My New Website on a Domain: Singapore Actually

I did not sleep a wink last night, struggling to figure out how the new domain I bought works. I got it from Go Daddy which is listed as being the biggest domain provider around, but I kinda regret it now because it’s not a site recommended by WordPress and it’s not easy to use. There’s a whole lot more of figuring out that I need to do. There is also what I now realize was aggressive online upsell when I bought the domain address. I would advise anyone who buys a domain to just click no to everything else even though it seems to be essential and basic at that point. There are quite a bit of features you don’t need, like Search Engine Optimization analytics, because it’s just too complicated to work out anyway.

Anyway I decided I might as well announce my second blog, which I won’t update as frequently as this one and will try to put more effort into each post. It’s called Singapore Actually and I hope you like the extremely minimalist look. It’s my attempt at concentrating on a niche, while still enjoying the freedom of blogging on my Tiny Island journal. Just in case you were wondering, Tiny Island is here to stay on my wonderful free wordpress platform and I will continue to update her. I realize that the free platform offers a whole lot more of services like statistics, counters that I don’t get on the paid version. In a way, the paid version feels like a bit of a downgrade. But perhaps it’s just that I don’t know how to fully maximise it.

Sorry for the scattered thoughts. I’m now in need of a coffee infusion.

About bookjunkie

Blogging about life in Singapore & recently cancer too.
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27 Responses to My New Website on a Domain: Singapore Actually

  1. Congrats to you! I love the look–just lets you concentrate on the words.
    I used Go Daddy for my business as well, and I agree–hard sell, but I did find their staff on the phone to be very helpful and they walked me through many problems (without trying to sell me anything!)
    Good Luck!!

    • bookjunkie says:

      Thanks for the positive feedback 🙂

      Good to know that both you and Kirsten used the same site. I heard the customer service on the telephone is good as opposed to the online service, but I think the bill would add up for overseas calls. And I would probably be on the phone for a long time 😉

  2. kirsten says:

    Go you! I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon.

    I bought my domain from GoDaddy as well, but just registered the domain name as opposed to using it as a host or anything, so I don’t know how hard/easy it is to use.

    I would love to have my own shiny website with my own layout and all that stuff, but I’m too lazy to actually DO it. I have a feeling that you can do all that at Blogspot now, but I’m also way too lazy to move my blog…

    • bookjunkie says:

      Thanks Kirsten 🙂 It’s great to know that you bought the domain from the same website. At least I don’t feel so bad now.

      The various layouts are sometimes wasted on me because I tend to go for the most minimal one with the largest font size that’s easy on the eyes.

      • kirsten says:

        I’m happy with the new layout I found today, it’s beeyooteefull although it still doesn’t do the sticky posts thing like it said it would! But I’ve more or less given up and hopefully one day someone will be able to help me figure it out.

        • bookjunkie says:

          Oh yes I once came across a theme that allowed sticky posts. It’s usually an option there when you edit the post and you can tick a little box to make it a sticky post. But I think your theme is beautiful and it’s worth it even without that feature right now.

  3. LL says:

    I always saw ads for go daddy but I never really liked paying for just a name. That’s why I tried blogger for awhile but I still didn’t like it even though it was free. For some reason I have totally bought into wordpress even though it is more restrictive than blogger. I guess after all my time customizing everything in my teen websites I’ve called it quits (i even learned a bit of css by myself just to be able to have more control). Looking back I think I was insane for dedicating that much time on an anime site haha. I have recently deleted it from sngelgire

    • bookjunkie says:

      Oh no why did you delete it. There are probably loads of anime fans out there who would have loved to read it. I am very impressed that you know css (it’s used to modify themes I’m guessing?) I have been hesitant for the longest time, but then I thought even if nothing comes of it, I will look at it as an education. It’ll force me to learn something new.

      • LL says:

        Hah, sorry for the misspellings. I was on my phone (no 24/7 access to a computer temporarily) and pressed enter instead of backspace. sngelgire=angelfire. I deleted it because it just brought back too many embarrassing memories about myself in high school. haha. I think I was a bit of an emo teenager? 🙂

  4. J says:

    Hey, this is fast! I thought you were still deciding. I got my domain (with the same name as my blog) and is currently working on the website. I am still using from wordpress template (paid) but with more features. Since I find wordpress very userfriendly to me, I might as well stick to it.
    Do you use Skype? Drop me a line if you are online (my Skype ID: barkingape), let’s exchange some helpful tips. 🙂

    • bookjunkie says:

      Thanks J 🙂 Kinda didn’t sleep last night as I was guilty about the amount spent and was determined to just get the basic thing up and now am glad I did. Feel a bit of satisfaction from that.

