When I first started blogging in November 2010 I was very certain that I wanted to write about food and some of the most enjoyable aspects of blogging, for me, have been the constant learning and the fact that a blog evolves.
I have definitely reached the end of the road with my blogging platform Blogger. It has served me tremendously well, but it is a tiny bit limiting. It’s annoying to find great plug-ins and features that don’t work on my blog as it is, and so, a move across to WordPress is inevitable.
To my surprise, you can’t just click a button and watch everything move across. In fact, it’s a little bit more like moving house. And I’ve got the packers in to help me. I’m working with the wonderful Violet Posy Design because I love the look of some of the blogs and websites that Liz has created for other people and she also has the technical know-how to move me across.
Now to the name. What’s in a name? Well, to me, the name of a blog is really quite important. I hear many people say that “Content is King” and that is true too. At Food Blogger Connect were were given advice about building ‘Community, Content and Conversation’ and that too, is something that evolves. But the name is important too.
I’m a firm believer that change is a good thing, after all, ”If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies,” right? So, my move across will bring some changes, but hopefully none of them too drastic!
Apart from my blog name. Changing that would be very drastic, but for some reason I am tormented and something is not quite sitting comfortably.
I looked back at the first three blog names I registered –
Beetroot & Dill – This one reflected my Polish heritage and the fact that Poles eat a lot of Beetroot and Dill. I happen to love both, my husband hates both. These were the flavours of my childhood. Beetroot soup and dill, in everything. Would this name have meant limiting myself to savoury, Polish food?
Cinnamon & Cocoa – These are two of my favourite sweet flavours. I couldn’t live without chocolate and I often use cinnamon both in sweet and savoury cooking to add depth of flavour. Would this name have been limiting myself to sweet food?
The Finer Diner – reflecting my love of food and the finer things in life. I decided against it as it probably sounded a bit poncy.
So, how the hell did I come up with Fabulicious Food? I think ‘Fabulicious’ was a term my little boy once used in relation to something I cooked. He’s never used that term since.
So, dear readers, I need your help. You’ll see a little poll at the top right of the blog, or you can leave comments in the box.
If I were to change my blog name, I would probably change it to Simple and in Season -although this is the name of my blog event and I would certainly keep that running. I love the fact that so many of you are linking up and sharing your creations. But I like Simple and in Season both as a title and as a concept and it would certainly reflect the kind of food I like to cook.
Would this be one step too far? One change too many? Should I stick with Fabulicious Food?
In the style of a very popular gameshow - I would like to ask the audience. I am losing too much sleep! Please help!
I’m leaving you with an image of a cupcake, as it’s still National Cupcake Week. These are Vanessa Kimbell’s Chocolate, Vanilla & Black Pepper Cupcakes - they were awesome and one of my favourite flavour combinations of the year - try them! I tested the recipe for these cucpakes for Vanessa’s wonderful book Prepped! and funnily enough, they combine beetroot with chocolate!
Ren Behan
Ren Behan is a British-born food writer of Polish descent. She is a mum to two young children (6 and 3) and spends lots of time with them in the kitchen. Ren writes about seasonal, family-friendly food on her blog www.renbehan.com and about Polish food on her site www.mypolishkitchen.co.uk. She also contributes recipes and articles to online and print food publications. Ren holds a Diploma in Food Journalism with Distinction and has completed a Food Styling course at Leiths School of Food and Wine. Full Profile on Google+
>I feel your dilemma Ren…..I have struggled with changing to wordpress for a while now, due to the benefits of plug-ins that blogger does not have; and the wonderful Liz is doing a makeover for my blog in the New Year, thanks to you, and also me looking at her other blog makeovers ~ she is so creative and I love her style too. I have registered my name already at wordpress, but that is the extent of it! As for your blog name, I will fill the poll in for you, but as an ex graphic designer and someone who worked in design and marketing for a while, I think you should stick to something that people know you for, therefore for me, Simple and in Season is the name I would say is best, as it is new and yet is is linked to you and is a "Ren Brand" already ~ does that make sense? That is JUST my opinion! Your other names I feel may be too limiting, although I do like Beetroot and Dill…..but Simple and in Season seems to promote the ethos of your blog!
LOVELY little cake too!
Karen @ Lavender and Lovage (Picked as it promotes all aspects of cooking and fragrance in the kitchen, and represents my love of old fashioned herbs in cooking….maybe that was too limiting too? What do you think Ren? It was the best of a long list!!)
