My blogging experience reminds me a lot of the way I learned to play basketball. When I was in first and second grade my family lived in Germany. I didn’t have a basketball goal. We lived in military housing and our house had the letters HH on it. I used the crossbar on the H as my basket. I shot over and over again on the H. When I was in third grade my family moved back to America. I played on my first basketball team as soon as we moved back. I was placed in the starting line up because I had a good shot. I didn’t have a fat clue about the rules of basketball. I traveled a few times. I double dribbled a few times. I didn’t know what I was doing but I could shoot. For some reason all that practice on the HH helped me have a great shot.
How’s that like my blog you ask? Well, I started a blog without any coaching. Just like basketball I jumped in and I’m doing the best that I can. For the first time in my blog’s three years of existence I’ve been getting some coaching. It’s through Blog Rocket and Bryan Allain. If you have a blog then you should join Blog Rocket. If you like reading funny blogs then you should check out Bryan’s blog.
Here’s what Bryan suggested I do to advance my blog…
- Change my template from black to white – done.
- Add a tag-line to my blog – working on it.
- Change from Blogger to Word Press – still thinking about this one.
- Update my Feedburner link – done but with issues.
So I’ve been doing some blog keeping. I’m listening to Bryan and I’m working on the changes. The only problem so far is that I’ve lost a lot of people who read my blog through a feed. It went from 250 subscribers to 9. If you used to read through a feed I think I have fixed the link. Click on the button that says, “Subscribe to robshep.com.” Thanks. Oh and be patient with me as I make some changes. I’m not great with technology. I hope I don’t accidentally erase my blog!
I use WP and can honestly say I like it better than the sites with Blogger. so much rigamarole to go through just to post. Anyway, good to see you wanting to advance and change. Speaks well of you. Look forward to reading more Rob.
Mark my words young man, this fancy technology of yours will lead to your undoing! Why in my day we didn't have these fancy electronic gizmos and uppitty ways. If we wanted to share some news with our friends, we either chiseled it in stone or we stood on our back porches and yelled into the wind. Bah. Mark my words.
I like the white background. Change is hard, but much to be gained by those willing to move on and take deliberate risks.
Catching the audacious spirit–trying a new sign-in.
Do all the changes you want, Rob, Just don't stop blogging!!!
I like the white background a lot better…but I wasn't sure it was loading properly, so I kept hitting refresh.
I've always read your blog through Google Reader, and didn't have any issues when you changed the feed. Not sure why you lost so many subscribers.
Changing to WordPress might be a good idea, but please make sure you don't choose the same template as everyone else. One thing I like about your blog is that it's different from anyone else's since you've customized it. You have a much better eye for design than I do (i.e., NONE!).
Possible tagline: Where faith meets funny.
You do a great job, and we all enjoy reading your blog. Keep it up!
I agree with other commenters on Blogger. I used it for years, and they seem to be stuck in 2004. WordPress is constantly changing, getting better, while Google seems to more important things to do than get Blogger up to date.
I also read you on Google Reader and have no issues… and I'd like to hear more about what you're doing. Everyone who's blogging is a do-it-yourselfer, and it's good to see different perspectives on design, etc.
Love wordpress – you won't be disappointed if you switch 🙂
RobShep.com: Where luv is a verb…and Rob isn't.
The white background is a great improvement. I have a dark background for my blog, but that's because it's primarily a photography blog, and dark backgrounds make photos look better. For you people who use a lot of those word-things, a light background is much better.
Burrill, love the tag line! That was creative. Thanks.
The problem I have is paying for a host. I don't mind paying for a blog but paying monthly for a host is something I don't want to do. I haven't found a free host yet.
Thanks Russ. I will keep everyone updated on the changes. I don't have a fat clue what I'm doing.
Ricky, thanks for the encouragement. I feel the love. Love the tagline. Great idea!
Ruth, will do. Thanks.
Is WordPress.com not a good option for you?
Mine is free with wordpress.com
Yah, that's right! And if you want to get a message out to people on the go, shave it into your back hair!
I don't have a fat clue about anything you just said. But I will say this "do whatever you want since it's YOUR blog! Just don't stop blogging because you don't want 250 or even 9 people upset with you if you do." Change is good and I don't care what they say nobody likes a stale old blog anyway! LOL
Rob, echo the kudos on white background. I also like some of the suggested taglines, maybe you could put out a call for tagline help, you may get some good suggestions. You know, real gems like "By the power of Jesus, I am a Bloggggeeerrrrr" or "Robshep.com, Robshep.com, Robshep.com….hooooooo!" or "and knowing Jesus is half the battle" or really any tag line that rips of the cartoon catch phrases of the '80s
Love it! The Thundercats one was my favorite!
Michele that is what they say and it's true.
It is. I didn't know about it until Cindy posted that comment. I thought you had to buy a host and a site. Thanks!
Way to take a step. Nice picture.
By undoing do you mean they will take over the world and try to kill us? I saw this documentary where the robots took over and the humans sent one back in time to save John Connor. One of the best documentaries I've seen.
That might work…except I don't take off my shirt.
Thanks Bill. Do you pay for a host?
Old-school dc Talk references are always a good idea.
Rock on. Wordpress is fantastic — I hope the .com side of it works for you.
Just made the switch from Blogger to WP. Went with BR Hosting. Got Standard Theme. Loving it!
It's funny, but until I read this post, I didn't even notice the change… I did notice my eyes were kind of hurting though. I have a big monitor and the white is harder on my eyes. Apparantely I'm in the minority with liking the black better… I'm not a regular reader though, so listen to them.
Do you have to pay monthly for BR hosting? I think I am going with standard theme as well.
Like the community, BlogRocket hosting is $10/month–well worth it (in my
estimation).
Nice! I'll be anxious to see how things progress through your time with Bryan.
You don't have to change much to keep me as a reader. Just make me laugh or think. 🙂
Dustin, I'll do my best.
Will do. I like the black better but I'm trying it out for a time. So far it's got a good reaction.