My move from a .blogspot to a .com to a .com on WordPress

When I started my blog, I had no idea what I wanted it to be, what it might become, nor, most importantly, what I was doing. I started a blog thru Google’s Blogger and quickly realized, I wanted my own domain. Interesting, since a few months prior to that decision, I had no idea what that even meant. What a strange feeling, clicking through a few pages on the internet, and realizing that *I* owned my very own .com address. Me!!
A few months later I started to think about moving my blog over to WordPress- I just keep hearing so many good things and features about it, but I was very, very scared. I’m technologically, well, clueless, shall we say, and I had not a clue what I was doing. I did attempt to start, but about 50 minutes into the process I found myself near tears, in total frustration and out of patience- and freaked out.

What was I doing? I had NO CLUE what I needed to do in terms of “claims” or dedicated server hosting– NONE. Not at all. I didn’t even really know what exactly those were.   Things?  Actions?  Desperate (yes, desperate, it was a long 50 minutes), I reached out to some blogging friends who’d moved to WordPress from blogger.  One did it herself and it took her days.  Another, hired someone to help her, but the person wasn’t someone she’d suggest necessarily.  Panic kind of set in.  What was I thinking- and who could I trust with my blog?  Its me- all me- the hundreds upon hundreds of hours I’ve poured into this blog, this baby of mine, my brand- what if I tried to move it and I LOST IT?  Holy moly.  Talk about nerves. 

Friend #1 had a suggestion.  Try this guy, she said.  I kind of wish I’d used him.  She’d not wanted to wait until he was available when she moved so she’d opted for a different person.  Rates are reasonable and he’s good, she said.  I figured it was worth looking into, so with a click of my mouse, I set myself on my path to WordPress.  

Once the contact was initiated, I felt there wasn’t a way to go back.  I didn’t want to chicken out.  I was investing in my future- my brand- in myself.  I felt like I was making a sound business decision- and 2 1/2 months later- I can tell you, I did make a sound business decision. 

I still don’t know what the claims are for other sites to find me or my blog.  I’m not really sure what dedicated server hosting means.  But I have “people” to help with that.  (If anyone wants the name, you just email and ask, I’ll tell you.  He’s marvelous).  But I DO know that I’m having more features and a lot more flexibility with things on my own terms since moving over to WordPress and I’ll be staying here for a long while. 

If you are a blogger, or want to become one- I do strongly urge you to buy your own domain early on.  I’m not saying Blogger is bad or WordPress is good (and I know there are other platforms around but I’ve only used these two), they both have good and bad to them.  But if you are like me, and not comfortable with the technical components of moving to a domain or changing hosting servers- its also ok to ask.  Ask friends, family, colleagues- chances are someone you know, they know someone that does know the answers to these questions, and will help guide you on your path.  I’m 100% fine with not being able to do tech things on my own most of the time- some people are.  I’ll stick with my “guy” for that.

I am participating in a blogger campaign in behalf of The Small Business Authority, which provides dedicated server hosting. I received compensation to facilitate this post. However, the views and opinions are my own.