Finally, the long awaited (and long overdue, sorry ’bout that) instruction manual has arrived! For those of you “stuck with blogger”, “sick of blogger”, and who “want a real blog”, this is all the information you need rolled up into one tidy little post. If I forget anything, I’ll update it. If you know something I don’t know, tell me, and I’ll update that, too.
PICK A BLOGGING PLATFORM
- What is a blogging platform? It’s the software that organizes your blog into posts, in date order, yadda yadda. It is exactly what it says, the platform you use to blog. How many are there to choose from? Lots. For the purpose of this instruction manual, I’m recommending Wordpress, it’s the most efficient free blogging platform that you install and control yourself. If you know of others, speak up and I’ll add them.
SELECT A HOST
- The blogging platform you use will give you a list of requirements that the program will need to be able to run on any server. Here are the requirements for Wordpress. These are the basic requirements in order to have a successful installation of Wordpress. Whatever platform you choose, find and check the requirements against the hosting provider you select before you even sign up with them.
Wordpress has a list of highly recommended hosting providers, here. However. Proceed with caution if you’re looking at hosting with Yahoo - there are several issues with Yahoo that may cause your scripting and plugin use to be limited. For limited use, you get a cheaper price. Better to pay a couple dollars more and have unlimited capabilities with your blog, I say!
My personal and professional recommendation? Sign up with Blogs-About hosting. They have a package to get you off of blogger and hooked up with Wordpress that can’t be beat. It includes installation, importing your blogger entries and comments (if they’re blogspot comments - haloscan does not import), and reformatting your template in Wordpress for the cost of a one year domain purchase. Speaking of domains…
CHOOSE YOUR DOMAIN NAME
- Yes, you too can have your very own domain name. Pick one, anything you want! You can purchase a domain through Blogs-About, GoDaddy, or any number of domain name registrants, those are the two I personally recommend. You can keep typing in names until you get one you want, add it to your shopping cart - go through the checkout process, and own your own domain name.
Please, please, please. Hang on to every stick of e-mail you get confirming your purchases, logins and account information. Do. Not. Ever. Delete. It.
GET HOSTED
- Once you have selected your host and chosen and purchased your domain name (so far you’ve spent about $10, not too shabby), you’ll want to actually sign up with the host. If you choose the basic package with Blogs-About, you get the first month free, so you don’t pay more than the cost of your domain registration for the first month. The second month & months thereafter, the basic package (which is all you really need to start with), it’s a $10/month subscription through paypal. Once you have confirmed and purchased your hosting account, you’ll receive confirmation information that will give you instructions on how to point your domain to their servers (aka Nameservers).
POINT YOUR DOMAIN TO THE RIGHT SERVERS
- If you’ve purchased the domain through Blogs-About and set up hosting with Blogs-About, your nameservers are already pointing in the right direction. No need to do anything but wait for the e-mail that confirms everything and lets you know when your installation and transfer will be complete. If not, you need to get the nameserver information from your new host and log back into the account where you registered your domain, and change the nameservers to the ones your host gives you.
WAIT.
- It takes some time for the new domain, nameservers, and host to all get resolved. Once everybody starts talking to eachother, you’ll be able to get things all set up!
INSTALL WORDPRESS
- If you chose Blogs-About, you won’t have to do anything but wait. (This is why I’m recommending Blogs-About for everyone wanting to get off Blogger. They couldn’t have made it easier!) If you chose another host, hopefully they perform the installation. If not, you can perform the installation usually through your CPanel, most hosts have Fantastico Script section that has an automatic installation process for many programs, including Wordpress.
TRANSFER/IMPORT YOUR STUFF
- Again, if you chose Blogs-About, this will be done for you. If not, Wordpress has a very efficient import tool right in the administration panel. From MT to LiveJournal to Blogger, WordPress has an extensive list of systems that makes automated import easy peasy.
THEME IT
- If you’re looking for an outstanding and professional blog designer who knows how to whip up a design that will keep your readers happy in whatever browser they use, here are a few of my own personal favorites:
Still, only spent about $10 to do everything so far. All you need to do now is blog, find your way around the Wordpress Admin panel, and save up for a whole new look. You can install plugins right from within your admin panel plugins page (there are hundreds of neat little program “add on’s” that you can add to your blog to have all kinds of neat functions), you can hire someone to install them, you can change your theme, download from hundreds of free wordpress themes, the possibilities are endless with Wordpress.
