Thanks so much for finding my little place in the Internet!
As I explained, I switched back to WordPress primarily for money reasons.
So, you may be asking yourself, if I’m such a cheapo, why didn’t I go with Blogger?
I hate Blogger. I hate the templates, I hate that the content really isn’t yours, it’s Google’s. I can never get anything to format correctly. Blech, that’s all.
And, there was more to it than just paying $10 less a month. I really wanted to simplify. I wanted a minimalist theme, and something that just wasn’t going to make blogging a project or a hassle. So, before I reupped with my hosting company, Dreamhost (Dreamhost always supported the DNS for my old domain, which was mapped to Squarespace, who provided the software/hosting), I found a free theme, Adelle, that I knew I could live with with only minimal tweaking.
I also wanted to be on a responsive platform – meaning that it adapts to the device you are using – formatting to your phone, or an ipad. And, I wanted to be able to blog from my phone or my ipad – and mobile blogging through Squarespace (5, I don’t know anything about Squarespace 6, but I do think it’s the same stinky app) really . . . is not good. WordPress’s blogging app, and specifically, the uploading and formatting photos within your post is just so much better. Now, if I want to blog on the fly – easy peasy. Blogging with Squarespace was always a project – blogging on my phone or ipad meant that my photos could only be put, unformatted, at the top of the post, which required more sit down time in front of the PC to fix it later.
If you’re going to start a blog – picking a platform is like renting an apartment. It’s not like buying a house – you’re not that committed, but, moving will always be a hassle. So, pick carefully. Is money your only concern? Go Blogger. Hosting a business? Testdrive all of your options – most software has a one month trial. And, if it is your business and your source of income, you’ve got to be concerned with customer service – it stinks to live in an apartment, and hate the super. Are you going to host an online class? If so, does your platform allow you to host a private, separate blog/forum? A photographer? Squarespace might be for you – I’ve never seen better, simpler to format galleries on the web. And WordPress.com v. WordPress.org – here’s the comparison chart. Just know that if you’re going to mess with your template/theme at all, changing font, color, etc. on WordPress.com – free is a misnomer – because you’re going to need to buy the $30/yr Custom Design upgrade to do that – which is why I went with WordPress.org through Dreamhost – because I know enough code to change the navigation bar from black to blue without having to pay $30.
I’ve asked a lot of questions in the above paragraph – are you a business? a photographer? hosting a class? without really giving any advice or too much of an opinion. And that’s because the choice is really personal. For instance, Dreamhost’s customer service for the plan I’m on is limited to Live Chatting online, or email – phonecalls cost extra. I’m okay with that – but if it were my business, my livelihood, I would certainly want to be able to pick up the phone. Also, if it were my business, I’d be concerned about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – and you need to do some shopping. I also don’t care about social media integration, but maybe you do. Maybe, esthetically, one platform is just more pleasing to look at to you than another – do you want to live in a split level home or a townhouse? These are all personal decisions.
I’m not a big fan of shopping for clothes or shoes online – that stuff has to be tried on – and that’s my only advice – investigate, try, then buy.
And, thanks again for stopping by!