Advise Needed on Independent Hosting Sites
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Hello Fellow Bloggers!
I have been juggling and struggling lately with my wordpress site.
I have used my 3 GB storage and I have no where to go. I keep deleting old post pics and make some space but that won’t last either.
Please please please suggest me the independent hosting sites that you people are using and are happy with. Mine is a picture heavy blog and I would like to keep it that way.
What are my options? And how to go about it? Has anybody used the independent hosting via wordpress? Good or bad?
Look forward to your inputs and tips!
Cheers ❤️
Sonal
I need to add one thing. If you asked me if I had loads of money when I went for bluehost – no. Do I have loads of money now – NO. Passion – YES!!
I know the content would only increase with time. With BlueHost, there is 24/7 online support via chat – which I’ve used MANY a time. Once, when I logged on, there was just a white space! no dashboard, no access to anything. BlueHost were able to restore it to a backup, which gets automatically stored.
They do tempt us to buy more and more add-ons which is not an option for us – less than minimal wagers (but with excessive effort!) We can, of course, read around and see what others suggest and then buy based on issues we happen to be facing.
I use plug-ins to reduce the size of my images. Works very well. Its called EWW image optimizer. There’s also Yahoo Smush it some people use.
Yes, its a pain having to make decisions about these technicalities. Distracts us too much from our work which we want to focus on. But in the long run its better. If you asked me am I technically very sound – not at all. Which was why it was extra painful. I do not have any family member who is in IT either.
Hope things settle for you Sonal. All the best.
Thanks Anu
I need to have a host which will allow google ads and I probably have to look into commercial transfer.. I have 700 posts there
700! wow! Blue Host does allow google adsense though 🙂
I don’t have any because I am banned from adsense!
I need to add one thing. If you asked me if I had loads of money when I went for bluehost – no. Do I have loads of money now – NO. Passion – YES!!
I know the content would only increase with time. With BlueHost, there is 24/7 online support via chat – which I’ve used MANY a time. Once, when I logged on, there was just a white space! no dashboard, no access to anything. BlueHost were able to restore it to a backup, which gets automatically stored.
They do tempt us to buy more and more add-ons which is not an option for us – less than minimal wagers (but with excessive effort!) We can, of course, read around and see what others suggest and then buy based on issues we happen to be facing.
I use plug-ins to reduce the size of my images. Works very well. Its called EWW image optimizer. There’s also Yahoo Smush it some people use.
Yes, its a pain having to make decisions about these technicalities. Distracts us too much from our work which we want to focus on. But in the long run its better. If you asked me am I technically very sound – not at all. Which was why it was extra painful. I do not have any family member who is in IT either.
Hope things settle for you Sonal. All the best.
Thanks Anu
I need to have a host which will allow google ads and I probably have to look into commercial transfer.. I have 700 posts there
700! wow! Blue Host does allow google adsense though 🙂
I don’t have any because I am banned from adsense!
Hi Sonal, after 2 years of blogging on WP, I’ve only used up about 10% of my storage space. Reducing the size of your images is really important – not only for storage, but also to get your photos to open up as quick as possible when people view your site. Most of my images are around 300kb… I researched this a little sometime ago and people really won’t notice the drop in resolution if being viewed on a computer screen… only if you were going to actually print the photos out would you want the high res. I know it would be painful, but would you consider going back through your posts gradually to reduce the size??? Hope this helps and good luck finding a solution! M.xx
Thanks Margot!
I have been suggested that and I think that’s my best bet at this point since I am in the middle of the relocation.
But I am so technically challenged, I don’t know how to do that. Any tips?
Are you on a Mac by chance Sonal? If so, they can be reduced through iPhoto (by clicking on File up the very top, then Export – here you can change what size and quality you want to use – medium size and high quality in a jpeg should work okay and give about 300kb – I save this to Pictures, then transfer them across to WP from there). I also use an app called Pixelmator, which allows me to put a watermark across saying ‘Gather and Graze’, you can re-size photos within this app as well.
Hi Sonal, after 2 years of blogging on WP, I’ve only used up about 10% of my storage space. Reducing the size of your images is really important – not only for storage, but also to get your photos to open up as quick as possible when people view your site. Most of my images are around 300kb… I researched this a little sometime ago and people really won’t notice the drop in resolution if being viewed on a computer screen… only if you were going to actually print the photos out would you want the high res. I know it would be painful, but would you consider going back through your posts gradually to reduce the size??? Hope this helps and good luck finding a solution! M.xx
Thanks Margot!