Keep in mind, too, that you’re in charge of your blog when it’s on your domain. You are the one with ultimate control over every single thing that happens to your account, the only thing your host is providing you is space to keep your stuff on their servers, which you rent on a month to month basis (or annual, depending on the package you choose). That being said, it’s up to you not to break it. If you want to fiddle with stuff, make a backup copy before you fiddle - then have at it - and if you break it, restore it. Otherwise you will be charged to have someone else do it for you.
Leaving Blogger means no more waiting. No more frustrating and wierd server lag time and sluggish posting. No more complete loss of everything you’ve ever posted for no apparent reason. You don’t have to host your images with Flickr, or have a separate account. Your images can be uploaded right through your own admin panel and they’re stored on your server. If your host’s server goes down, it’s a rare thing - because they’re getting paid to keep them up and running whereas blogspot is not. No more comment verification, because Wordpress has a backend spam plugin, Akismet, and you’ll never need anything else. No more problems - just a really cool and super flexible program that will do whatever you want it to do. Want a photoblog? Yep, it does that too. A group blog where a bunch of people can post? You can have as many authors as you want, each with their own login and password, and you set the authority. You can see from all of my own projects- my dream blog, this blog here, my gallery (which is done with one single installation of WP), my weight loss blog - and the recipe section on that blog. All powered by Wordpress.
Questions? Comments? Additons? Recommendations?
Updated 1/11/07: Read How to Market your blog here.
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{51 Comments}
Hi Leanne, Here’s the link to the blog with the blogger ID. It’s different than what you have, I think…or maybe only so because it links the town your from. http://apples.blogsome.com/2006/04/17/what-is-your-scent/
I was on blogger for a week or so and then my Floyd blog friends talked me into going on moveable type. It’s more reliable but blogger was more user friendly to set up if you don’t know anything. Those guys are tech heads compared to me.
That was a very thorough post. I’m in the process now. I too chose Wordpress. Thanks for doing this Leanne. Like you don’t have other work to do!
Hi Leanne. When one can’t afford to make the change one must do what they can with what is free out there. I like what I found in blogger and that I can manage it easily. But when the time comes that I finally work and can possible consider a move I will come back and reread this. It was very informative of what the process is. Thanks.
Free is always a great price, of course. I was on blogger once, too - after a stint on LiveJournal. I just hope that those who are ready to take the plunge find this useful, and helpful. One day that’ll be you, Debbie!
Awesome advice, Leanne! :good: I will look into all of this next week. I already had picked out a cool WordPress template!
I so want to take the plunge, you know i do. i am sure i’ll screw it up if i even try tho. must conquer my fear.
this is still way over my head, while the instructions are clear, i really don’t “get it”. i’m taking a computer course, but i’m still at the very beginning and until i actually understand what is going on, i won’t be making any changes. i barely know what i’m doing with blogger, any change seems overwhelming.
Now where was this post when I left Blogger? I had to learn through trial and error. LOL
That’s how I got here, too. Started on LJ, which was just bad - getting sucked into their communites, I honestly didn’t even know any other kinds of blogs existed. Then blogger - and I absolutely hated having to wait to publish through them and upload images. I’ve had my own domain for my gallery for years, so it was the natural next step for me, and I don’t regret one single one of the thousand red cents I fork over every month for it.
:winking:
Way cool! I’m sending this my resident computer guy (ie dh).
Thanks!
Awesome! I’ve been thinking about switching at some point soon. Blogger is driving me nuts! Thank you for all the information. I’ve printed it out and bookmarked the links. :)
Thanks for the trackback, friend!
I love my new site. I am still learning all the ins and outs.
hey! thanks for the link and the kudos. :) Great breakdown, too.
Hi Leanne. Thanks for the link! Great post - very much needed info.
[...] So if you have been “scared” or just don’t know if you can do it…take my advice and read Leanne’s post on how to switch over from Blogger to Wordpress, it’s very informative and it helped me alot! [...]
