**Notice** Due to transfering back from a godaddy hosted wordpress blog back to blogger, reviews published before june 2017 don`t all have a pretty layout with book cover and infos. Our apologies.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

The long lived dilemma of switching to Wordpress

I am once again faced with this dilemma after so many blogs have been shutdown in the past weeks, but I’m still full of uncertainties. I’m currently discussing it with the girls, but I’d like to have your opinion on some points.

First the reasons why I wanna switch:

  1. The safety of not being shutdown…
  2. The flexibility WP offers
  3. the numerous plugins that would make my life much easier (see here)

The reasons why I hesitate:

  1. The whole switching process is scary
  2. I’m worried I won’t be able to design the blog as easily and as well as I did here.
  3. The cost.

Now my questions to you:

  1. Is it hard to have your domain name switched providers? My domain is with eNom (via google) and I’m wondering if the process is tenuous. Can my domain be my free one when I chose a host, or will I have to pay for it again?
  2. I’m thinking of using GoDaddy because they have a 2,99$ per month price right now, but once my ‘contract’ is over and I renew, will it be at full price? If there’s a discount at the moment of renewal will I be allowed to use it?
  3. To have a nice looking design, is it necessary to buy a deluxe template? Where did you get yours? Is it easy to customize? Are there some nice (and safe!) free ones out there?
  4. Do you have any ‘I wish I knew that before I made the switch’ ?
  5. If I install plugins, will all the authors of the blog be able to use them or each of us have to install them?
  6. Is it easy to format your post?
  7. How is it working Mac vs PC user? Any disparities?
  8. Anybody have a test blog they would let me play with? Or even let me create a basic design a could start with when switching?

I probably have a lot more questions but there are the ones on my mind right now. Can you tell I’m scared of the unknown? LOL

tynsig

Posted by at 04:59
   15 People left their mark

Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

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15 People left their mark' :

  1. Grace Fonseca20 July 2013 at 05:16

    I made the switch and I must say that I like self hosted much better. Go-Daddy has excellent staff and support. I bought it and it was very happy with it. Still learning it as well. Parajunkee has some very pretty themes as well.

    Grace

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  2. Tori [Book Faery]20 July 2013 at 05:32

    1) Not sure, but I've seen many people switch over without a problem.
    2) I use Bluehost and love them. Phone and chat is open 24/7, lots of help. It's on sale for $3.95/month right now and I got the three year deal.
    3) I've found Wordpress has a lot more user-friendly layouts. It'll take you a few days to adjust, but once you get the hang of it, editing your layout is super easy. I'm actually having fun tinkering LOL. Many of the nicer, more detailed layouts have a price tag. Pro is that a lot of these designing websites will offer support, should you have any issues.
    4) Can't think of any yet.
    5) All the plugins I've used were for the entire website as a whole, so no.
    6) VERY easy.
    7) I have a Macbook and I've had no issues.
    8) You could probably tinker around with wordpress.com (that's the free one) and adjust to it that way. Wordpress.org is the site you'll want to go to if you decide to self-host with WP.

    Also, you could probably call GoDaddy if you don't hire someone like Rachel to do the switch for you. I'm sure they'll be able to give you step-by-step instructions on how to make the switch as flawless as possible. Most self-hosted websites have a 1 click install for wordpress.

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  3. Tynga20 July 2013 at 05:34

    Thank Tori! Im thinking of using the guide Rachel just posted this week

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  4. Tynga20 July 2013 at 05:35

    Glad you like it!

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  5. Stephanie G20 July 2013 at 06:28

    I'm right there with you on switching over. It is scary leaving something you've been with for so long and easily know but that Parajunkee post really does help. I haven't done the switch over but I'm getting closer and closer to finally taking the plunge.

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  6. Kristen20 July 2013 at 09:04

    Kate's better on this topic than I am when it came to switching over. We do have some posts about the switch if you want to check them out.

    http://www.thebookmonsters.com/category/lets-chat/

    Here's what I can answer personally.

    #5: You only have to install once for plugins. Whatever Kate adds I see and use as well without doing anything.

    #6: It's a lot easier to format posts I think than in Blogger. And you can create easy templates and for reviews, the Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin is awesome. It's not free, but worth every penny.

    Some of these topics Kate covered in that link above, there's a couple different posts on our migration over to Wordpress.

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  7. Tynga20 July 2013 at 09:51

    Thanks I read the posts!

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  8. Berls20 July 2013 at 14:42

    I can't comment one way or the other, but I keep reading so much on this topic that it's making me nervous. I just started my blog on blogger less than 2 weeks ago and I've just sort of figured out how to use it. But now i'm afraid I should have just started on wordpress. Good luck deciding!

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  9. Cee L20 July 2013 at 18:21

    I haven't made the switch yet, but Ashley @ Nose Graze has excellent posts about the cost and benefits of Wordpress + choosing the best web host for you.

    Here are some links.
    http://www.nosegraze.com/bbb-question-how-expensive-is-wordpress-is-it-worth-it/
    http://www.nosegraze.com/moving-to-wordpress-choosing-the-best-web-host/
    http://www.nosegraze.com/theres-never-been-a-better-time-to-move-to-wordpress/

    Hope that helps. :D

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  10. Sugar and Snark20 July 2013 at 23:29

    3. My template was free and I customized it very easily for someone who doesn't really know what they are doing.

    6. Very easy!

    Trust me the move is better than your blog suddenly going poof. I nearly had a heart attack when that happened to me on Blogger.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Aurian21 July 2013 at 01:02

    I made a back up blog on free Wordpress this week, and I used the excellent tutorial Brianna from The Book Vixen has on her blog how to do it. It took less than 10 minutes to copy three years of blogposts and comments over to my new wordpress blog. For now, I will stay with blogger but I will be able to switch at the drop of a hat to wordpress if google goes nuts again.

    Which is also the reason why I am now hesitating with contacting you for a new layout for my blog Tynga. I really want to, but am waiting for what happens next.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Aurian21 July 2013 at 01:17

    I just read this post on the Bawdy Book Blog Tynga, perhaps it is of use to you? http://www.thebawdybookblog.com/b-tips-tweak-me-the-ultimate-book-blogger-plugin-the-best-book-blogger-wp-theme-and-plugin-ever-no-seriously/

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  13. Chyna21 July 2013 at 04:30

    Sent u an email :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. The Paperback Stash21 July 2013 at 11:43

    What blogs have been shut down on blogger, what do you mean?

    ReplyDelete
  15. onlinephduk5 August 2013 at 14:22

    I personally use Wordpress and I love it. It is easy to navigate and I have not had any problems with anything on the site.


    Split-Site PhD Programs

    ReplyDelete

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