By Rhonda Bramell, Miss January 2015
Have you ever had something weighing on your mind? You know, something lurking back there when you have a hundred other things to take care of first? As I mentioned in my previous post, there is one big project that I want to tackle this year. It’s something that I’ve been thinking about and imagining for a long time: I want to do a blog makeover! I’m sure many of you have gone through the process, but frankly, it feels a little intimidating to me.
I’ve come to a few realizations about what my blog is and how to make it what I want it to be. First of all, it’s mine. That simply means I can do with it anything that I choose! I never started blogging to make it into a business or to use it to get rich. However, I have to admit that when I see others doing these fantastic monetized things with their blogs that I do get a little tempted. That’s also when I have to take a step back and remind myself to get real; I cannot possibly find the time or energy to fit one more demanding thing into my life right now.
Another big point of contemplation for me has been the ever-present Blogger vs. WordPress debate. Yep, you know what I’m talking about. I have a group of blogger friends in my circle who will argue until their death that WordPress is the way to go (you know who you are). I’ve been on Blogger since I started blogging in 2007; it’s what I know and what I’m comfortable with. It’s not that I’m unwilling to learn something new; it’s just that, again, I don’t have the time or energy to start something new. For the time being, I want to keep what I have and make it better. I want to be happy and not second guess my decision…for at least another year.
I don’t have the skills to make design changes myself, so I’m going to enlist the help of some talented artsy friends of mine to help out. I have an idea for a header that I think will capture the essence of my blog perfectly and I can’t wait to see it finalized. I’m looking at color schemes, graphics and all those other fun things that make our blogs unique. The way I see it, something that we spend so much time on should make us proud to display. It may take me a while to get it done, but I will get it done.
Leave a comment here if you have any helpful tips or advice on the big blog makeover. Please?
I can’t wait to see what you come up with. I know you’ve been contemplating it for a while now.
I’ve got one I haven’t messed with on WP self hosted already. Not enough energy to switch yet but maybe I’ll “JUST DO IT!” 🙂
2015 is our year! We’re going at it together!!
Far be it from me to argue with you, Rhonda! So let me just say I like your name! We were going to name our first child “Rhonda” if we had a girl. <3
Great post Rhonda! I am all for knowing your purpose and not comparing yourself to others (although difficult in our world that encourages competition at every turn…).
Way to go! I struggled with the Blogger V WP issue myself. When I decided to do a design update — or get someone to do it — that’s when I made the move. I’ve been very glad that I made that choice, but I was ready to make it. If you do, you will know when to do that. If you don’t, well go girl! I can’t wait to see the new “you.”
I can’t wait to see your new digs! I have been limping along creating my own headers and such, and I really need to bit the bullet and pay someone to create something for me this year. It’s so hard to pay for stuff like this because I don’t feel like I make enough for it to be worth the investment. But I know it’s a catch-22 situation. Great looking blogs get great looks! 🙂
Laurie, you’d be surprised how inexpensive it is to hire someone for the artwork. You should check into it.
Yes, I love your statement that your blog is YOUR BLOG! I’m in complete agreement with you there. I started on blogger and have moved to wp as i began to use it at work and really found that I loved tinkering with html and I’ve always loved creating graphic designs. It’s your blog just like your house is your house and you shall build it and dress it as you see fit.