My friend Shirley, who has a great emerging blog called Proof Positivity asked some questions that led to a mini interview answer. I decided to publish it here for your reading pleasure.
Shirley is a former City Year corps member who believes in making a difference that is what is at the root of her blog Proof Positivity. Her goal is to create a television news show based on community service, good deeds, and positive news. So please visit her blog and witness the good work she is undertaking.
When and where it all began – Blogger
I began reading blogs in 2003 and I started my own private blog on Blogger. In early 2006 I chose to found a public blog on Blogger because it was the biggest free blog webhost, and because I assumed it was the easiest blogging to learn how to use. A few days later I got a wordpress.com blog too. Almost I immediately noticed how poor Blogger support was and how long it took to get assistance. In contrast, I discovered that I preferred wordpress software and wordpress.com forum volunteer support was great. It was backed up by excellent staff support too, so I gravitated there. I also discovered that the wordpress.com global tagging pages brought my blogs traffic but that Blogger didn’t have such a social network equivalent.
Moving from Blogger to wordpress.com
Within a short while I realized how limited remaining at Blogger would be and how much better wordpress would suit my blogging purposes. So I exported the contents out and abandoned my Blogger blog and imported them into my wordpress.com blog.
I learned my wordpress blogging here on the free hosted multi-user wordpress.com platform with the help of their excellent FAQs, and the volunteers answering questions on the support forum. Once I learned the basics I began other blogs and I also began answering forum questions myself. In fact I answered over 7,000 questions on the wordpress.com support forum. In time I decided to move my personal blog off the wordpress.com subdomain onto my own domain, and to use wordpress.org software.
Moving on to wordpress.org
I chose to retain the page rank on the blog and not break all the links by paying wordpress.com for both a domain and domain mapping. This costs me 4 cents per day or $15.00 for a year’s service. I chose A Small Orange as my web host and began a new learning curve.
I blogged on how and why to get your own domain here
For those who wish to make the switch to self hosting their own free wordpress.org software here is the link to free become a wordpress blogger tutorial videos.
Related posts found in this blog:
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Teck
December 4, 2008
Very interesting thanks for sharing. :)
timethief
December 4, 2008
You’re welcome Teck. :)
Benny Greenberg
December 4, 2008
Hmmm – Interesting is true – But do tell now… If it were not for me – You would not be calling BC your home :)
Ben
Shirley
December 4, 2008
I too was impressed with how fast wordpress people answered my question about a widget for blogcatalog. I thought it would be weeks but they took care of my problem with in minutes. A feature that blogger has that I enjoy is I can just click and drag anything and move it around without thinking. WordPress has given me a few challenges in that respect. Wonderful summary of my blog too. :) Thank you.
timethief
December 4, 2008
@Shirley,
It was a pleasure answering your questions and it has likewise been a pleasure getting to know you. Two hours ago our whole wordpress dashboard arrangement dramatically changed for the second time in one year. More changes are on the way like Buddy Press http://buddypress.org/ and it won’t take long before wordpress.com becomes a huge social network in its own right. We are well positioned because we have established blogs here already.
timethief
December 4, 2008
@Benny
Since the head banging incident I have had some trouble with my short term memory. I do recall the all good times we had after I first arrived at Blog Catalog but I can’t recall meeting you previous to being a BC member … lol :P
I hope you are keeping well. :)
ian in hamburg
December 4, 2008
Hi TT,
I saw you today on the WP.com forums! Was that a cameo appearance?
Glad to see you, anyway. :-)
K Fields
December 4, 2008
I am glad that you are on the road to recovery, even if it is slow going, and I am sure quite frustrating to you, you still always seem to be able to help other’s out. :)
I have learned a lot from your posts on your blogs and at BC discussions, and they have really helped me figure out and learn stuff I needed to know even tho I do not have wordpress, but my own creation of a blog.
You truly are the best of the best. May you continue healing, and that peace reign in your life!
~K
irtiza
December 4, 2008
i hope to get my own domain…some day.
thanks for sharing
Teck
December 5, 2008
Hello TT, I’m dropping by to say I was happy to you
in the forums again. :D
Best Luck with your recovery.
timethief
December 5, 2008
@ianinhamburg
With as many staff as there are now there is no need for volunteers. :)
timethief
December 5, 2008
@K
I’m really happy when I can help someone and you know where to find me. I’m remaining optimistic about achieving a full recovery and “yes” it’s frustrating being in this “limbo”. Thanks so much for being my friend.
timethief
December 5, 2008
@irtiza
I won’t be surprised when you get your own domain. I’m really happy to see your progress. :)
sankar
December 5, 2008
Very informative blog. great work there.
timethief
December 6, 2008
My thanks to you :)
mingming
December 9, 2008
Cool.. lots of details.. thanks