      Don’t use skype but I have the twitter thing, but for right now I have just kinda given up and will use the basic stuff that’s there. I think it’s ok for now as long as the content and pictures go up. I really should focus more on the writing itself, which I intend to do more of on the paid site.

      Although it’s still a bit of ouch because of the cost. I would advise anyone out there thinking of doing this to just buy the domain name alone without the hosting and to get the hosting function from one of the WordPress recommended sites. Go Daddy is just too complicated. Hopefully with time it will get less complicated as things usually do?

      • Congratulations on registering your domain. I used the same too but then I took my wordpress blog and mapped it to my new domain.

        It sounds like they upsold you into things you didn’t need or want. I bet you could call them and ask to just have the domain name.

        Good luck and congratulations.

  5. J says:

    Yeah, you should just use one blog and transfer that to your domain. Save you the hassles of splitting between two to concentrate on your contents. It’s your blog, your website, and you don’t have to please anyone but yourself. Just write the way you deem right! After all, that’s what we all want to read. 🙂

    • bookjunkie says:

      I think I might seriously consider that if I feel the time crunch. Right now the free WordPress blog is still so much easier to use and has features the other one doesn’t, like Stats and Subscriptions etc. I hope it’s just Starhub and not because I’m on a domain, but the whole WordPress thing is so slow today, keeps freezing on me. Hope it’s better tomorrow.

  6. When I started I was jangelos.wordpress.com. Then I went to godaddy and bought my domain at julieangelos.com. It took me about six hours to figure out on a Sunday. You need to be sort of relaxed because it is frustrating.

    Then, I found out in the wordpress forums that you need to just map your blog to your new domain by writing wordpress and go daddy together in the support forums.

    Now if you type either of my domain names it will bring you to my new name. Does that make sense? That might be easier for you than managing two blogs. I like the new look though of your new blog. I’ll stick with you now matter what you do, because I like the way you write.

    Next step I think you should publish a little downloadable ebook like I did. I think you could be a great resource for visitors. I’d say people would be willing to pay $20 to have all the information in a little booklet.

    Good luck.

    Julie

  7. I have been wanting to move to a domain of my own too but I don’t have the guts! Kudos to you for getting one and I’d personally make sure to visit it regularly!

    • bookjunkie says:

      I still have second thoughts but I tell myself that even though the new site doesn’t work as good as the old one (super slow and I don’t know why), at least I finally did it. I am glad I did not migrate everything from the old one because I would be devastated if everything got lost. Also I was trying to go with a niche and be more focused in the paid one. If you ever do, don’t let them upsell you. I realize that I bought stuff that I don’t need at all like search engine analysis and such.

      I just know that I will see you with your own business one day & you’ll be famous 🙂 Then I can say I knew Pleasure Monger way back then!!

  8. I am worried a bit about you having two sites to manage. Take my advice little bean, map this site to go daddy.

    Plus, I truly think Go Daddy should give you a refund.
    It will cost you $12 per year.

    http://en.support.wordpress.com/domain-mapping/map-existing-domain/

    Also regarding advertising, I think you could just publish a little side bar post saying you are open to advertising say a 100 by 100 pixel box or something that works with your layout for a fixed charge per month.

    Regardless I truly think a downloadable ebook is going to be your best bet for extra income. I know you have the resources.

    Julie

  9. Congrats on getting your own domain! I agree with Julie, though. I don’t know much about HOW to do it, but I’d suggest keeping everything mapped together in one online hub. As you might know from my blog, I work for a healthcare company and helped develop their social media marketing strategy. The very first thing I learned is you have to develop your “brand,” and you don’t want too many different versions of your brand on the Web. It’s confusing. Identifying yourself under one main “brand” helps people identify you and if you do write an ebook, you will probably get more sales that way.

    Exciting to see where this all takes you! But never take your eye off the prize: good writing. 🙂

    Shari

    • bookjunkie says:

      thanks Shari. I hope I get more technically educated soon. There’s so much I want to do but struggle with. But basically I just want to focus on the quality of the content itself 🙂

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