I have been suggested that and I think that’s my best bet at this point since I am in the middle of the relocation.
But I am so technically challenged, I don’t know how to do that. Any tips?
Are you on a Mac by chance Sonal? If so, they can be reduced through iPhoto (by clicking on File up the very top, then Export – here you can change what size and quality you want to use – medium size and high quality in a jpeg should work okay and give about 300kb – I save this to Pictures, then transfer them across to WP from there). I also use an app called Pixelmator, which allows me to put a watermark across saying ‘Gather and Graze’, you can re-size photos within this app as well.
HI Sonal, I am making the move…I’ve been frustrated for quite some time, with the limitations on wordpress.com – I also don’t like that they put ads at the bottom of each post – I have no control over what they are and I can’t see them either. It’s only when I log out or look at my site from someone else’s iPad that I can see them. I know that you can pay WP to get rid of them but I would rather pay for a site over which I have complete control. I want more information on my stats which I can’t get now. It annoys me to see that people have been using search terms which WP say are “unknown”. I’ve also been working with a few PR agencies and feel that it is time to take the step and look and sound more professional. I’ve been thinking about it for some time but being technically challenged, I have hesitated to make the jump. Then, as chance would have it, I found a UK based blogger who helps people like me and was also able to recommend a UK host. She is going to start the migration (yeah, like I know what that is!!) this weekend! I’ve bought my domain name and my WordPress theme so I will still be connected to everyone and pop up in their readers. I know that filling out the name/email/website part of the comment form is a pain but I have found that if you do it once, when you re-vist, all the info is in there – probably because of cookies. And not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately! I hope that non-blogging readers might find it easier to comment and more readers sign up to email updates. I am a bit nervous about it but also really excited as it will give me an opportunity to grow in whichever direction I need to. Good luck with whatever you decide on – sounds like there are lots of options and good advice here xx
I am frustrated too Selma! All my blogging buddies are making a move and I am still contemplating since I am so challenged when it comes to technology. My interaction with fellow bloggers has been reduced too….the wordpress acts up and crashes sometimes, a few other times, reader is not that friendly of independent hosting sites…
I have to take that leap but once I move…
It’s really stressful right now. I would be happy if somebody could do it for me too. My sister is from IT background. Will ask her! ❤️
HI Sonal, I am making the move…I’ve been frustrated for quite some time, with the limitations on wordpress.com – I also don’t like that they put ads at the bottom of each post – I have no control over what they are and I can’t see them either. It’s only when I log out or look at my site from someone else’s iPad that I can see them. I know that you can pay WP to get rid of them but I would rather pay for a site over which I have complete control. I want more information on my stats which I can’t get now. It annoys me to see that people have been using search terms which WP say are “unknown”. I’ve also been working with a few PR agencies and feel that it is time to take the step and look and sound more professional. I’ve been thinking about it for some time but being technically challenged, I have hesitated to make the jump. Then, as chance would have it, I found a UK based blogger who helps people like me and was also able to recommend a UK host. She is going to start the migration (yeah, like I know what that is!!) this weekend! I’ve bought my domain name and my WordPress theme so I will still be connected to everyone and pop up in their readers. I know that filling out the name/email/website part of the comment form is a pain but I have found that if you do it once, when you re-vist, all the info is in there – probably because of cookies. And not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately! I hope that non-blogging readers might find it easier to comment and more readers sign up to email updates. I am a bit nervous about it but also really excited as it will give me an opportunity to grow in whichever direction I need to. Good luck with whatever you decide on – sounds like there are lots of options and good advice here xx
I am frustrated too Selma! All my blogging buddies are making a move and I am still contemplating since I am so challenged when it comes to technology. My interaction with fellow bloggers has been reduced too….the wordpress acts up and crashes sometimes, a few other times, reader is not that friendly of independent hosting sites…
I have to take that leap but once I move…
It’s really stressful right now. I would be happy if somebody could do it for me too. My sister is from IT background. Will ask her! ❤️
Sonal, my host is Bluehost. so far so good. Initially. it was the basic package, but then for security issues I had to buy a couple of add-ons.
