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brue
brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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edited June 2016 in General Chat #1

I see there are quite a few people on here who have their own web site presence. If you're keen on writing up your lifestyle and interests they're a good outlet for all sorts of things. Any tips about starting one, how to do it and the pros and cons and
possible pitfalls? Smile

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  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #2

    I also read a few, mainly camping and wildlife, I find many well written and presented and often learn something new.  

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #3

    Brue

    There are several options from ready made template blogs to doing it all yourself. The template blog is the easist to get started with as all you have to do is add text and photos once you have customerised it to your ideas. There will be contraints of size
    and you may have to accept adverts unless you subscribe. I have gone to the other extreme and host my own domain which is not the cheapest option. However it does give me the freedom to use as many photographs as I want and they can be quite large. You do
    have to use specialist web page writing software and also an ftp program to upload so its a bit more complicated at least initially.

    David

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #4

    I use Blogger (part of the Google stable), It's very straightforward, but can also be tweaked to suit what you want. I started in 2007, and used to post quite prolifically, but now do it less and less. Mainly because my son Tweets all the farm news, and by I get round to it, it's old hat. But it does serve as an "aide memoir" for dates such as, when the cows went out, when we silaged etc.

    You can see it by clicking HERE

    We also have a website. We have our own Domain name, and it's currently hosted by BT. I started it long ago when Microsoft Frontpage was popular, and I've never go on with any other software. Though it's hosted by BT, the files etc are on my computer, which is where I make any changes, then upload them via FTP ( I use Smart FTP). Our weather station also send files to the same location. 

    Last year I decided the website looked dated and cluttered (and I wasn't updatedig it - Blogger and Twitter instead), so I redesigned it, but kept a link to the old one as there is so much data in it.

    You can look at it HERE

    I know people who use online websites - such as Weebly and Wix (Google will find them) and they look very good - bu the files are up there in the "cloud"

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #5

    Ah, the dreaded cloud, where all my music floated off one day, never to return! Thanks Goldie and David. I sometimes see sites that people have started and then they get abandoned. Do you spend much time "managing" them?

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #6

    Ah, the dreaded cloud, where all my music floated off one day, never to return! Thanks Goldie and David. I sometimes see sites that people have started and then they get abandoned. Do you spend much time "managing" them?

    I have to feel in the mood. When the spirit moves me I can write for England.

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited June 2016 #7

    We used to have one at the bottom of our yard but its an inside one now Happy

    v9

  • Spriddler
    Spriddler Forum Participant Posts: 646
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    edited June 2016 #8

    My son and his wife are half way through motorhoming for 3 months around Europe, from Poland to Italy, Spain, France etc. and use the template on the superb Travelpod DIY site linked below.

    Maps and their routes are easily created/displayed, plus their photos and narrative.

    http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/hugopotamus/1/tpod.html

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #9

    Ah, the dreaded cloud, where all my music floated off one day, never to return! Thanks Goldie and David. I sometimes see sites that people have started and then they get abandoned.
    Do you spend much time "managing" them?

    Brue

    That depends on how often you add new stuff to your blog. I tend to write campsite reviews and my blogs when I am away so when I get home its just a question of creating new or editing existing pages on the website by cutting and pasting. Its the pictures
    that take the time because they usually need to be resized and adjusted photographically. Like Goldie I do still use FrontPage but I am increasingly using Web Expressions which is the replacement for Front Page. The important things you need to diary are the
    renewal dates for domain name renewal and when hosting fees are are due.

    David 

  • DianneT
    DianneT Forum Participant Posts: 521
    100 Comments
    edited June 2016 #10

    I have found it very easy keeping my website joysofeuropeancaravanning going.  When on holiday I try to up date it each evening when things are fresh in my mind.  Do not need to resize pictures and as I use a special font so do not cut and paste.  Go
    here and you will see this years trip up to a day ago.  I started off with a free website but as it grew so rapidly I now pay a sum per year. It keeps me busy throughout the year as I get 3/4 folks contacting
    me every day for info or advice.  I have met many of these folk too when away in Europe.

    DianneT

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