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Blogger vs WordPress: Time to move the Spooks Fan Blog?
This is a non-spooks post for the fellow bloggers out there. I’m feeling increasingly frustrated by the limitations of the blogspot blogging platform. When I started this blog I didn’t know whether I would stick with it or indeed whether it would attract a readership. I’m so pleased that the blog has progressed nicely. I really enjoy reading all your comments and are so grateful for your continued interest and support. It’s so much fun!
The past few days I’ve been thinking about whether to move this blog onto a its own domain and migrate the blog onto the WordPress platform, which is much more sophisticated than blogger. A little of my “back story” that puts this in context – in a past life I was a web designer. Even though I have since moved into another profession, I still keep abreast of web design developments, keep my skills relatively up to date, and help others with their blogs/sites from time to time. Starting a blog on blogger was a bit of an experiment for me, as I normally work with WordPress. I could do so much more with WordPress, especially in terms of highlighting past posts and content. Blogger is quite limited on that front.
Anyway, this rambling about Blogger vs WordPress could go on forever. My question to you is – if I move the Spooks Fan Blog to a new location; will you move with me? I haven’t moved a blogger blog to self-hosted WordPress before, but my understanding is I can migrate the entire site, including comments, to the new platform quite seamlessly. Spooksfanblog.com here we come?
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Thanks for the feedback Nat and Phylly!
@ Phylly3 – There are many differences between the two platforms (although the gap has closed over the years). Principally, WordPress offers more control over the way the blog is presented. And when I mention WordPress by the way, I'm talking about "self-hosted" WordPress blogs that you set up yourself, not the free service on WordPress.com (I wouldn't bother moving from blogger to wordpress.com because the differences are minimal). I've warmed to blogger since using it, but I feel that past posts get lost in the ether, WordPress offers better ways for NEW readers find OLD content. These things can be done in blogger, but its much more fiddly to achieve. WordPress offers better cataloging options for content. With WordPress you have a whole bunch of plugins at your disposal to enhance your blog. I am finding that I miss having those options at my disposal. PLUS, blog design and presentation is really important to me, because I am very visually orientated. Content is king, but design matters too. I guess because my web dev. knowledge is more advanced than your average bear, I need a more advanced platform to satisfy my needs. – Gosh, I just wrote a WP v BS essay!
@Tyme4t – lol! Packing, yes. Macaroons might help?
Of course I'd follow your blog regardless of the domain. I personally like blogger better, but I've been using it (with my private family blog) for over 2 years and know all the ins and outs and feel more comfortable with it.
Doesn't matter to me where your blog is hosted. I go for the subject matter, not the presentation style.
I would be interested in knowing the differences between the two platforms. So far Blogger has been okay for me, but I don't have any experience with anything else.
Spooks rules and so does your blog wherever it may be!
Do you need help packing?
Macaroons coming up!
We'll move.
fitzg
It's my understanding you can migrate fairly easily. As someone who has migrated all sorts of systems but never a blog, there's always going to be something that's a hang up. As long as you know that, then you won't get too frustrated.
One thing to know about WP is that they severely limit Java script, so if you have some bells and whistles that require that, you might have to rethink some things. Just sayin'.
Oh, and RAFrenzy is only on blogger as a sort of mirror. Not sure how well that's working, but I thought I would cover the base.
I´ll follow your blog of course! I only started my blog in blogger, because the font size is larger than in WordPress. So if someone knows how to change that, I probably will move my blog as well. I´ll watch you learn and try first!
Your previous blog I´ve seen before, because I thought I read the spooks item about S8 on set captures somewhere before.
I will read your upcoming Robin Hood thoughts with special interest.
@Everyone – UPDATE! I REGISTERED THE DOMAIN SPOOKSFANBLOG.COM
@Fitzg – Woohoo, macaroons! Thanks lady, I should move more often.
@RAFrenzy – Yes, there's always something to put a wee spanner in the works. I'll be doing my research before making any moves. Making sure all the comments are properly migrated is my main concern.
Caution about having blogs mirrored elsewhere – in terms of SEO (search engine optimisation), duplicate content on different websites can effect search engine ranking. I'm not particularly up on this issue, but I guess one mirror wouldn't be to much of an issue? Particularly if you "tell" google that you have a mirror site (through their webtools).
@Violet – I haven't used a WP.com blog in a while, but I think there should be a way to increase the font size. Different themes have different font sizes – don't know whether you can edit themes on WP.com, but if you can that would be one way to change the font size.
Robin Hood posts coming up! … although they've been delayed a little, I've been side tracked by watching North and South again, as I've only seen it once before. Still trying to comprehend what the fuss over Thornton is about! There will be some posts on that too.
@TTN – Oh a new domain/blog warming party, there's an idea! No need to bring a plate, just your good self!
Course I'll follow you – can't get me hooked and then expect me to stay behind :D (I'll stick with blogger though for the time being, not as discerning/knowledgable about the whole 'tingie', and it does what I want it to do.. mostly. I'm easy to please in that regard :D)
Might not have time to help you packing or baking maccaroons, but will bring decorations for the housewarming party. Just say the word :D
Congratulations – site coming up seamlessly, with comments!