Hey everyone. I recently watched an excellent online talk about web marketing by Megan Auman. She mentioned that you should have your blog on your own site instead of on a different site (like I do). I did some research, and I’m thinking of switching it over. She suggested using a self-hosted wordpress blog. Has anyone switched their blog over to their own site using a self-hosted wordpress blog? Also, does anyone use a self-hosted wordpress blog? Do you like it? I’d like to hear anything you can tell me about it. I’m nervous to switch it because I worked so hard at getting my blog just the way I want it. It sounds like I’ll lose all of that and have to do it all over again. (Note: this is different from using wordpress when it is hosted on their site–this will be on my website.)
Thanks!
carla sonheim uses wordpress, you might ask her~
Yes, but hers is not "self-hosted"–it's hosted on wordpresses site. Thanks though!
I have one name for you. ExpressionEngine. I'm a diehard fan, and I've found it so much simpler than mucking around with WordPress and all of it's bloated tags and extra crap. You can literally do anything with EE, although it can be slightly confusing for a first-time user. I'd be happy to help you out if you decide to go with EE!
Whatever you decide, my suggestion would be to set up a separate installation in a directory (like tracibunkers.com/testsite) and fiddle around with all of your theme settings, get them just the way you want them, then download and import them onto the main site. It's much less stressful than feeling like you have to get the whole thing done in one go on the live site.
I've done it all when it comes to blogging platforms, domain and hosting purchases and the like, so feel free to email me if you have any questions
Brent, Thanks for the suggestion. I just checked it out, but the $300 price tag is too rich for my blood!
You actually don't need to buy the full license – I never have. The Core version is totally free, and since you won't be selling stuff directly on the software, you don't need a commercial license.
The Core version has anything you could possibly need
Brent, maybe I'm misunderstanding, but it sounds like if you sell on the blog, you need the commercial license? "For use in, or in conjunction with a commercial, or for-profit endeavor."
Traci, I self-host my WordPress blog at ArtHealsMe.com along with another at thebagsite.com and they are both on WordPress foundations with free templates (that I tweaked a little). My husband does the same, though his is a business site so he paid for a WordPress template that suited his needs.
WordPress.com just got hacked this week so I was glad that I made the decision to host my own.
I like Bluehost for the actual hosting and have been with them for about 4 years. Their fees are reasonable (though maybe not for everyone) and their support is super fast and top-notch.
The WordPress installation is automated, and you can import your WordPress.com blog over–your site can be up and running in a couple of hours. Let me know if you need assistance. (Contact me through one of the sites).
Cheers!
Lisa
Wondering if Tumblr would work for you. You can have your own domain name with a Tumblr account.
Hi Traci – I am in the process of extensive research for which way to go myself. Leonie Allen's goddessguidebook.com is a website using WordPress – not just the blog – the whole website. She uses BlueHost for hers as well. The only thing that makes me hesitate is the fact that you are totally responsible for maintaining security and for doing backups, etc. In addition, it does take some familiarity with the techie side of things. There are many websites which address the use of WordPress to create an entire site, which includes selling. I'm happy to share my resources, if you like.
On the flip side, I am finding that more and more of the blogs I follow are doing exactly what you are doing. Since Blogspot is a Google enterprise, you are right up there with SEOs and the like. I actually don't see a reason to necessarily marry the two, since your blog provides links to click which quite easily lead us to your site. I'll be interested to know what you wind up doing. Please let me know if you are interested in pursuing some of the other sites which address the use of WordPress for a site and blog.
I seriously looked into wordpress from my typepad platform and decided NOT to do it. I'm just not into doing all the html code myself…even with their "free" templates you have to do a lot of coding…yuck. Also with typepad they offer the support I want…I can have unlimited amount of blogs with 24-hour response time for less than 200 a year. They also will move your site over to your own domain name…which I'm in the process of doing. WordPress is the new favorite because they allow you to design your own blogs/sites but I was not impressed with their fine print. Hope this helps. Roberta
http://con-tai-it.typepad.com
I did this in 2006. If you get the most flexible template possible and you know a little bit about coding, you should be able to make it like you want it. BUT, if your blog is just the way you want it now, WHY BOTHER? The only reason I did it was because I wanted it exactly so. I'd say that it would be a waste of time, money, and energy for you. I'm actually playing with the idea of going back to Blogger or WordPress.com to save money on hosting – just transfer my domain name.
Laurie
http://slowlysheturned.net
I use wordpress to run my whole site. It will take a while to make it look like you want but I think it is worth it to have it all in one spot. Http://www.intner.net
Sorry I missed your last comment Traci, let me clarify. If you aren't a commercial entity like a company selling merchandise with the EE software, you don't need a commercial license. EE Core would be great for you, since you update your blog, and post about new products that are sold on etsy and through your zen software.
You really only need the big expensive version if you're using it to bring in huge amounts of revenue.
I use wordpress on my own domain. I agree with Claudine. I started with blogger. I don't recall how I did it, but I copied all my old posts to wordpress on my domain. The old blogger stuff stayed. I did put an auto forward in the latest blogger post so that people would be sent to my site. It was easy to transfer all that stuff.
I monkey with the code a bit to get my site to look like I want it to look, but if you find a "theme" that you like, you don't have to do anything.