Thanks for the link Leanne! Great post :good:
Hey … I just took the plung! I’m waiting on the completion of the “Out Damn Spot” package … actually can’t wait … was thinking of doing this but wasn’t sure where to go … thanks for all the good info … I said you referred me, but didn’t have your email address so I put your name and web address … Happy Day!
[...] Please visit this post to leave blogger … you really need to join us! [...]
I left Blogger about a year ago. I also used Blogs-About and I totally agree with everything you’ve said about them. It is truly effortless to use them to switch. They did EVERYTHING for me, including answering my really stupid questions very quickly in the beginning.
During the year, I’ve learned a lot about coding and template design just by playing in the wordpress template. It is very easy to use. I LOVE it.
I will also say that not ONCE EVER has my site been down…except when I messed it up trying to upgrade Wordpress myself (because I didn’t even realize that Blogs-About had Fantastico sitting there with a ONE CLICK UPGRADE!)
Blogs-About is exceptionally wonderful. You can’t go wrong.
:o I’m terrified of trying to make the transition, but I’m saving this thorough posting of yours so when I think I can dare to make the leap, I will have the notes on how to do so.
Mahalo…Kuanyin
What an excellent post! This is very helpful as I research options. Thank you!
I did it!! I jumped in, ready or not! Check out my new digs at 2passthetorch.com.
And thank you for all your encouragement!!
[...] Thanks to Leanne for helping me take the plunge;) Filed In: Kids 9 Responses to “Against my better judgement…” [...]
Wow, I wish I found this write up before i did the switch myself, which took me a while! I’m still on Blogger as http://silkwillow.blogspot.com but have my own domain now! Your article is a great help to those going to try it. It’s quite some work esp. since i inadvertently signed up for blogger beta right before moving to wordpress, which caused me to be unable to use the Wordpress import function. Hence i did the post/comment migration by hand. So glad it’s over and done with! I love your emoticons btw.
[...] So now count me in as one of those veterans of the migration process. I thought it would take me much longer than it did, but it’s not that bad after all. But like anything else, the longer you spend on it, the more you learn. You just need to bite the bullet and get your hands dirty. Resources are everywhere so it is not a lost cause, like when I thought I would resign myself to blogspot and get my new domains to redirect. No, it was well worth the move. [...]
[...] So now count me in as one of those veterans of the migration process. I thought it would take me much longer than it did, but it’s not that bad after all. But like anything else, the longer you spend on it, the more you learn. You just need to bite the bullet and get your hands dirty. Resources are everywhere so it is not a lost cause, like when I thought I would resign myself to blogspot and get my new domains to redirect. No, it was well worth the move. [...]
hi Leanne for anyone looking for blog hosting, my husband offers afordable blog hosting at VisionThisHosting.com
I use both Blogger and Wordpress the latter is hosted. I find that Blogger is still my preferred choice even though there are real cons if you get captchad (which I haven’t.
Wordpress is more difficult to use as the tendency is to watch for the latest plugin. It becomes a bit too much like navel contemplation.
Charlie
[...] How to Leave Blogger [...]
:good: Great article! Having your own domain name makes it so much easier to promote your blog, your own hosting gives you more control….and what’s really awesome is that there are a lot of hosting companies out there that allow you to have more than one domain name on one hosting account. If you have an account like that you can share a hosting account with your friends….which means sharing the cost as well. :)
If you’re going to share a hosting account with addon domains, be sure they’re friends you trust, and it’s an account you will take full accountability for - because the majority of hosts will hold the primary account holder responsible for the content on their servers. If your friends should do something against the TOS of the host, you’ll lose your account, too.
Shelly reminded me to reread this help post as I’m trying to choose between two hosts and then I, too, am making the plunge or leap, depending on the outcome.
I’m on my way to check the Out Damn Spot package. Thanks.
[...] I installed WordPress on her new domain and imported her blogger posts with just a click of a button. Okay, a couple of clicks - but it really is easy - you should do it, too! [...]
That helped me a lot!
Regards
Jan
Hi Leanne. You have a beautiful site. I came here from Kailani’s blog who I also admire.
