Resubscribe

For those of you who are 'following' my blog will no longer receive blog post updates UNLESS you click here and re-subscribe to my new blog.

Blogger has now notified Feedburner (who controls my RSS Feed) that I have moved here to my Wordpress Blog on my website. For awhile blogger was still holding on to my feedburner address, but it looks as though they have now dropped it. :(

So if you'd like to continue reading My Blog, resubscribe :)

READ ME

 

My Active Blog has moved to:

Rebecca.SmokeBrush.com 

If you need to re-subscribe to my RSS, please click on the RSS link on my right sidebar at the above address. Or Click Here

Thank you Friends!

Migrating...

Hello Friends and Loyal Readers!

Heads up, I'll be migrating 'Rebecca.SmokeBrush.com' + My RSS Feed to a new location. This here blog (RebeccaSmokeBrush.BlogSpot.com) will remain with all its posts. I will not be Importing these posts to my new location, just as a precaution if WH4L poops out on me again and I have to return before Clark and I change hosts.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you find any errors or something finicky about my new Wordpress Blog (@ Rebecca.SmokeBrush.com) please report them here.

For Example:

• very slow to load
• 401 Error
• Not Found
• Server Interrupted
• Missing Image
• Broken Link
• Not receiving RSS Feed - But I see new posts on your Blog
• Page not found
• Any PHP errors
• Missing Image
• Broken page (i.e. text overlapping, images overlapping text)

*I will still be approving comments and reading them here when they are submitted.

Thank you friends! You all inspired me! ;)

FYI - I plan to make the migration very soon - most likely within the week - if not hopefully today!

Blogger vs. Wordpress

Inspired by all your feedback from my survey, I have decided to migrate back to good 'ol Wordpress now rather than later. I REALLY missed the blogging platform for my blog. Many of you loyal readers knew me back when I was on Wordpress and wondered why I chose to leave for Blogger. Well, the main reason was because of my current host provider WH4L. I was on a shared server which means that my website files are on the same server (think computer) as other website guru's whose sites kept crashing - which kept causing my site to go down for no reason on my part. What a head-ache! So, to save myself from insanity, I brought my blog to Blogger temporarily. I'd stay here permanently, but there are specific features from Wordpress that I miss too much, and I'll outline them for you:

Blogger

Pro's:

• You're on Google's server - which is GREAT! Hardly - if ever goes down.
• Lots of other fellow Bloggers are on Blogger. Which enables you to participate in the fun "Followers" widget. Love that.
• Simple Dashboard
• You use up their space - not yours, but even that is limited.
• Very good Google SEO (search engine optimization)
• You can add whatever ads or affiliate tools as you want. You can on Wordpress if you're on your own server, but if you want to on Wordpress.com - you can't use just any affiliate link, only HTML links like Amazon or Linkshare provide

Con's: 

• Can't edit comments
• Aligning images is a pain
• No Private Posts
  
• They add new features to Blogger's blogging platform, but at such a SLOW rate. Wordpress is consistently upgrading their software at a rapid pace, which makes them look like a speedracer car vs. Blogger at a snail pace. Ok — a bit of an exaggeration - but you get my point ;)
• No separate individual pages - if you want them they are harder to create within the interface by redesigning. Which still looks lame compared to Wordpress.
• Can't block anyones IP if you get a specific commenter who bugs you or someone you don't want visiting your blog
• Widgets are limited
• You don't receive notices when someone responds to your comment
• You can only change HTML & CSS - you can't build upon the blog and restructure the core (i.e. Navigation and add separate pages). 

