Today, Valentine’s Day is my 2 year blog anniversary. Happy blog birthday to me! I was going to write a post about the stuff I’d learnt in the last 2 years of blogging but a week ago, after just a year of procrastinating and thinking about it for far too long, I finally took the leap to self-host my own blog.
Reasons I Wanted to Self- Host:
- I’d seen so many of my other blogging buddies do it and take their blogs on to bigger and better things
- Brands won’t consider working with you unless you’re self-hosted. I’ve no idea if this will happen to me in the future, I only know that it wasn’t going to happen as it was
- I felt fed up and constrained with the design and layout of my blog
Reasons for Not Doing it or Putting it off for Another Year:
- I’m a huge technophobe and the process of switching made me wince every time I thought about it
- Was any of it worth it? I started my blog to write and the basic WordPress site allowed me to do that
I’m in a bit of a dry spell with my freelancing work so if ever there was a time to do it, it was now. I’d seen how a few bloggers had recommended TSO. Even better they did most of the migration for you and I heard they were very good at support.
So last Monday I set about becoming self-hosted. I religiously and slowly followed this post by Wendy at Nap Time Natter who had some great advice. Despite a little bit of confusion relating to domain names, I managed to get through the process fairly easily and painlessly. I’d read horror stories by other bloggers who had said they’d not backed up any of their work and some had lost a lot, and so I was a little bit panicky when I got to the end of the process and waited for TSO to work their magic. I was amazed when I had an email the very next day to say that the migration had occurred and I was no self-hosted! Shouldn’t it take weeks?
Panic
My first thought on seeing the new site was that phew! All the blog posts were there. But then I realised that none of the comments had switched over. Not a major deal, but it just looked like no one had ever read my blog. A few panicky emails to TSO and they did something which brought back the comments. I also had a crazy moment where I thought that I’d been logged out of the new site but realised I was trying to login to the old WordPress one with my new passwords. (Yep told you I was a technophobe).
Then the fun began as I realised I had to get to grips with a new way of working. A slightly new WordPress system, a new theme, faffing about with widgets and plugins. Setting the blog up all over again with new menu, headers etc. etc. the list goes on and on. It can be fun, but also overwhelming, consuming and infuriating all at the same time.
For instance, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of themes with the new site. I’d seen some I’d already liked but it turns out you need to pay extra to get these. Which I did. There is still so much to do and a lot to learn, but I think the only way I can cope with it is to do a little bit at a time.
Two Years
It doesn’t seem that long ago that I wrote about what I’d learnt in my first year of blogging. Not much has changed, it’s still something I love and at times I can’t be bothered with. I can lots of inspiration for blog posts and then go for weeks with nothing. Despite 2 years of blogging, I still have so much to learn about it. I’m never going to be one of those bloggers who make a career of it, but there is still a lot I can do. I love the blogging community and how friendly everyone is. Below is a list of everyone that helped and supported me through the self-hosting process either directly or indirectly after my many worries last week. Thank you so much ladies!
Charlie at Mess and Merlot
Laura at Five Little Doves
Wendy at Naptime Natter
Mrs Lighty at All Things Spliced
Emma at Island Living 365
If you don’t hear too much from me in the near future, it’s because I’ll have my head down trying to figure out just what the hell I’m doing!
I’d love to hear about your experiences of going self-hosted with the blog, please let me know in the comments below.
Honestly I am scared of the self hosted shit – main reason I started that way.
I would just pay someone and then piss and moan about the cost later on.
Two years is awesome!
#KCACOLS
Yes, I felt that way too. Thought about it for a year and then surprised myself at how quickly and fairly easily it all was. Good luck!
Congratulations! Good luck on going self-hosted, it’s definitely worth all of the work! #bigpinklink
The Tale of Mummyhood recently posted…Calming Colic by Christian Bates: Book Review & Giveaway
Thank you! Still lots of tinkering to do!
Happy Blogiversary! I went self hosted a few months after I started blogging and I honestly have no idea why I did it cus I don’t work with brands but I think I just wanted my own website name. Rubbish reason eh? #bigpinklink
No not a rubbish reason at all! That was another thing that I hated – having the .wordpress.com at the end of my site address.
Congratulations! It looks lovely. Good luck with figuring it all out.
The brands won’t work with you unless you’re self hosted isn’t quite true – although it’s repeated over and over. Brands won’t work with bloggers who don’t have their own domain name. They also look for a decent readership and social media following that’s the right fit for them as it’s all about driving sales.
Self hosting does mean you completely own your content and gives you access to better templates and more gadgets. Blogger is very basic and that’s what frustrates me about it. It’s the main reason I ponder shifting every so often.