Just browsing through some of your interesting posts. I’m a Blogger user and contemplating of moving my blog to WP but I’m still trying to weigh the pros and cons.
An interesting blog. With reference to some of the comments; never, never go for free hosting, which looks cheap, has limited choices and is advertising supported. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for and there’s no such thing as something for nothing. Shop around and look for the best deal you can get for your money. Ensure that the host you choose can give you what you want with things like layout, graphics and tabs etc.
[...] Intricate Art - How To Leave Blogger [...]
I used to have a blogger blog, gave it up ages ago, but am now wanting to get back into blogging again.
Do you know of any good blog software that runs on a windows server?
thanks
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
You could have a look here: http://cmsmatrix.org/ to find a CMS that would work on a Windows server - but it might just be easier to switch to a Linux server instead.
Good luck!
Thanks so much for that tutorial.
When I first started out I went with blogger and then realised that I was trapped. All my content and some of my life seemed at the mercy of Blogger - obvious now, but not at the time.
I will be moving the whole lot to Wordpress installed on my own hosting once I buy a domain and get the hosting sorted out.
It really cost very little to own it all yourself and is worth it in the long run.
rog
Hi Leanne, thanks for a very comprehensive analysis of this issue. I agree with most of what you say about blogger, but I still feel more comfortable with a big brand name hoster like Google. When I started blogging in Nov 2006 I knew nothing about anything but I rolled up my sleeves and persevered with the Blogger platform — It was very frustrating at times but now when I look back and realise I’ve somehow learned to code in html / CSS along the way, I’m really quite proud of myself. Your site rocks, by the way, from a look-and-feel perspective. The work of a true professional always stands out. If you have some time I’d really appreciate your opinion from a design point of view on my latest blog doodlemania
Cheers
SRS’s last blog post..written on the sky
Hello Leanne
Great looking site by the way, for a blog site very impressive and a nice layout.
Ok getting back to blogging, As I am new to blogging can you download word press and install onto any linux webserver.
When writing articles can they be archived automatically.
How secure is word press from spam attack
Regards David UK
Hi Epos - Thanks very much for the compliment!
Here’s some info about WordPress on a Linux server, and the minimum requirements to run WP.
WP is very secure, and since it’s open source, it is continually being improved. Akismet comes bundled with the WordPress download as well and is the best comment spam filter available.
Very good post! I’ve sorta considered switching, but have been kinda gutless and also kinda too busy to bother. For the most part, I’m reasonably happy with the way my Blogger-based stuff looks. I managed to tweak the heck out of the template and use the same CSS code for our other pages, so there’s no jarring break between the dynamic blog post pages and the hand-coded static pages.
But from time to time, I do get a little envious of some of the plug-ins that are available to WordPress users, so maybe…
Great post!… will add to my blog for my clients.
I guess for most blogger is a great cheap alternative. That being said, if your running a business and want to look professional a WP blog is the go or another blogging solution on your own domain.
Considering domains and hosting is so cheap these days, there really is no reason for not putting up a pro site.
Just my two cents. ;-)
Great article……I am to that point where I am ready to make the change. I was unsure at first but you have made it easier now !
Thanks
BTW, I also meant to mention that you really have a cool Site here.
Some really good info and I have bookmarked it for future reference
Quote comment from Easy Web Hosting - “An interesting blog. With reference to some of the comments; never, never go for free hosting, which looks cheap, has limited choices and is advertising supported. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for and there’s no such thing as something for nothing. Shop around and look for the best deal you can get for your money. Ensure that the host you choose can give you what you want with things like layout, graphics and tabs etc.”
I completely agree with Easy Web Hosting on this. Stay away from free hosting. If you need to expand your horizons but don’t want to div ein at the deep end, there are several other opportunities open to you.
Great post Leanne! I will be stopping by again. Bookmarked!!
very good read , i love the wordpress setup its so user friendly with some great plugins and add-ons.
Wordpress has become the most popular used platform in its category. A recent search i conducted on Alexa found wordpress.com to be number 22 in the top most visited websites “globally”.
Wordpress not only makes it easy to create a blog but it has also been used to develop websites, simply because it makes it so easy to update.
Regards,
Richard