A long, long time ago when I started blogging (okay, about a year ago) I had all these existential conversations with Jamie (from A Life In Translation fame) about hosting and self-hosting. Self-hosting just didn’t seem worth it. Would I even keep up with the blog, is it worth the (admittedly, nominal) web space fee? I psyched myself out, because I would probably have to learn things like “the word that should be there instead of “web space.” I figured, if even my favorite blog Ask a Manager wasn’t self-hosted, why should I? She laughed at me, and said “Are you saying you aren’t even worthy of web hosting?” It seemed absurd – I actually psyched myself out of something as silly as web-hosting.
Well, it’s been about a year and while I am no closer to figuring out what my intention is with this blog (biting commentary on marketing and social media? Stories about my grandmother? What’s too personal and what’s not personal enough?) I figure – it may be time to make the leap to self-hosting. Then maybe I can start tackling the questions of “Do unicorns really say ‘confident young professional?’” and “Is that even what I am trying to say?”
And in the meantime, I hope to learn a lot more about these newfangled web things that I keep hearing about and start honing my skills on search terms and all sorts of other internet-business-y things. And start learning CSS.
So, at some point in the next week, I will start self-hosting. Hopefully I won’t lose all my previous posts. I know Thesis is the be-all and end-all in themes, but are there any free ones that folks suggest? I like stuff to look neat and clean, and be really, really easy to customize. Like, if it could read my mind – that would really help. Also, if you have been through the transition from a WordPress.com blog to a self-hosted one, do you have any advice? Tips? War-stories?
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Aw, thank you!
I would like to be self-hosted. But askamanager.com is already taken, so I’ve stuck with my blogspot address, even though it’s starting to seem increasingly silly. But I can’t bring myself to pick a different domain name.
Oh hell, you just inspired me to register askamanager.net.
I am so proud to be part of the next evolution in AAM
I’ll follow you wherever you write. I have no clue about hosting web stuff. heck I am nervous about hosting a playdate for my son!
That’s hysterical! Just make some chicken fingers, grab some play-doh and possibly some soft bopper-noodle things, lock the door and don’t open it until parents come. Voila! Instant play date.
Have you picked out a host yet? I know Frank has a lot to say about HasWeb, although I am very fond of pairlite.com for personal hosting. I use them these days, after a few prior years with their “big brother” service. They’re not the cheapest, certainly, but I’ve not really found a more reliable host in this market space.
I can give you a list of ones to stay away from, too, starting with Dreamhost (who used to host nerdnyc) and 01domain.net (which hosts bw.org).
I haven’t! Thanks for the suggestion.
You should know- I didn’t skim this one either! I’m in the process of deciding if I should self host or not.. it seems like a lot of work (maybe that’s just because I know absolutely zero about computers?!)..
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