Why I Switched From Wordpress.com to Blogger

So viola! I just made the switch from Wordpress.com to the blogger platform! I'm really loving it a lot more and I'll highlight some of the main reasons for switching and my frustrations with the free version of Wordpress. I know the self-hosted wordpress could probably solve most of my issues with free wordpress, but I didn't think I was ready to pull the trigger on that at this moment.

1. Customization of design. Oh my god, designing the wordpress.com blog was tedious. First of all the customizer is GOD AWFUL SLOW. You don't have a way to preview your changes, they take effect immediately. If you want to change the template, it will change and mess up all your sidebar content. And guess what, you don't have the option of backing-up your old template! So extremely frustrating. I've heard many people say that the wordpress themes are a lot better, but frankly I like blogger. I'm able to change the width of my main posts and sidebar, I'm able to add on a blog signature without manually posting it everytime myself, I'm able to change and add my own CSS (big one right there). I think for someone who has absolutely no knowledge of CSS or HTML, wordpress may be easier, but since I do, I would like to have access to that! In conclusion, while they do allow a few minor modifications to their themes such as changing the background color, the header or the navigation menu, that’s about it. So your blog will end up looking like a lot of other blogs out there. It made my soul cry when I saw three other blogs on the same link-up with the exact same theme as me.

   

   $99 dollars?! I think not.

2. Extras are expensive! Again, see above, to change my CSS, my fonts or colors, I need to pay $99 dollars!? Nope. Custom domain names, removing their third-party ads, more space, are all extra and EXPENSIVE. Much better option to self-host, which again, wasn't really my cup of tea. 
3. No Javascript or embedding. So wordpress.com does not allow any javascript. (No Rafflecopter! No SnapWidget!) In addition, they have funky limits on how you post certain things. For example, you can embed youtube or instagram, but you cannot use their embed codes. Wordpress.com developed a special code to insert these into your pages. Half the time when you tried to insert it using the "Add Media" button, the options wouldn't show up. 
   
4. Posting was weird. If you're using wordpress.com do you notice that you can make posts in their new or old WP admin? I wish they had just decided on which to use and made that final because sometimes it would open in their old post editor and sometimes in the new post editor. 
5. No advertising. All the details are here and yes, this is frustrating. I get that I don't really participate in this much now, but I would like the option to be available to me if and when I want to.

Yes, there are some shortcomings of blogger like 

• No set-plugins. All though this avoidable because you can use third-party plugins! and simple gadgets.
• I will not own the content any more.
• Mobile layout sucks.
• Apparently inaccurate stats? The day I started the blog without even linking it to blogloving or my social media accounts and I think I had 78 views or something insane. 

Anyways, so far I am loving it. I'm sure there will be things I get frustrated with about blogger but for now I am content! Please let me know if my content is linking incorrectly or photos are showing up funky. 

Linking up with: 

Slightly Late Hump Day Blog Confessions

I've been all messed-up this week since I usually only work from home on Thursdays, but I had a snow day and worked from home on Tuesday. So I'm using that as an excuse to post my hump day confessions one day late!

I confess that:

• I just spent a day and a half redesigning the blog. The way the posts showed up as articles was really getting on my nerves. I also changed a plain white background as suggested by Venus Trapped in Mars. I love her website and her tutorials so I decided she probably knows what she's talking about with the white background deal.
• I am obsessed with the new look of the blog, the new social media buttons, my about me widget, and MY own button that you can grab at the bottom!
• I just sponsored my first blog for April. It'll be a surprise who it is!
• I'm having another giveaway tomorrow! Check back for the details tomorrow.
• I'm obsessed with blog link ups.
• This will be the first week I've completed my resolution of "workout three times a week". I'm going to Body Pump tonight. Les Mills for the win!
• I watch MTV music videos every morning when I eat my breakfast!
• I've danced with my dog every night this week. She loves it.
  

  A photo posted by Alanna (@alannaandco) on Jan 3, 2015 at 3:15pm PST

• I've been playing Dragon Age Origins at every change I can steal my boyfriend away from the tv! #nerdalert. Notice the Xbox controller in the Instagram?
• I haven't worn make-up since Monday...whoops

Thanks for checking out the new blog design! I hope you like it and please let me know if you notice anything wonky in the comments. Happy late hump day!