Posted by: Alasdair | 1 May, 2008

recommend me some blogging software!

I’m considering having my blog hosted on my own domain to get away from some of the restriction that ^^this^^ type of blog has … besides, wordpress.com has been bugging me recently, you know, like when it freezes up and you lose the post you’ve just spent 3 days trying to write!?

Only problem is I’m not sure what software to use, I’m not keen on going back to Dreamweaver as I can’t really bothered working within the restrictions of the version I have (and I can’t afford the new version).  I was thinking wordpress.org, b2evolution, moveable type, text pattern or some such, but then I’m too lazy to do proper reading research so would prefer recommendations … if anyone has any, please!

Whilst I’m talking about changes, I’ve rejigged the blogroll a bit, no particular reason other than a change is as good as a holiday!

I’ve removed some of the blogs I never visit anymore, nothing personal you understand, it’s just that I don’t seem to have the time to read around as much as I’d like to … sorry!  If I’ve taken you off my blogroll and you’re miffed let me know and I’ll come and visit you again, can’t promise I’ll make it a regular event but if I do you’ll be back on!

There are also a couple on there which appear to have become inactive, but I’m leaving them on there just now in case the author should return … failing that I’ll remove them too, such is life!

 

Responses

Hi A,

Allow me to recommend WordPress. You might have noticed that the Brit and I have our own privately hosted domain with MidPhase, a link to which is prominently displayed in the right hand column of our blog. AN Hosting is also owned and run by the same people, and we have a link to that as well. NOTE: those are affiliate links and we will get paid if you sign up for their service after following them.

However, that’s the only private hosting I have experience with, so it’s the only one I can give advice about :) So far, about a year and a half now, it’s been most excellent service. Set up of the blog software is automated to the point where it only takes a few clicks of the mouse. They also offer at least two other blogging platforms, but I haven’t taken time to mess with them. I would also point out that installing upgrades to WordPress takes only a single mouse click, although they usually take a week or three after the release to make it available.

Another plus in having your own domain is that you have access to the inner workings of the software. For instance, if you find the white background here too bright, you can edit the theme code and change the color. In addition, you can upload any plugin or widget you find, or write, and install it yourself. This gives you much more flexibility than with wordpress.com.

The bad news is that messing with some of that stuff is technical, and if you don’t enjoy solving puzzles it can be a real pain.

On the other hand, it’s your domain so you can make money through all sorts of advertising schemes. The amount of said cash flow depends on lots of things, but is most influenced by the amount of traffic you have. If you decide to go that route, I’ll be more than happy to share what information I posses on the subject.

One other thing, when you sign up for hosting it comes, most places, with free domain name registration. That means you own that name, so if you decide to change hosts, or even buy your own server and router, you can take it with you.

Well, that’s a start. Questions?

the Grit

Hi Grit,

I managed to find the ad. for your host on your blog, although I’m not sure that I’ll use them as I’ve already got another in mind. Thanks for the tip anyway.

I think I’ll probably end up going with WordPress, if for no other reason than it’s a brand I’m familiar with, although I don’t want to just plump for something because of the name … if I was going to do that I might as well dress myself entirely in Nike and live off McDonalds! Still, in an unfamiliar world the familiar can be comforting, although, nothing ventured nothing gained, etc etc.

… but then I do like puzzles!

Hi A,

I’ve been through most of that so, if I can help, feel free to ask. We bloggers have to stick together after all.

Speaking of which, should we have a name? The Blogging Brotherhood? Bloggers United? (that one may be taken) Band of Bloggers? The Blogging Alliance? Blog Or Die? Don’t Tread On Me! Wait, that last one is the State motto of Texas. Sorry, got carried away.

the Grit

Live and let Blog?
A view to a blog?
Braveblog!
Blueblog!
The Blogs of Eastwick?!
Apocabloggo!
.
.
.

Hi A,

One of my favorite games!

Waterblog
Blogworld
From Russia with blog
The man with the golden blog
Blogfinger
Blogging Private Ryan
Blog force
The blog that wouldn’t die
Mystic blog
The blog club
The incrediable Mr. Blog
20,000 blogs under the sea
The war of the blogs
Any given blog
Blog!
Blog cowboys
The great blog
Midnight in the blog of good and evil
Blog on a hot tin roof
Revenge of the blogs
Debbie does blogs
Blog to the center of the Earth
The blog of Dr. Morrow
The pink blog
Monty Python and the Holy blog :)

the Grit

The blog (the blob)
blogspotting
the great blog
blog busters
2001: a blog odyssey
lost blogs
buffy the blog slayer!
bloggate
the quaterblog experiment
the evil blog
the blogercist
blog sheep
xanablog
young blogs or blog guns
blogless in seattle
Northern Blogs
quantum blog
star blogs:

Episode 1: the blog menace
Episode 2: Blog of the clones
Episode 3: Blog of the sith
Episode 4: A new blog
Episode 5: the empire deletes blogs
Episode 6: return of the blog

:D

fried green blogs
blog in the sun
the blog who would be king
the blog in the iron mask
the longest blog
the blog that time forgot
blog in the willows
all the president’s blogs
you have blog
valley of the blogs
blogs east
blog, blog, blog!
kid blog
king blog
it came from blog space
Dr. Strangeblog, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the blog
a blog too far
the incredibly fiendish blog of Dr. Foo Manchu
the day the blog stood still
the Rocky horror picture blog
a boy and his blog
murder by blog
blog troopers (or starship blogs)
the incredible blog
blogzilla!
the blog machine
a midsummer night’s blog
the X-blog
the thin blog
the blog syndrome (or the China blog)
walking blog
around the world in 80 blogs :)

the Grit

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