Wordpress

Pro's:

• Looks more professional
• A much more dynamic Dashboard
• Private Posts
  
• You can block specific commenter's via their IP address
• You can edit comments - which is nice if someone does comment, but they used a swear word that you want to block out. 
• You can block specific words you want to filter out, which will block comments automatically if they are SPAM, or just an overly angry commenter who wants to mouth you off. That way you never have to read those comments or moderate them.
• You can have an overall rating set for your blog: G, PG, PG-13, R, X
• More elaborate Plugins 
• More popular among companies and businesses
• CMS (content management system)
• While on your own server - you can add to the site, manipulate however you like if you know PHP, CSS & HTML well. If you don't, and you hire someone who does - you can restructure it and design your site however you want. There are limitations, but you have far more flexibility in comparison to Blogger.
• Wordpress.com's Google SEO is just as good as Blogger (if you're on Wordpress.com), but the community I feel is more active. I feel this is due to the easier-to-navigate-tag search browser. You click on any category and it brings up an easy to browse Community Blog Reader. 
• Wordpress.com has limitations for what you can and cannot 'slap' on your blog which makes things look cleaner, faster to download and FAR less messy - which makes Wordpress all-together- the more Professional Blogging Software.
• Everything is in an all-in-one window. You have a Blog Reader within your Dashboard, whereas with Blogger you have to open a new window in Google Reader or use what they do have within their Dashboard which is small and a bit hard to read
• You receive notices to when someone responds to your comment, which is nice.
• You can subscribe to comments for a specific post (on Wordpress.com & Wordpress.org with the right plugin)
• Wordpress Stats! Really good, but lacks the world map that Google Analytics has
• Themes ! I feel the Wordpress' Themes are awesome compared to what is available for Blogger. Within the Wordpress Dashboard (both Wordpress.com & Wordpress.org)  you have a Theme portfolio that you can flip through and choose and change at your leisure or depending on your mood ;) . It's awesome, because you don't have to 'back up' your design if you want to try a different look. 
• Tech Support is AWESOME with Wordpress. They are all so willing to help and answer questions if you can't figure out how to do something.

Con's

• Not as easy to get the Blogger audience
• No "Followers" Widget :( 
• If you don't want to pay for your own server to host the Wordpress software on so you can have FULL control, you have to pay for certain 'Upgrade' credits on Wordpress.com where you can have a 'free' Blog like Blogger. Still you get far more options, the professional look and great Google SEO on Wordpress.com. You just can't do as much (i.e. have Google Ads on your sidebar). 
• Some coding is limited - depending on the core Theme structure and how much you or your hired custom wordpress designer knows in regards to the PHP coding language. 

---

So, you're thinking - "Why did you move from Wordpress to Blogger if there are SO many more Pro's to Wordpress?" Well, here's what happened - in order:

1. As described above - my site kept crashing all because I was on a shared server with someone elses site who kept crashing
2. My Tech Support on WH4L was slow and it was like pulling teeth to get them to fix the problem
3. I got busy at work and had limited time to deal with WH4L and it was much easier to still have My Blog up and running on a reliable server like Google's. Even if there were far more limitations.

So there it is. Simple reason, but a great sacrifice as I LOVE Wordpress! And since I have a bit more free time than I had before, I am in the process of redesigning my blog to go back to Wordpress on WH4L for a short while, and then move to a new server: GoDaddy.com. We're currently testing out their server to see how much better they are than WH4L - and so far so good! I don't know how soon that migration will happen, but moving back to Wordpress on my current lame server should happen soon...

If you have anymore questions regarding Blogger vs. Wordpress - feel free to ask!

Thanks again for helping me out and participating in my survey Q's! You all are AWESOME!

The Bachelor Jason - NO Final Rose!!!

You are so smart Jason Mesnick!

Tonight Lauren REALLY shocked me. She was a brat in sheep's clothing - I had no clue she was that self-centered. Last week she seemed real and just self-assured. What a surprise. I can't believe she thought that telling Jason 'how it's gonna be' was the way to attract him. He looked so disgusted on the roof-top when she said "you better give me the rose". Yuck.

That and I was happy to see Nikki and Shannon go. They both weirded me out. I'll leave it at that.

Megan... I called it last week!

