave a comment or delve deeper into the blog.
I don't know about the Statcounter results, but I always get people staying for 0 seconds. I'm not sure what that is actually tracking, but it is not real visitors to the site, so don't worry, they don't hate you!
@jessvanden from Epheriel Designs has done a huge amount of work with Wordpress so she may be one to chat to. Also, as Sawhole said, Eden from Edenland will know the goods too.
Can you let us all know what you discover?
Thank you to sharing helpful information
ReplyDelete