I have tried to set up a website myself many times but I find it very time consuming and a bit confusing. A friend of mine suggested that I setup a blog instead of a website because it's easy and Free!! I am wondering if any of you have a website instead of a blog? Or what do you think of that idea?

Jasmine

I am not sure about all blog sites but some have it stated that you can not use it to sell items....

Cheers,
A

I have been going back and forth on that also. But I did finaly decide to go with the blog. For me it just feels more flexible and personal. I can make it more interactive than I can a website, at least it seems like it would be easier to make it more interactive than a website. re are my thoughts and why I decided to go blog instead.


I have my domain name already for the website and I have the blog name too. I was doing some playing on blogger and you can set it up so that when your domain address is typed in it takes you straight to the blog.

I would suggest a blog, I have one and it's soo much better. Depends on what you need it for. You can always change info update people on what's new, you have a comments section, people can follow your blog and so much more. Whereas a website you can only display your stuff and other people look and that's pretty much it. I've had both but I love my blog it's fun. And it's free at blogspot.com

Go for both and make them a continuation of eachother. Then, if you find you hate one...drop it.

I was using a blog while I was trying to get my website going. Now, I use just my webiste...but I am thinking that I will keep pick up on my blog again. Then, you can have a link on your site to your blog....and you are still able to send your subscribers updates.

(If you don't have a good computer or program for a website, then I wouldn't mess with it. After I bought my macbook, websites are just as easy as checking email.)

Any reason why you couldn't have a blog on your website? Best of both worlds

It may be an age thing on the differences ....

I think it depends on your intent ..... Since I am a business, I need a website that gives the look and impression of a "real" business. I want it to look businessy, professional, saying that I'm serious about what I'm doing.

When I see a blog, what goes thru my head is "someone who wants to chat about .... (whatever they do)". I view a blog just as what was mentioned above ... more casual, more interactive, barely a step above MySpace; I see "a teenager on the phone with her friends, talking about, like, wow, you know ... stuff!" A blog doesn't say "real business" to me.

And if that's what you're after, then the blog is the right decision for you. But I would just suggest you ask yourself what your intent is.

And again, the perception could just be my age. I've run into wedding vendors who have a blog instead of a website and I find them irritating .... I'm looking for information about their business. I'm not interested in reading their daily diary.

There are free websites you can get. While mine isn't free ($15/month), I did it myself and had it up and running inside just a couple of hours. They're pretty simple to put together.

I have both. People LOVE it-reading the story behind each cake.

I'm with you Debi.. I think blogs are nice, but they don't say business to me. Now I have no problem with blogs and I think they can be a nice continuation of your website, but if you are looking to go the route of the professional decorator.. it's time to upgrade from the blog. I feel the same about Flickr photostreams.. great accent to a site.. but can't substitute for one.

And I'm not *that* old (32).

thanks guys for all the suggestions, I think that I will try my hand at a blog. It seems easy enough and I am not trying to neccessarily sell my cakes at the moment but more showcase what I do. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, you really helped me make a decision.

Jasmine

I agree with the website for selling, blog for personal use breakdown. Personally, I equate blogs with casual and websites with business. It's one thing if you're using a blog attached to a website to add to content, but if you're trying to present yourself in a professional way I wouldn't do a blog as the only thing. If you're not selling yet starting with the blog is probably easier, though.

I would suggest looking at using a blogging platform as a website. Wordpress for example allows you to create Pages rather than "posts". You can turn off all of the elements of the page that suggest a blog look and feel.

The other nice thing about using the Wordpress blogging platform is that you can update it very easily, there are built in features such as a gallery tool for your photographs, Search engines love it and you can add all of the interactive elements as you see fit.

There are many examples of people using blogs as websites and you could never tell.

Blog and brochure websites are for two separate purposes and uses. A website is 1.0 and a blog is part of the Web2.0 generation.

Without getting too "techy" basically web 1.0 and web 2.0 is how the Internet is used. When the Internet first developed, it was static and purely informational. We used it like you would a library. However, now we are in 2.0 (actually almost in web 3.0) and we still use it the same way as before, but now you have the interactive, social, and "real time" elements which build, establish, and maintain relationships. Processes are also automated and its more of a necessity.

So really you have to decide the purpose. If you want to be a business and reach certain goals, etc....you need a website. If you just want to connect with others and not sell, then use a blog. If you want to be somewhere in between, you need both. Most businesses have blogs, facebook/myspace, etc, because the market and people's lifestyles have moved into that arena and they want to stay in line with current trends and stay in touch with their customers. They still have the traditional website though because it's still a critical tool.

I think blogs are the perfect choice for people trying to fly under the health department's radar. Otherwise, it depends on how professional you want to appear. I prefer websites for all legal businesses.

There is a difference between a blog and a website in that blogs are perceived as more personal sites - for writing about your interest/hobbies. If you don't post any pricing information, there's not much you can get in trouble for.

Also, most blog sites give you the option of whether you want your blog to be searchable by search engines. I have a very personal blog (not cake related) and chose not to have it searchable so that only people I give the URL to can find it.

A blog is a website. It just has a different function, but it is still a website. You do not have to submit anything to a search engine to get picked up, even if you try to block it. That is the nature of the web. Someone links to a link that they found on a napkin in a bar in China and multiply that by 1000 and BAM....there you are on google, perezhilton.com or cakewrecks!

Anyway...I didn't mean to get away from the original post, but my point is you need to know what type of information you want to convey when deciding on the format of a website because each type has a different purpose. Also if it is on the web, it can be found by anyone.