Sonal, my host is Bluehost. so far so good. Initially. it was the basic package, but then for security issues I had to buy a couple of add-ons.
Just buy more space? I did it’s cheap enough?
I might have to do that!
Best way I reckon!
Just buy more space? I did it’s cheap enough?
I might have to do that!
Best way I reckon!
A few things I did before I changed over that bought me a lot of time (a couple years) was to resize some of my photos. I didn’t know when I started out how large some of them were. I consistently now go with 1200 across and however long they turn out. I took that advice from some sites recommended sizes for pinterest. Your photography is the showcase of your blog, but that is something to think about. Also, by going through my media I was able to identify many photos that were redundant or loaded more than once – because I didn’t know what I was doing at first! Resizing took me down from about 93 percent to 12 percent used. Your are much more photo rich, so who knows.
Another thing is that I don’t delete old posts because a search ends up with one of those 404 errors, but I have “repurposed” a few.
A few things I did before I changed over that bought me a lot of time (a couple years) was to resize some of my photos. I didn’t know when I started out how large some of them were. I consistently now go with 1200 across and however long they turn out. I took that advice from some sites recommended sizes for pinterest. Your photography is the showcase of your blog, but that is something to think about. Also, by going through my media I was able to identify many photos that were redundant or loaded more than once – because I didn’t know what I was doing at first! Resizing took me down from about 93 percent to 12 percent used. Your are much more photo rich, so who knows.
Another thing is that I don’t delete old posts because a search ends up with one of those 404 errors, but I have “repurposed” a few.
Hey! I’m here again… I wanted to ask you something… do you usually downsize your pictures? Because 3GB it’s a huge space! Btw I’ve asked my friend, he told me that is always better to stay with wordpress and eventually buy more space. He says that if you go with another hosting site you might encounter difficulties because wp is the easiest one. I did “my jump” because I joined a big project in Italy with other bloggers… and as I told you, a lot of wp folks don’t follow me anymore and the number of my comments has decreased a lot!
I have been noticing that big time Marghy…the loss of comments and interaction on the blogs who have shifted to independent sites. Most of the people do not want to fill out the form before answering or commenting.
Also, when I leave comments on the independent blogs, I never get notifications if those blogs reply.
Hmmmm, it’s a grave situation. I don’t downsize my photos. Mine is actually a very picture heavy blog and closing to 2 yrs, has almost 700 posts. Will weed through those too.
Thanks so much for your feedback and inputs.
Hey! I’m here again… I wanted to ask you something… do you usually downsize your pictures? Because 3GB it’s a huge space! Btw I’ve asked my friend, he told me that is always better to stay with wordpress and eventually buy more space. He says that if you go with another hosting site you might encounter difficulties because wp is the easiest one. I did “my jump” because I joined a big project in Italy with other bloggers… and as I told you, a lot of wp folks don’t follow me anymore and the number of my comments has decreased a lot!
I have been noticing that big time Marghy…the loss of comments and interaction on the blogs who have shifted to independent sites. Most of the people do not want to fill out the form before answering or commenting.
Also, when I leave comments on the independent blogs, I never get notifications if those blogs reply.
Hmmmm, it’s a grave situation. I don’t downsize my photos. Mine is actually a very picture heavy blog and closing to 2 yrs, has almost 700 posts. Will weed through those too.
Thanks so much for your feedback and inputs.
I am self-hosted with Bluehost, using a paid premium WP theme. If you decide to go with them, send me a message over at my website or on Facebook (I don’t often check wordpress.com anymore), and I can help you out with the transition.
So do you think that you have lost the blogger companionship since you have moved to independent hosting? Do you mind it or okay with it? Is it letting you increase your viewership and audience at least?
Well, yes, a little bit. For example, I never see YOU around anywhere on my blog anymore =) But other people have stuck around, which is really nice. And since I don’t need wordpress.com anymore, I find it hard to come here and visit, although I am trying to get better about that. But they say that once you switch to self-hosting, it’s almost like starting all over again building an audience. But I’ve had a lot more opportunities come my way. And I can do whatever I want on my blog with no restrictions. WP.com is so limiting. And yeah, my viewership has actually gone up, and I hope it keeps rising.