Can't complain about the remaining girls - I like them all. :)

Here are my favorite of the Final Remaining 5 Girls in order:

Melissa  - She has really won my heart. I think she's cute and honest. I bet she'll make it to the top 3. :)




Molly - I thought they REALLY hit it off on their one-on-one tonight. She's just too cute. I really hope she doesn't surprise me next week with how Lauren did this week because they both seemed like the 'real' girls last week. So, stay cute and real Molly!!!


Naomi - I really like her temperment (so far). I do hope she doesn't surprise me by bringing out the claws. I'm undecided on whether or not I think she'll make the top 3.



Jillian - She doesn't really stand out as well as Naomi does, but I feel she has a better chance at the top 3. She and Jason have a fun connection - but I have yet to see any Romantic 'flair' going on.



Stephanie - Sweet, sweet Stephanie. She really busted a move tonight! Good for her. I do not look forward to seeing her heart break, but I really don't feel the long-lasting chemistry between she and Jason. I still think he is just really attracted to her good heart. She just seems so much older than him - like on a different maturity level.

I can't wait until next week! Hurray! :D

Help Me Blog!

For all you 15+ comment receiving Bloggers, I am extending my hand out for a little help. I've created a survey, which I would be GREATLY appreciative if you could spend the 3 mins it takes to answer the 10 questions. I am seeking ways I can build my Blog to become better, and I can't do it as well without your help.


Thank you!!!!

Survey Closed 

A very interesting and thrilling response from all my friends! THANK YOU for helping me out on this, it was a HUGE turnout (more people responded than I had expected) in which I learned a great deal. :)



Respondent Report: 

Q.1 How long have you been blogging?
70% - 1 Year
30% - 3 Year

Q.2 Do you actively engage in other social networks, such as Ning, CafeMom, Facebook, etc. If so - how many?
80% - Yes, Only 1 or 2
20% - 3 +

Q.3 How often do you reply to your commenters?
50% - Always
40% - Sometimes, depends on the context of the comment
10% - Hardly, if I remember...

Q.4 What do you Blog the most about?
90% - Family/Personal
10% - Information (i.e. How To's, Reviews)

Q.5 What do you think you write about that attracts so much attention to your Blog?

A few respondents replies:

"I think when I write related with my personal experience such as growing up, and general news that is happening in my life."

"funny stuff. Stay away from the political or controversial things."

"Top 10 lists, Date Ideas, books, education, music and movie reviews, Photo Memes"



Q.6 What attracts / encourages you to comment on a post?

A few respondents replies:

"Similar views, funny, cheer them up, interest---"

"Something that moves me and also giving back to their comments on mine."

"If I feel my comment will help others (the blogger, the blog's readers, or both) I generally try to find time to post a comment. I also try my hardest to reciprocate (comment back to ppl who have commented on my blog). This cross-commenting does help. The first part just plain helps ppl."

Q.7 How long was it into your 'Blogging' life that you started to receive 15+ comments regularly?
80% - (x) Months
20% - 1 Year

Q.8 How many hours in a day do you spend Blogging?
70% - 2
20% - 1
10% - 3

Q.9 What advise do you have for me that you feel would help improve my Blog?

A few respondents replies:

"Perhaps you could write a blog about how to create and to improve our personal blogs and some ideas of how to generate income from writing a blog. Perhaps you could explain the difference by having a blog between wordpress and blogspot. Actually you did a great job with your blog."

"I think you do a great job. I know that some go wow at what you are willing to blog, but stay true to who you are."

"write funny things. Stay away from the controversial issues-- whether it be abortion, gay rights, or the election. people use this as an escape. They want to be entertained... so entertain them."

"If more comments is what you want, then you have to be a loyal commenter to others. Its sort of a "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" kind of a thing! There have been many people that I don't know that have just commented on my blog and then I'll go and comment on theirs."


Q.10 Your Blog Url:

Some urls from those who participated in survey:

• http://www.endendoat.blogspot.com
  
• http://www.dinamariesmemoir.blogspot.com/
  
• http://lisalouwho.blogspot.com/
  
• http://mykidssayimsilly.blogspot.com
  
• Kritta22.blogspot.com
  
• http://thedeezone.wordpress.com