My very first Thursday Thirteen reasons why self hosting my own blog makes me feel technically challenged…
1. Acronyms ~ There are so many fricking acronyms, I mean seriously?! It’s like a really bad intergalactic movie convention where they dress up as aliens, do hand gestures and talk about shit you just don’t understand.
2. Transferring blog files ~ Granted some sites are easier than others, but can’t I just say here’s my old blog to my new blog and they say we’ll take care of it.
3. Domain Names ~ Why is it when you come up with a cool domain name it’s taken? So you have to add a hyphen or a number and somehow it just takes the coolness right out of it.
4. Which leads me to Hosts ~ Trying to figure out which host site is better sucks, just when you think you’ve found the right one… BAM you stumble across another that’s said to be better than the first.
5. Google ~ Okay normally I LOVE google because you can research anything and I mean ANYTHING!! Go on… try it! When you’re bored it can be quite amusing, but when you’re researching something you have absolutely no clue about google is your worst enemy! Also, my worst enemy when I’m researching health symptoms but I digress…
6. Layouts ~ Do I want one column? Two columns? three… you get the picture here. Do I want my posts on the left or the right? Arggghh!
7. Back ups ~ Seriously?! Now they recommend that I back up my files in three different areas just in case something happens and I lose my file, posts, etc… How often I back up my blog depends on how attached I am to my posts. Oh and I’ve read I can do this using…
8. Plugins ~ I’m not talking about those over powering, nostril violators that you can get at the supermarket. Plugins are little programs that help your blog perform little functions like playing music or displaying tweets in real time and apparently back ups.
9. Back to the Domain Names and Hosts ~ Sometimes they make it difficult for the technically challenged (AKA mwah) to free up their domain name to use with another host. They throw a bunch more of those acronyms at you, that apparently have codes you have to change… yeah, I have no idea what I’m talking about here… you’re absolutely right! Let’s move on to…
10. I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing! Did I mention that? When explaining this stuff to me talk very, very, slowly and pretend your talking to a 10 year old… well, actually a 5 year old, 10 year olds are quite techy these days.
11. Overload ~ Information overload which makes my brain shut off saying (insert robotic voice hear) “Danger, danger, brain about to explode… must repair with chocolate” Okay maybe it doesn’t say the chocolate part, but what woman doesn’t feel better with a bit of chocolate? Right!?!
12. To Advertise or not to advertise that is the question? Do I want to make money with my blog and if I pay a monthly fee for it, will I make enough to cover that fee and profit as well? Still more research to do on that one.
13. Finally control ~ Supposedly self hosting gives you a lot more control or as I like to call it a big fat headache! Just sayin’… However, if you can stick it out it can actually be pretty cool. Although I still feel extremely technically challenged, I’m slowly weeding my way through all the info and feel a little smarter than when I started. ~wink~
Coffee, Chocolate & Xanax 
Welcome to T-13! Congratulations on figuring out the ‘self-hosting’ thing. I’m still using Blogger and WordPress (the free platforms) and tend to forget to back things up … so thanks for the reminder. Methinks I’ll do that today ;–)
Hugs and blessings,
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okay – i am so not hosting my own – thanks for the clarification on all that!
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I’m so with you on #9…..
I love WordPress….WHEN it’s working. But I have rarely ever had an upgrade without serious issues and to be honest, I’m about ready to head back to blogger. But to do that, I will have to manually transfer two or three years’ worth of posts & comments because my import file didn’t work.
And like your #9 says, your current host sometimes makes it difficult to free up the domain name for another host. I refuse to separate from my domain, though, because the last time there was a noticable url change, I seemed to immediately lose a significant portion of my reader base.
Or maybe I won’t do it. Who knows?
Here via T13!
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I use Typepad and I think I’m happy???
I too, am techno-challenged; I’ve come so far in the 3 mos since I started this. But I fear daily that I am doing something wrong and stupid and worthy of ridicule. And that everyone in the blogosphere is laughing and pointing…
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Er . . . I think I may never self-host! Thanks for sharing! LOL Mine is FINALLY up!
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Interesting list. I’ve been considering self hosting. After reading your list maybe I will stick with Typepad.
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i’m an idiot when it comes to technical stuff. but i dunno how i can be so addicted to computers and internet. and i so agree with Google. it’s so much better than yahoo.
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Ah, I remember this well.
The reason I eventually went with Typepad was that, yes, it was a bit technical, but not as technical as WordPress.org which requires you to host your own blog. Typepad hosts it for you and offers you the option of upgrading so you can change your entire design and even have a designer set it up for you.
Domain names — ugh…that made my head spin the most…so much so I have forgot virtually everything I learned to transfer my domain from WordPress and now I don’t even want to think about getting into it with getting a domain for my photo blog.
Also, Typepad has an ad program it offers you to be a part of, so you don’t have to search out your own ad program. Believe me I am not bringing in a whole bunch of money, but I figure with that and BlogHer there may be some months where I’ll have enough money to visit my parents on the weekend (ya’ know…for gas).
Anyhow, it is mind boggling. Good luck with it all and if you have any questions let me know. Like I said….a lot of it has gone out of my brain, but maybe I can remember it!
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You had me at #1. All those acronyms drive me crazy (and leave me confused usually, along with hosters and domains)!
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It is pretty intimidating to figure out how to set it all up. You’ll get it figured out.
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