Oh thanks for the advice! I’m not sure what will happen in the future, but I’m happy just tinkering with it all for now!
Well done for taking the plunge. A very lovely, sleek theme you have too! I’m glad you got all your comments back, you put in so much effort to get them it qould be a shame to loose them all X
#BigPinkLink
Thanks Kirsty. There’s still a lot to do, but in between juggling kids and work and my technical fears, I’m taking slowly! X
Thanks Kirsty, I’m still tinkering with it all but doing little bits at a time! X
Congratulations on 2 years! It looks fab and well done for being brave and going for it! It looks fab #bigpinklink
New Mummy Blog recently posted…Maternity clothes – bargains from Love The Sales
Thank you! Still lots to do, but getting there!
When I started blogging over 3 years ago, I knew I wanted to make this my career so I started with a paid WordPress site, picked my domain address, and spent the money on the packages I loved. It was a big bite to start with, but I chewed until it was manageable. Now I’m looking to make the move to self-hosted and I am worried, to say the least. Great luck, you’ll get it exactly the way you want it to look! #bigpinklink
Thank you! Good luck with your site!
Happy Blogiversary may you enjoy the adventure to self hosted. #KCACOLS
Thank you. Adventure is a good word for it!
Happy Blogiversary! I must admit that I am a big technophobe and have not dared to make any tech changes at all. I started out as self hosted and someone helped me set up from Day Go BUT I have no idea, okay, no courage to make any changes to the design or plugins etc. I am afraid that I may “break” it. Good on you for giving it a go! Thanks for sharing with #bigpinklink
Hah! Sounds just like me. Thanks x
Happy bloggiversary!! Hang in there. I’m self hosted and I LOVE it!!! You’ll get there too 🙂 #kcacols
Thank you! Let’s hope so!
I have always been self hosted and I am really glad that I opted for self- hosting straight away. I have also been blogging for nearly 2 years now and I know that my blog needs a new theme and a bit of a re-vamp. I’m not looking forward to it! Pen x #KCACOLS
Pen recently posted…How to fall back in love with your partner
It can be exciting but it is time consuming. Once you start, you keep finding other things to tinker with! X
When I did it I don’t think I slept for a week haha. PAN.IC! It’s all good now though. Congratulations on 2 years, and many more to come! X #coolmumclub
Thank you! Onwards and upwards! X
Im self hosted and I still dont know what I am doing with it! Happy 2nd blog birthday 🙂 Thank you for linking up with #KCACOLS we hope to see you again next time xx
Hah!! There’s lots to learn right?! X
I really need to up my blog design game. I intended to do some more later too, and have watched everyone elses blogs get prettier and prettier… One step at a time though eh?!
Well done lovely – you’re doing fab so keep up the good work!
#coolmumclub xx
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Yes, I agree, there’s always so many other things to do too. Baby steps! Thank you. X
Oh I’m such a technophobe too. Thankfully my hubby is a web developer so all that stuff gets passed on to him. Phew! Well done on figuring it all by yourself #coolmumclub
Lucy At Home recently posted…Blog Crush #2: 24th February 2017
Weirdly my husband is too but I feel like this is my space and so I need to manage it!
Wow, congratulations and well done for taking the plunge. I read a lot of horror stories when I was getting ready to set my blog up so I went self-hosted from the start and I’m so glad I did, the thought of going through the switching process would scare the c**p out of me!
#KCACOLS
That is probably the easiest thing to do and something I should have done!
Congrats on 2 years and going self hosted! 🙂 I’ve just started up really, I keep pondering if I should go self hosted or just wait it out a bit longer…how have you found TSO? I’ve seen lots of people talk about them too. Think I’d go with them too! #KCACOLS Becky x
I’d definitely recommend TSO as they have such a good support system. They do a lot of the work for you and respond quickly to email queries. I mailed them a lot!! X
Congratulations on 2 years of blogging. Going self-hosted is really scary, but it is worth all the stress in the long run.
#KCACOLS
Thank you. Looking forward to see what happens next!
Happy blog birthday! And well done on making the move to self-hosted, it’s a big learning curve but it is worth it. x #KCACOLS
Thank you. Definitely a big learning curve! X
Well done, 2 years. I started off self hosted but only because I have a computer nerd for a boyfriend 🙂 I honestly don’t know how people do it! x
#KCACOLS
Helen @Talking_Mums recently posted…Planning a UK family road trip
It was not my favourite thing to do at all!! X
Well done for taking the leap.
I did too and after weeks spent cursing myself and nearly throwing the laptop at the wall, it all came together and I’ve never looked back.
#KCACOLS
That’s good to know thanks!