I’ve learnt a lot about blogging that I wish I’d known before I started. But we all have to start somewhere. Life is a journey about learning, growing, failing, persisting and maybe even hitting the jackpot … hopefully! And it can certainly be like this for new bloggers. Well, it certainly has been for me! When I started I went to a self-hosted site, because I didn’t know any better. That was my first mistake.
It was actually Jason Cushman at Harsh Reality (a fellow blogger who I “Follow”) who inadvertently alerted me to a deficiency on my blog site. He said to me about one of my posts … “I was going to reboot this, but don’t see a reblog button for WP. :)” I investigated and discovered that self-hosted sites do NOT have a “Reblog” button. I could have cried. I lost my chance to have someone Reblog one of my posts, which is a big deal for bloggers. So I started investigating about the differences between self-hosted sites and WordPress.com.
There’s good and bad points about both, but because I’m not an I.T. expert, being self-hosted had other problems I couldn’t fix. (Eg. I had to find my own plugin to do my own back-ups, and when they didn’t work it was a nightmare. I had to buy a plug-in to look at my stats. The scheduler never worked and the host-site said it was probably one of my plugins – and it was up to me to find out which one! etc). It was a lot of time and effort – and to be honest, money! It cost me about $300AUD just to get up and running. So I started looking at WordPress.com (apparently self-hosted sites are at WordPress.org). Bleeding’ confusing I know. I needed to seriously think about a change.
When I started I also didn’t realise how important a blog name was. I was “Ask Aunty Cath”, but it didn’t really represent my personality or sense of humor. I have Followers with fantastic blog names, like HarsH ReaLiTy and Katie over at fattymccupcakes – now there’s a great name that represents her personality perfectly! I’m sure you’ve discovered some ripper blog names too. So I started researching about what blog name would really reflect my personality and my style of writing. After a lot of research I finally decided on “Cat in the Cactus”. Cat is a reflection of my name – Cathy. And the term “in the cactus” definitely reflects me and my personality. I quite often end up “in the cactus” (an Aussie term) meaning I’m “in deep s^&t“. Unfortunately my bold and outspoken personality tends to get me into strife sometimes. Cat and Cactus are also total opposites, one is soft and purrs, the other is sharp and stings. Yep, two accurate representations of my personality. So “Cat in the Cactus” it is!
I don’t want to lose any of you as Followers, because I value our connection too much. So please “Follow” me at “Cat in the Cactus” – and I will come by and follow you too.
Cathy xox
ps: I will also republish some of my favourite posts on this site over the next month or so, as well as some new ones, as I don’t want to lose any of my blogs. Happy blogging!
I can’t say enough how awesome you are to support me. It means a lot to me for you to put my name out there! You seriously Rock!
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Well, you have inspired me to become more creative, what can I say?? Now I have the “Reblog” button! I’m excited. I think things can only go upwards from here!! LOL
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That’s so exciting!!!!!! I will def reblog your posts 👍👍
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You can still count me as a loyal follower!
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Yay!! Thanks Gary x
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I love the name – and I love the ‘in the cactus’ part…Suits you I think! Gotta love our colloquial slang! Maybe I should start a blog called ‘Nards without a paddle’ 🙂
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Well I didn’t know your old site, but I have to say I like the new one a lot! When I started blogging, I kind of took the opposite direction, which means that I jumped into a WordPress.com blog without even knowing about the difference of self-hosted and non-self-hosted. Many fellow bloggers are trying to convince me to get over to WordPress.org, but I have to say that I feel very comfortable around here for the moment. I am the most non-techie person you could possibly be, but WordPress.com is so easy to handle that even I was able to create a blog that looks pretty decent (in my opinion at least). If you need anything or have questions about WordPress.com, please let me know, maybe I can help!
xx Carina
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Thanks! Stay with WordPress.com. Seriously…it’s hard at .org. I can say I’ve been on both and WordPress.com takes all the hard work out of blogging. It’s a breeze ….. Unfortunately I need to start this blog from scratch, but at least when I repost some of my favourite posts from my last blog, they will be new to you!! Speak soon xx
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whew! glad it was just a site error and you’re back on! 🙂 ❤ SW
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Reblogged this on HarsH ReaLiTy and commented:
Cat in the Cactus! I like the name! 🙂 -OM
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Love you man!!!