>Reading my comments again, it may have seemed that I don't like your present blog name, that is not so, I just read between the lines and thought maybe that you wanted a new name and image! I LIKE your present name Ren, but if you want to change, then my suggestions for simple and in season still stand!
Karen
>I like your present blog name. While the new 'simple etc.' idea is a great thought it is a little lacking in personality.
>Keep it as the current name Ren
>I love Simple and in Season! But then I always liked Fabulicious Food. I feel your pain, though, I hate English Mum – it started off as English Mum in Ireland, but had to be shortened when we came home and doesn't reflect the content AT ALL! x
>Goodness what a dilemma. I have to say, I love your current blog name Fabulicious is such a great word and just draws you straight in. Simple and in Season is fine, but it's very similar to so many other blog names out there and also more limiting than the one you have at the moment. All food, simple, complicated, in season, decadent, beetrooty or not can be Fabulicious. The thought of chocolate and cinnamon is making my mouth water, though the cupcakes look pretty damn good too
I'm with blogger, which can be very frustrating and should probably think of moving, but it all seems like too much hassle. I have heard from others who have done it that it's not particularly difficult though. Good Luck.
>I understand exactly where you are coming from. I have just begun a new blog as my old one had a focus I now no longer feel I want to continue with, it limited me. If you aren't being hemmed in by the name fabulicious ( and I don't think you are) stick with it.
>I tried voting, but no luck as it says you have to sign on to vote?
>i like both current name and simple and in season
am in same boat with workinglondonmummy !
>I like the current name!
>I also like Fabulicious Food! but also love Simple & in season!! Go with your instincts Ren. Love the cupcakes!!
>It sounds like no-one really likes their name – including me! An argument for having the clearest strategy at the outset! I like Simple and in Season but you may have the same problems that Fabulicious Food presents i.e. many similar names. Claire McDonald's recipe book is called Simply Seasonal for instance.
Good luck with your move to WordPress.
>Wow! The comments are all really useful, thank you all so much. I really appreciate the input and feedback.
I have to say, I do like anonymous comments, there is a certain air of mystery about them!
Karen – I love Lavendar and Lovage, no issue there whatsoever
Becky – if you don't like English Mum then there is no hope for any of us as I think your name rocks.
Sally – likewise, My Custard Pie is quirky and relates to you.
Nazima – WorkingLondonMummy has a nice ring to it, and also reflects something about you.
As with a lot of things, writing it down and getting it out has helped, in itself. The main point being that I am not the only one to be feeling this way!
In the grand scheme of things it isn't so important and probably better to stick with what I chose in the first place as almost any blog name will have limitations or similarities to other food-related projects…
Thank you to anyone who tried to use the poll. Another fine example of a widget not working on Blogger so that was a complete waste of time.
I think the change-over to a new host will be a big enough thing for me to get my head around without having to factor in a new name…
Thank you all again, and to anyone who replied through Twitter too.
>Heaven is a Cupcake – thank you also for your vote of confidence and wishing you the very best of look in the St Albans Food Festival 'Local Gem' nomination!
>I really like Simple and in season.
Although I do like the current name, when on my phone, I can only read it when I'm on the wifi as it appears that "fabulicious" is classed as "adult contents" and my Internet provider doesn't want to open your blog. Not joking.
So, you having a new name would allow me to read your blog whenever I want
>Hi Helene, thank you so much for letting me know. Is this only happening with your phone? Could you tell me which network you are with? Sometimes it is possible to call them and ask them to unblock the site, or allow it to be shown.
Looks like you’ve opted to keep name and domain as they were… I think this is good idea as your domain is easier to spell than the blog name but the blog name is catchy. Helen Graves’ blog is on her own name as a domain rather than title of the blog and I’m sure she’s not the only one.
Why not see whether FF is available to buy and divert it to renbehan.com – that way you catch everyone. Should only cost about £10 per year extra.
Hi Sarah, thanks for your comment. Just getting my head round the comment needing to be approved and ending up in strange places such as ‘pending’. Yes, I think sharing the dilemma was great as so many got in touch to say ‘keep it’ or to tell me that they didn’t like their blog name either – which made me not feel like the only one! I feel much better about it now. Glad to be on WP now and yes, will look into FF as a domain too. I love Helen’s blog. xx
I like Fabulicious Food – change isn’t always good. People know you for this name and you don’t want to confuse them. It is a good name and easily remembered and sticks in one’s mind.
Thanks Heidi, yes I guess a name-change would have been one step too far! It’s hard getting used to a new platform – but fun too! Thanks for the comment. Lovely to see you on Tuesday evening. Tried the porcini sauce with some pork – delicious!