My challenge for this month was to go self-hosted and start my first linky (in that order…).
Over the last year my blog has become very important to me, I want to make it something that I can be really proud of. Writing my blog is my time, it’s something I do for me. Although it forms a journal of our lives, a lasting record of our special times and our ordinary moments; it is my creative outlet, my project, my space.
I want to have more control over my blog; it’s design, it’s look and feel, it’s content. I want the ability to do reviews, should I choose to (I’m still undecided on this one, but I’d like to have the choice!). I want to fully own my work.
To do all this, I needed to go self-hosted. I managed to do this in a weekend, it was far more straightforward than I imagined it would be. I’ve written a step-by-step guide for wordpress.com users – it’s really not as scary as you might think!
I also want to start improving my photography and my writing. There are lots of wonderful photo linkys, many of which I join, and these are already providing me with with lots of inspiration and fabulous tips on improving my technique.
For my writing, I started to look around for inspiration and I realised that I love to take a title and make something of it. So, I decided to start a linky based on this, hoping that others might enjoy it too. And, The Prompt was born!
I said at the start of this post that I wanted to go self-hosted and then start the linky… Of course, I ended up doing it the other way round, with all the resultant faffing with changing links and badges to reference the new site!
But, I got there in the end and managed to achieve both of my January goals, and I am thrilled! My blog is now self-hosted and my linky is in to it’s third week.
In all honesty, I didn’t expect to manage it. But, actually, I feel pretty proud of myself.
My challenge for February is to get back on top of the domestic stuff; it’s all a bit chaotic at the moment and I’d like to feel more in control again!
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Thanks so much for linking up with #ChallengeYourself
Well done you! It seems such a daunting task, but you have inspired me to add it to my February Challenge xx
Thank you! I hope my post is useful… Do let me know if you have any questions :)
Congratulations! :) I didn’t know you were hosting your own linky! Where have I been?! Probably hiding under the duvet and wishing for the house-move to get over and done with! Will definitely join-in your linky even though I’m not really sure what it is yet :)
Thanks! Have a read and hope to see you – Prompt for Week 3 is on the blog… Linky opens on Friday :)
Well done, don’t think you’ll ever look back on going self-hosting. I will check out the linky too.
Thank you! Would be lovely to see you on the linky :)
Well done on going self-hosted and best of luck with it all
It’s looking good and I’m desperately wanting to tinker more now. Maybe we can tinker together?! Well done, it looks fab :)
Thank you! Been playing around with a new header today… Fun!
Yay well done you, self hosting the best way forward, have always been self hosted. OOh would love to hear more about your linky!
Thank you! Linky is called The Prompt, will tweet you a link :)
Awesome, so cool that you’ve made the leap to self-hosted, I remember my leap very well, I’ve not looked back since! Shall check out The Prompt – we’re starting a weekly prompt for #AllAboutYou, I spend Monday evening wrestling with google calendar plugins – wonder if you’re currently like me when I first went self-hosted and plugins were like a trip to the sweetie shop!! – so we can get a google calendar prompt thing going, seen it done on other blogs, but it’s beating me so far, I’ll let you know if I crack it!! Anyway, thanks so much for linking up to #AllAboutYou, just off to pin your post.
Thank you! I’m just starting to have fun with plugins :) it’s all very exciting!
Will look out for your prompts… Good luck with the calendar :)
Well done you! I had similar goals for my blog for this January, and managed to start the linky #AllAboutYou with Mother.Wife.Me and City Girl at Heart, and took tentative steps toward going self-hosted, but I am such a techno-dunce I am ashamed to say I’ve stalled! Am off to read your post for WordPress users to get advice and motivation. Great post, thank you so much for linking to #AllAboutYou – hope you’ll be back this Tuesday too
Thank you! I still have a bit of work to do on design and a new badge etc. but at least it’s all up and running :) Thanks for hosting xx