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I like the name of your blog 🙂 It’s cute.
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Oh thank you! Yours is mighty nice too x
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Thank you!
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I am a new follower. 🙂
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And I’m following you right back! I’m at work today so will pop over and check out your posts soon. Thanks for Following!!
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cool name for a blog. even trippier picture @_@
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Hey, your name is very “catchy” too!
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Followed OM here…though I would have called the site “Pussy in the Prickles” ❤ RB
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Hahaha, nice one!
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pussy in the pickles??? I love that!!!
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Jason strikes again! Welcome to the club 🙂 good job with the name!!! How creative!
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Thanks! He’s awesome. If it wasn’t for him I’d still be struggling self-hosting.
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Thanks to Jason, I am now following you with pleasure.
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Oh thank you so much! And thanks to Jason, I’m not off self-hosted and on WordPress .com and meeting so many lovely people. I’m glad to be following you! I’m feeling the love today!!!
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Cathy,
As per your friendly invitation………
I don’t want to lose any of you as Followers, because I value our connection too much. So please “Follow” me at “Cat in the Cactus” – and I will come by and follow you too.
Cathy xox
I HAVE DONE IT, EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATION FOR CREATING THIS WONDERFUL BLOG AND YOU ARE MOST WELCOME ON THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WORD PRESS…………
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Thank you, and I WILL DEFINITELY be following you back! I’m so amazed with the response to this post, and I need to bow down and kiss Mr Cushman’s little feet I think! LOL
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I need to bow down and kiss Mr Cushman’s little feet I think! LOL
SURE, TILL THAN, I WILL WAIT………….
THANKS FOR SUBSCRIPTION TO MY BLOG……………….
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I buy a WordPress blog from other server instead of WordPress.org. Yes, I can’t find the follow and reblog button. And I have to install a lot of plugins. Is this one of the disadvantages of buying a self hosted WordPress sites?
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Hi. All I know is I moved to WordPress.com and I now have a “Reblog” button. Apparently if you self-host, you DON’T get one. That’s not good. I Love WordPress.com and it’s only been a few days. It’s so easy. Check with your wordpress.org provider and ask why you haven’t got the Reblog button. All the best, I will pop over and look at your posts after work, but I’m going to Follow you.
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Thank you for your immediate response. I buy the WordPress blog from another web host server. And I question the reason followers are not moved, no follow blog button and no reblog button. Is this the reason of self-hosted WordPress?
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That’s the reason I’ve moved Tienny!! Look into it because without the Reblog button you are at a disadvantage.
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You are right
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Reblogged this on Yoshiko and commented:
This is a follow up to my question about WordPress premium at https://zyoshiko.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/what-will-happen-if-i-click-wordpress-premium/ My friend finds this post as an answer to our questions and her problems.
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Congrats on figuring it out! (Well, at least some of it!) I’m not an IT person either and navigating this world of blogging can definitely be confusing…thanks for sharing your insight on self hosting vs wordpress,…I may just stick with wordpress for the long haul 🙂
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Good decision Linda! And thanks for commenting.
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OH! Here YOU are. 🙂
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I am. We are followers! X
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love your site…cute cat in the header, looks like he/she has a tattoo on the nose.
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That’s my baby girl!
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I really love your blog name, Cat in the Cactus is awesome! I didn’t realize that you couldn’t reblog on the self hosted platform- I looked into that when I first started blogging, but it seemed like the self hosted blogs weren’t part of the reader system either so I decided not to start it there…
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Good decision! I’ve learned this the hard way. I LOVE your Gravatar! It’s so eye catching.
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Thank you!!
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