Blogger vs. WordPress....Is WordPress really better? And how hard is it to switch after you've started at Blogger?

[Emily Ludlow]

Hello supportive book blogger friends!  If there's already a discussion on this, please let me know.  I couldn't find one, so I thought I'd start my own.

I began my book blog in Blogger because it was what I already knew (I had a personal blog there) and it seemed super easy to use.  I've begun having issues w/formatting my posts to look the way I want and I've heard from a couple friends that WordPress is supposed to be so many times better in so many different ways.  Is it?

In your opinion, is WordPress a better platform and is it easy to use?  Have any of you switched over from using Blogger to using WordPress?  I currently have a domain name, but it just forwards to my "blogspot" address and people are mostly following my blog using that "blogspot" address.  I'm guessing I'll have to start all over / get my current followers to "follow" me again if I decide to make the switch.  I'm still under 100 followers, so maybe it wouldn't be a HUGE deal....

Any thoughts?  Anyone know if I'll still be able to use the "google friend connect" public follow option while using WordPress?

Thanks, in advance, for any help!!
-Emily (Super Reader Girl Reviews)

[Bethany Anderson]

Basically, for me it comes down to one simple thing.

Blogger is easy to use, and I can work it. I had a panic attack trying to figure out what the hell I was supposed to do with WordPress. As for what people have said about comments, I've installed a different comment system. Yeah, maybe the templates are limited, but I like the look of my blog. It's cosy. I've only been going 3 months but if I wound up popular I'd maybe consider the move.

http://subtlemelodrama.blogspot.com

[Amanda Markham]

Hi Emily,

In 2006, I started out with a family blog on Blogger because a friend had been using it. Pretty soon, we wanted to put up a custom header, add an Amazon affiliate link and a few other things. We (partner and I) found that Blogger just couldn't offer us what we wanted.

We switched our blog to Wordpress.com (the free Wordpress blogging platform) and found it still had some limitations. THE BEST thing we did was to switch to Wordpress.org (you have to pay for your own host) but the freedom that it gives you over your blog is fab-tab-u-lous!. We used one of the Wordpress free themes.

My yoga blog (been blogging for about 2 years) is on Wordpress.com -I don't have many plugins or customizations and it works fine.

However, when I decided to start a book blog, I opened one on Wordpress.com, Blogger and Typepad simultaneously to compare what would work best.

After years spent using Wordpress, I found Blogger like stepping back into ancient history - too clunky and restrictive. I couldn't easily customize headers, add widgets, or make my blog stand out. The interface is non-intuitive - and the comments function is bizarre. Absolutely ridiculous. I don't get what they're trying to do other than annoy people.

Typepad I found too techie. I'm ok with some tech stuff, but I found just setting up a theme and attempting to customize it so time consuming, I almost tore my hair out.

Wordpress.com lasted about 5 minutes -even though it's very intuitive. I switched to a self-hosted Wordpress.org platform, bought the Thesis theme, had some customisation done. Have a look at the result: http://desertbookchick.com

And the Google Friend connect works fine.. Wordpress has an automatic function where you can transfer your Blogger blog contents seamlessly to a Wordpress blog. They have pretty good tutorial support and the web is littered with experts who can help you out.

[Emily Ludlow]

Amanda, thank you SO much for the detailed response! You've given me a lot to think about and a lot more hope that WordPress might not be hopelessly over my head! :)

[Miss Giggles]

After years spent using Wordpress, I found Blogger like stepping back into ancient history - too clunky and restrictive.

That's been my experience exactly.

[Wendy Wikstrom Snodgrass]

I'm struggling with this right now! I'm trying to use wordpress and it's difficult in a lot of ways, but I think it's because I don't know all the language (posts v. categories, etc.). I have to say their help department took a day to get back to me via email but then was very prompt and helpful about communicating with me (through today...). He answered a question that I should have asked immediately but instead I had wasted a half a day - so the less is just ask them if you find yourself beating your head against the wall. :-)

Have a good day!
Wendy at www.BarrettsBears.com (check out my new children's book!)

[Pam Bousquet]

Hi Emily...
Actually, I agree with "Ms. Giggles." This debate will never end as long as there is competition out there for bloggers to use.

While WordPress MIGHT be ahead of the game, Blogger is constantly improving and will continue to improve. There will be pros and cons to using either one of these. I've seen great things at Wordpress, and great things at Blogger. I choose to stay where I'm at on Blogger, simply because I think it's easy to learn, and I'm used to it. While I like other things about Wordpress, I realize that any service will not be completely perfect.

You're probably doing the best thing by following your gut, and going with what just makes you comfortable. Whoever has the majority of the features you NEED would be the direction to go, in my opinion!

Good Luck!
Peace,
Pam

[Sa Toya Tremaine]

My biggest/only Blogger problem right now is formatting.The spacing is double spaced. Line breaks seem to be added whenever I edit a post. It's annoying.

[Emily Ludlow]

I sometimes am able to take out the extra breaks in the HTML editing window. I've also noticed that when I use "Blogger in Draft" I've had a lot less problems.

[Mary Salvato]

I heard there was a big outage on blogger yesterday and people were locked out of their blogs or worse, they didnt exist anymore. Thankfully I wasnt affected but am seriously thinking about moving to wordpress now.

[Doreen McGettigan]

I do not know if Word Press is easier or not I just know that it is much easier to follow people who are on Blogger; Word Press does comments through e-mail and I just find that harder to follow someone.

[Miss Giggles]

I know that blogger has their own built in "follow" button that is tied to their whole internet suit. Any RSS feed reader will work to follow any blog though.

I'm a little confused about your last bit there though. What do you mean that WordPress does comments through e-mail and that makes it hard to follow people?

[Amanda Markham]

There are dozens of easy-to-install Wordpress plugins that will give your blog this ability.

If you want to 'follow' someone, just use RSS - provided the blog hasn't hidden their RSS feed link amongst all the badges, friend follows, etc etc. If you're not sure what RSS, how to use it or where to put the RSS button on your blog so that you get more followers, here's a handy link that explains all.