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Blogger vs. Wordpress - I've made my move!

By
Home Stager with Rooms That Work LLC

Greetings fellow bloggers! 

I recently moved my "non-Active Rain" blog from Blogger to Wordpress.  Why?  Because I wanted more functionality in terms of categories, pages, etc.  But if you switch, note that you can't use Google Analytics w/Wordpress...but they do provide sufficient stats of their own.

I also purchased the url of my tag line to use as my blog URL - more professional and consistent with my branding.  And just to make sure it's obvious on my website, I added it on the home page as a widget.

I'm sure as I play around with it I will find features I really miss, but so far, I'm pretty happy with it.

Happy blogging ya'll!

Susan Smith
w/ www.roomsthatwork.com
b/ www.yourhomeonlybetter.com
e/ susan@roomsthatwork.com
p/ 860.808.4171

www.yourhomeonlybetter.com

 

Michelle Minch
Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA
Home Staging Los Angeles and Orange County, CA

Susan: I have contemplated making this move myself, but I know I will have to devote a chunk of time to it, and that is something in short supply for me right now.  I think you were smart to buy the URLs. You should also buy .net, .org, . biz and anything else you can think of. No use building a brand to have someone else ride on your coat tails with a .net.

Nov 25, 2008 12:01 PM
Susan Smith
Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Hi Michelle,

I was suprised how quick it was to do!  You can import posts from other blogs, but then you have to fine tune the categories and tags.  But it did take about a day (on and off). Of course, now that I know how Wordpress works, I could do it much quicker!  LOL

Good advice on the .net's, etc!  Actually, I had not bought my tagline originally, and someone else snagged it and tried a redesign biz for a year w/it, then gave up.  That's how I got it. 

Ok, Im off to go .net shopping!  Have a great day!

Susan

Nov 25, 2008 11:49 PM
Marguerite Giguere
Windermere Professional Partners - Tacoma, WA
Specializing in Tacoma, WA

Welcome to Wordpress!!  I use Wordpress for my outside blog (www.GetRealTacoma.com) and I am loving it.  I'm not the savviest gal with these internets but I'm having no trouble at all.  I use Sitemeter AND Google Analytics, so you might want to check again!

Nov 26, 2008 07:20 AM
Ted Guarnero
Illustrated Properties - Jupiter, FL
Jupiter Florida

I Agree , I think wordpress is earier to use and much more user friendly. But I keeped my Blogger as it gives me additional articles and I can often have an additional blogs on page one of Google.

 There are some longtail key words that I can have top 4 or 5 pages on Google.

Ted Guarnero

Jupiter Florida Real Estate www.TedSoldit.com

 

 

 

 

Nov 26, 2008 07:25 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Thanks for the info, was just looking into wordpress for my blog.  THANKS for the advice and comments from those who've gone before me. 

Nov 26, 2008 01:37 PM
Jean Groesbeck
Compass - Anacortes, WA
Broker, CRS, e-PRO, ABR, ASP, CNE, IMS

I like wordpress...it is really easy.

Have a GREAT Thanksgiving Holiday!

Nov 26, 2008 05:35 PM
Kym Hough
www.Staged-to-Sell - Danville, CA
Staged to Sell East Bay - Danville, CA

Very nice. I blog on wordpress once in a while too and will look you up.

Nov 26, 2008 05:42 PM
Susan Smith
Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Hi Marguerite - I like your blog!  Great us of photos too!  I use Google Analytics on all my other stuff, but since I'm using the (free) .com verson of Wordpress, they said I can't use it.  I'll check out sitemeter too. 

Hi Ted, I agree, there are certain things I like about Blogger.  I still have one that I use for development updates for my new forum.

Hi Terrylynn, good luck with your decision! 

Jean - Easy is good!  Thanks for commenting!

Hi Kym, Thanks for stopping by! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone!

Nov 26, 2008 10:06 PM
Christopher Johnston
The Johnston Team - Metairie, LA

I saw your later response and realized that you were using WordPress.com and not a hosted solution using the WordPress platform from WordPress.org. You can find fairly cheap blog hosting at bluehost or godaddy ($9-10/month, I think) and then get the full functionality of WordPress. If you do that you can use the Google Analytics plugin at http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-analytics-for-wordpress/

I've been wanting to make the move from Blogger to WordPress but I don't want to deal with trasferring my post. I think it is about time I made the move.

Nov 28, 2008 01:11 AM
Susan Smith
Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Hi Christopher...yes, I went the super cheap route for now!  I priced out intergrating a Wordpress.org blog w/my website, and may still do that in the future. 

Btw - you can automatically import your blogger posts into Wordpress.  I was surprised how simple it was!

Nov 28, 2008 01:39 AM
Jean Groesbeck
Compass - Anacortes, WA
Broker, CRS, e-PRO, ABR, ASP, CNE, IMS

Congrats and cute name for you websites!  It is great to have more than one option!

Nov 29, 2008 03:15 PM
Carol Swain
Keller Williams Real Estate - Langhorne, PA
Realtor, -www.swainsells.com- Bucks County, Pa

That is cool.  I have been using wordpress for a few years now and really like it.

Nov 29, 2008 10:10 PM
Susan Smith
Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Hi Jean - thanks for the compliment! Branding is tough when it's your own!

Hi Carol - I'm certainly in good company...seems to be alot of WP bloggers out there!

Dec 03, 2008 07:42 AM
Sandy McAlpine
RE/MAX EXECUTIVE - Cornelius, NC
Search Lake Norman Homes For Sale - Lake Norman NC

I just started on wordpress myself and I am really surprised how flexible it is. Are you posting your content twice? Once on the wordpress blog and once on AR?

Dec 11, 2008 01:32 PM
Susan Smith
Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Hi Sandy - great question.  I'm using them differently.  In fact, I'm also testing the waters with Typepad.  I have a Blogger acct that I use for development progress on my forum (for those who've opted to be part of the beta test http://homedigz.blogspot.com.  Then I have my "everyday" blog on WordPress at www.yourhomeonlybetter.com.  Then I'm also keeping a journal on my Typepad blog.  I don't use the AR blog as much...and use it more for B2B, peer-to-peer stuff.  Oh yea, and I also blog for Homegoods http://openhouse.homegoods.com.  Whew.  I'm all blogged out!

Dec 11, 2008 11:18 PM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi,

How did you add it to your homepage as a widget?

 

Jenny

Jan 23, 2009 02:50 PM
Susan Smith
Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Hi Jenny - just go to http://www.widgetbox.com/ and click on "Make a Widget". 

Susan

Jan 24, 2009 12:57 AM