I've been considering changing the name of this blog, but I'm not sure how. Or if it would even be a good idea.
When I first started blogging I had no idea what I was doing. I heard about the 101 goals in 1001 days project, thought I should do that! and started a blog. The whole process took me 10 minutes. I spent all of two of those minutes considering a name for my blog. (In case it's not obvious, I was 26 years old when I started blogging.)
Since then, the nature of my blog has really changed. I'm still working towards my goals, but my focus is less on them and more on whatever I happen to be up to lately - whether that's DIY stuff, the dogs, taking pictures, or something else completely. Consequently, I don't really feel like the blog name fits anymore. I feel like I've outgrown it. I also don't think it makes any sense. If you've ever wondered what I was thinking when I came up with the name please don't ask me... I don't have any more clue than you do.
However, since I've been blogging for awhile my options with changing the name are limited. I could:
(1) leave the URL the same and just change the header and start calling it something else everywhere. This has the big bonus of not losing any of you guys. Everyone could still come here all the time just like always - no updating bookmarks, no new blogs to follow or subscribe to. The unfortunate side of this option is that the URL would never ever match up to the blog name again and that's pretty darn strange.
(2) I could just start a whole new blog with a new URL and hope and pray and cross my fingers and toes that people would come along with me. The URL would match my blog name and that would be super fantastic. The downside of course is that I would be starting from scratch. I get a fair amount of traffic from links from other blogs and those would be forever lost. That would suck.
(3) I could become an internet ninja and discover some way to seamlessly redirect everything over to a new URL. (*note: I have no idea how to do that but I know others have done it so I'm hoping I could figure it out)
With any of those options though, I would have to start a brand new Facebook page with the new name. (Facebook doesn't let you change the name of your page once it has over 100 likes). That's a bummer because I've really grown to love my facebook page and the interactions I get with everyone there, and I would hate to lose that.
And then there's always the issue of what to actually change the name to...
To be 100% clear, I haven't definitively decided to change the name. It's just something I'm mulling over, so it's entirely possible nothing will happen. All the same, I'd love your thoughts. What would you do if you were me? As a reader, what would you prefer that I do? Or maybe you actually love the name and think it should stick around?
Do tell.
If it isn't broke don't fix it!! I love the name and came here to find out what it ment. Love you blogs and look forward to your photo tips. I say keep the beast as she is!!
ReplyDeleteHey! Switching your URL is easy, and you can redirect your old URL to the new one. I just switched from loveandaleash.wordpress.com to just loveandaleash.com, and because I did it through wordpress, everything switched automatically. I know that Kristine at Rescued Insanity actually switched to a real self-hosted site from a blogger or wordpress hosted one, which is quite a bit more work. I think you made that switch a while ago already though, right? If so, then you should be able to just switch the URL and the title (I vote yes!) and have everything transition seamlessly. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI like it just the way it is! The name is an organic part of you whether you like it now or not..so I vote to leave it alone!
ReplyDeleteI hate change. Leave it alone! :-) Seriously though I really dig the name, I think it could mean anything you want it to mean - and it's probably come to mean something different to each of your readers. Maybe just re-format the blog itself to contain different categories of the things you post about most?
ReplyDeleteI feel you on this for sure. My blog name is loooong, and it sorta worked for us when we got engaged and were planning our wedding (our big fat farm wedding), but now that it's over we are stuck with this long blog name that really doesn't relate to us as much anymore. I added the Crazy Ever After post-wedding, making it even longer. Oh well. I didn't anticipate enjoying the blogging experience as much as I do, or else maybe I would have given our blog name some more thought initially. All this to say I think our blog name will stay put, even if it is long and awkward. I think you should keep yours. You've made a name for yourself with it.
ReplyDeleteLauren - I think we had the same experience with blogging, haha. I never thought I'd keep blogging for as long as I have, I remember thinking I wouldn't last a month! ;)
ReplyDeleteI've actually been having a similar dilemma, only mine is that although I bought a domain name, my wordpress blog is too big to transfer over to it. So I haven't been able to decide what to do for... oh, a few months now. I too have a lot of linkage invested in places. I may consider the redirect route. However, I like the name of your blog (even though I don't really know what it means). I think it still fits you. You started it when you were 26, and it chronicles all the stuff you've done since then. I have always wondered- did you mean it as a twist of that Eminem song? :)
ReplyDeleteI think it works, but it's your blog, so if you feel like a change, then do what makes you happy! If you want to set up a redirect to a new site, you can TOTALLY do it.
