Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve compiled the answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions I get asked… if I missed yours, please post it in the comment section!

Will I lose my readers if I move to self-hosted WordPress?

NO and MAYBE (how’s that for clear?)

• you will be able to keep your feedburner subscribers (email and RSS). Feedburner has the ability to simply update your feedsource so that those readers will continue to receive your updates even if you change platforms.
• If you are planning to keep your same domain name, I have figured out a simple way to transition your Google Followers over to WordPress too (not just their faces but their feed!)
• If you are changing your domain name, Google Followers will need to sign up again.

I’ve heard that you can’t install a Google Followers gadget on WordPress. Is that true?”

Installing the Google Friend Connect gadget into a WordPress blog is actually very easy.  However, the problem hasn’t been with installing the gadget, but it’s with updating the feed that the Google Followers receive. The gadget can be put on your new blog (and you can even have it set so that you still see all their “faces”) but they are not getting updates in their Google Reader anymore unless you redirect their feedsource.   Fortunately, if you keep the same domain name, I’ve found a very simple way to do this (more details here).

NOTE:  Several people have posted on their blogs what they thought were “solutions” (i.e. copying the id number from the settings page, updating the URL, etc) but none of these actually fix the feed issue – the feed needs to be redirected.

Reminder: if you move to WordPress with your current domain name, you won’t lose any of your feedburner subscribers (for either email or RSS feed). They will make the transition to WP seamlessly… all you will need to do is update your Feedburner feedsource (and if you work with me, I will explain exactly how to do this!).

Are there other hosting companies that you work with? I’d like to work with you, but I want to use __________ hosting company instead

I most highly recommend Dreamhost (not just because they have excellent support and customer service, but also because they have terrific incentives that SAVE YOU MONEY!). However, there are several other hosting companies that I am affiliated with. Unfortunately, for several of these companies I would have to charge a fee for my services (i.e. $35 for BlueHost and Hostmonster).

If this is something that you are interested in, please send me an email and I would be glad to provide more details.

What is the difference between WordPress.COM and WordPress.ORG?

WordPress.COM is a free hosting service, much like Blogger. If you have a blog through WordPress.COM you are using WordPress’ internet hosting, which they are providing for free. But like Blogger, there are pretty significant limitations on what you are allowed to do. Probably the biggest drawback with WP.com is that you are not permitted to have any profit making advertisements, like Google’s Ad Sense. And you are giving a lot of control over your blog to a third party.

WordPress.ORG is the free share-ware program that you can install into your own space on the internet, it has similiar functionality to WordPress.COM but is much more flexible. In order to do this, however, you will need to purchase HOSTING.

What is Hosting?

Hosting is basically internet Real Estate – you are buying (or actually renting) space on a private server that supports your corner of the internet. If you are going to be SELF HOSTED (meaning that you are no longer going to be using Blogger or WordPress’s free hosting) you will need to pay for hosting. I use, and recommend, Dreamhost. I regularly have discount coupons for them, so if if you are interested in learning more about using them as your hosting provider, please send me an email.

Can I hire you for additional technical support? Could you teach me how to use Thesis?

Yes, I am available for technical support at the rate of $35 an hour. If you send me an email with a description of the type of work you need done, I’d be glad to give you a time estimate.

I am interested in transferring my WP blog from one host to another. Can I hire you to help me with that?

Yes, I am available to assist you in transferring your hosting company. I charge $35 an hour, and it would typically take me 2 – 3 hours (depending on the hosting companies that you would like to work with).