How NOT to Build a Blog!
Building a blog or website always seems like a great idea! Until you actually start to build one. Don’t get me wrong, l don’t mean to bash web building or design. It can be great fun and very interesting. Actually I built a site for my professional practice many years ago using WordPress and the classic editor. It actually came pretty easy to me and with some trial and error, but I got it done. It wasn’t the most gorgeous site or super-creative, but it was functional and did the job I wanted it to do: it was an electronic brochure to talk about my profession, my speciality, and the services we offered. It worked.
Well, I must also point out that my brain was about fifteen-plus years younger at the time I built it. Since I’m 71 now, and 55 then, I was closer to my prime…sort of. I can’t even SEE my prime from here. Anyway, the learning curve was easier to scale back then that it is now. Actually, now I need a chair-lift!
I’ve been writing recreationally over the years and accumulating material that I would share with people from time to time. Early on I published several magazine articles. Many would say, “Why don’t you publish more of this? I think people would like it and benefit from it.” That was always encouraging, but the prospect was daunting. Publishing seemed like a constant rat-race of self-promotion, which I hated. So I kept writing and filing and occasionally sharing…but not publishing. For one important reason, I found that impractical while raising a large family and running a professional practice.
Well, I retired from practice this past year; my kids are grown and most are starting families, we are being invaded by grand-kids (and loving it!), so I finally ran out of excuses. I thought about a book, but book publishing is very complicated. So, I decided, “Hey! I should start a blogsite as a venue to use some of the past writing I’ve done, as well as create new stuff.” With all the new “block builders” available these days, I thought it should really be a snap.
I started with Elementor. Read books and watched videos. Took pages of notes and made some progress, but the learning curve was steep. So I switched to Site Origin. Took pages of notes and made some progress, but was becoming impatient. Decided to try the WordPress Block Editor–Gutenberg–because I liked the historical association. Took pages of notes, felt the interface was not ideal, and made the leap to a more pricey Divi builder-theme which looked like a whiz. Well, I was not whizzing through it, so I went back to Elementor and at least found out that I HAD learned something because it felt a little more comfortable. But not comfortable enough.
True, it certainly was easier in some ways,,,but a snap? Uhhh, no. (At times I thought my patience and resolve would snap though!) But a lot of that was my own fault. The reason for that was that there are SO many options out there that it is tempting to hop around trying to find the perfect block builder. Well, maybe you will find it, but I didn’t. I strongly believe, and this is backed up by my experience and scores of Youtube videos–I think I watched them all–that they all have strengths, and all have a few weaknesses. None of them are perfect.
By now it should be apparent that there was a pattern emerging: a high probability of operator error–or diminished learning skills on my part! Soooo, I stumbled onto the Spectra plug-in. I was sure this would be heaven itself. Briefly. But, I finally decided that this process was very counterproductive and I was wasting a lot of time plus working myself into nervous exhaustion! I was looking for the golden ticket, but all the goodies came wrapped in silver foil. I decided it was time to put down roots in Spectra and make it home.
When I did that, I began to a make progress–not because Spectra was vastly superior–but because I gave it more of a chance. What I discovered is that I had learned a lot from all the builders: they have very similar features and somewhat different user interfaces. But they have more in common than differences. That made my Spectra learning curve less arduous, mainly because I started at a higher “elevation” of fairly-universal skills. I had needed to quit circling and just land!
True, frustrations still surfaced, but mostly because I lacked CSS coding skills to “fine tune” my layout. Recently I discovered the “Yellow Pencil” Visual CSS Editor (a WordPress plug-in) which unlocks a lot of CSS capability without needing CSS coding skills. Now I’m able to have flexibility that I didn’t find in any of the builders! Issues that aren’t settled are typically fine-tuned to my satisfaction in “Yellow Pencil”.(TIP: The “Pro” version is fairly inexpensive and unlocks most of the best features…definitely worth it!)
Well, let me wrap this up by stating my conclusions (see list below) which I hope will help any one planning or struggling with the early stages of site-building. Hopefully you can make your journey up the “learning curve” much more enjoyable than I did! Cheers ! >MOW
- Pick a page builder and stick with it most of the time. You may want to experiment with a couple*, but don’t go crazy like I did!
- Do the work. Experience the struggle. The only way out is through. Don’t keep detouring. It only postpones progress.
- Remember, there is no “golden ticket” builder. As Dorothy (“Wizard of Oz”) said, “There’s no place like home.” Find one and build there.
- If you need additional flexibility and lack CSS coding skills, consider the “Yellow Pencil Pro” plugin to supplement. (P.S. There’s a bit of a learning curve here too, but experience with block builders helps make it less arduous.)
- *If you do switch it up for certain formatting needs in a builder that you have familiarity with (e.g. I still use features on Elementor occasionally, if Spectra doesn’t do it for me), no worries. This isn’t a law, it’s a guideline. Try to drill down as much as possible with a main builder, to become “fluent” with it, but if you need a different “tool” from your toolbox, use it. There’s no shame in that. Getting the job done is the thing. Enjoy!
Great article! I liked the illustration of the “needed to quit circling and just land!” When others offer website suggestions for the sites they have explored, I have found that I need to stick the ground on what I’ve already built because I have a “report” with that site builder (in my case Weebly). Not because Weebly is the end-all-be-all but because the work, the understanding, the knowledge and skill in using that knowledge has already been developed. I’d be skipping all over the place, jumping from one website builder to the next, never getting a fully developed tool that the church can use to best advantage.
Darcien, thank you for your experienced insights. Amen! I am a “Exhibit A” in your cautionary point. Fortunately, I eventually did land and have so much greater effectiveness! I’m still learning the “nuances” of web design, but at least I’m not collapsing in exhaustion during my attempts! Thanks again!
Mike
Well I started to try and build it on my own and checked many options took lots of notes. I finally decided to hire a web designer (Nicolette DeVille). Who got all the structure in place in a snap and at a reasonable price. Now it’s my turn to take photos of products and sort out the price, the weight , the shipping costs. I don’t have the energy or drive I once had (now nearing 62). I’m trying to do something towards that project every day. Getting Covid last month didn’t help at all. Yesterday and today it felt good to have gotten a little bit done. I now have prices for various print sizes.
Enjoying your site Mike – thanks for being you and sharing your perspective.
Blessings, Margot
Margot, thanks for your encouragement. Yes building a site can be harrowing! I am 71, so you can imagine. But, if learning new things and concentration is good for your brain, I’ve definitely added ten years of usefulness to mine! LOL! Are you still in Washington? We moved up to Prescott (love it!). Blessings, Mike