ReplyDeleteIt was easy for me to do with my webhosting provider but even if it's not the same with yours I think I could help you figure it out.
Ah yes... The constant battle of naming!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's silly to keep a name that doesn't "fit" you anymore. It fit you at one point, and I think it's fun to look back and remember your history. That being said, if it bothers you, then change it! Like a previous commenter said, it would be easy to forward from your old URL to your new one so you wouldn't lose anyone.
You could always create a second blog with a better name, and test the waters...
If you switch the blog over somewhere else, make sure you figure out how to transfer all the Google Friend Connect people.
ReplyDeleteBut, I think, since this is Blogger, that you can change your domain name without too much hassle. Can't you just pick a different name?
The hard part is that I already have my own domain name. If I was still at my old blogspot.com URL, it would be easy to change things because I could change the name by upgrading to my own domain and just picking the name that I like and everything would update automatically. I haven't been able to figure out how to change from one domain name to another while still being able to keep everything (including Google Followers and people who are on readers, etc.).
ReplyDeleteI vote for learning how to redirect, if not for the followers, for the incoming links. Like loveandaleash said, it can be pretty seamless depending on your platform... and you could still own this URL and just have it redirect to the new site to avoid there being a "site no longer exists" error message.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of what you call yourself or where you move, we'll follow as long as you let us know where you are! :)
ReplyDeleteI have changed the name on my Wordpress blog occasionally (I often change themes there for fun), trying, like you, to match it to what I am thinking/pursuing; it totally does not match the URL but the few people who follow are growing. Keep the URL - make your blog name YOU - I do like this one - it is intriguing :)
ReplyDeletei like the name you have, too! but it is your blog and i think you should do whatever you want... we will still be here reading!
ReplyDeleteI think you should keep it! I take it as you started it when you were 26 and are going on thru life.
ReplyDeletePlus, less trouble for you!
for what it's worth i say keep the name, i actually like it quite a bit and never knew what it meant. i like that it's open to interpretation;)
ReplyDeleteI would leave the URL since when I changed mine I lost a lot of people :(
ReplyDeleteStop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com
This is a tough one.....My advice, come up with a kick ass blog name that makes you squeal with delight and then figure out how to make all the puzzle pieces fit together :)
ReplyDeletexM
I think your name is fine as it is! But I don't have as much personally invested in it as you do. If you figure out how to do what you want to do, let us all know!
ReplyDeleteI've been contemplating the same thing, Kate! And I'm in the exact same situation, only with Wordpress not Blogspot. I think you should start with option 1 and then work on making option 3 work for you. I will probably go that route, if I ever figure out what to rename my blog.
ReplyDeleteI actually chose to do a name change on my blog (almost a year ago) instead of starting from scratch. I purchased a new URL with the new name and am forwarding the old URL to the new one.
ReplyDeleteIt just all depends on what is more important to you though. :) I'm sure your readers will follow you no matter what you choose.
Ann
A silly note - I always thought your blog name was an interesting name and I always think about a jail sentence for some reason! lol!
First off, I'll personally following your blog regardless if the url/name changes. Whenever I try to recommend your blog to another pitbull lover they get confused and think the title is referring to a prison sentence! I hope you're happy with your final decision, whichever way you go :-)
ReplyDeleteYou can redirect the traffic from the old site to the new one, but I personally love the name of your blog! When we move (and we will) I am not planning to change my blog name, even though we won't live on Russet St anymore :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so tough but I would keep the name. I think it's neat and differentiates you!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to join the "keep the name" camp! I don't associate Twenty Six to Life with your goals any more, or really with anything in particular, but it definitely feels like your "identity." Maybe it could mean - started blogging at 26 and it's an adventure for life?? That being said, if you really want a new name, go for it. It's your blog and you should do what makes you the happiest. I'd follow you to a new name or URL.
ReplyDeleteI like all you posts, they are all very informative and useful. This one is not the exception! Thank you very much for your work and keep up!
ReplyDeleteWow, thank you so much for your contribution! The information you've provided is a brilliant thing for me! Thanks a million one more time!
ReplyDelete