I’m getting really close to launching cathyzielske.com.
I’m nervous. I’m excited. I’m ready. I’ll post an orientation to the new site once it’s live.
I wanted to let you know that when the changeover happens, there may be a few bumps along the way in the following areas:
• broken links (I’ll fix them).
• new categories (I’ll retag every single one of my over 1,100 posts written since 2007).
• images that don’t look quite right (I’ll work on those, too).
Some great news about the site: it’s a responsive site. This means it’ll look great on your smart phone or your tablet. No more squinting at your iPhone people.
The other great news is that other than having a completely new look, feel and structure, this blog will still be Ground Zero for every story I have to share with you. The only difference will be bigger photos and bigger, easier-to-read text.
In fact, the font size is bigger throughout the site. My middle aged eyes are kind of digging it, even if my designer heart misses those smaller text sizes.
My site will be a WordPress site. I have a whole new platform to learn, but I hear it’s pretty do-able.
You will be able to subscribe via your favorite reader as well.
Change is always a little scary. Personally, I like familiar and sometimes it’s hard for me to push myself to move away from that which I know. I hope this change is a good one for you, my readers. Give it a few weeks. Let it warm up to you. I think you’ll like it.
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS WITH ME If you would like to consider becoming a sponsor of my new site, by all means, email me and I’ll send you my media kit for 2014. Regular sponsorships are now available.
RitaQ says
Looking forward to sharing your journey. Perhaps when you get this new baby launched you can refocus on you.:)
SherriS. says
I’m looking forward to bigger fonts:) God has such a sense of humor with the little differences that creep up on us as we age. Thanks for making me smile this morning!
Marjorie says
I’m looking forward to it! I just hope it will also be easy to read on a big ol’ PC. 🙂
mary e. says
This is exciting, Cathy! LOVE that you change things up — makes you and your blog interesting and current!
Will keep my fingers crossed that it goes smoothly. There’ll be bumps along the way, but who cares? It’ll give you even more to write about!
Can’t wait to see the new look!
Lida says
I always bump up my view to 150% or more to view type.
Only thing I would like to see stay is drilling back to archives if I need to.
I found that other updated websites tend to take away the archives section and you have to go to the older files, forever!
I have since do not go back to those sites anymore.
Shawn says
I’m looking forward to it! I normally love everything new you do and I’m sure this will be no different.
cathy says
Lida, now come to think of it, we dont have an archives section set up. Hmmm. Didnt even think of that. I will see if it is addable.
Janel says
You are truly embracing change. Aiden’s graduation, summer, the website, etc. Pat yourself on the back. New territory to explore, discover and savor. Can’t wait to follow with you. Hooray!!
cathy says
Marjorie, that is the goal! And it is being tested on many different browsers and platforms. : )
katrina says
ooooh, this is very exciting – hoping that you’ll also write a “how I made the switch” blog post b/c I’ve been thinking about doing the same (y’know, on a much, much smaller, i’m-no-cathy-zielske scale).
cathy says
Im definitely going to do that kind of a post, and talk about the decision and the process that I went through. : )
jesa says
Cathy, I don’t deal well with changes unless I initiate them and understand you completely with being comfortable with the familiar. It must be a little difficult especially with this season of new beginnings. 🙂 Looking forward to the unveiling of your new website as I am sure anything you do will always have that much beloved clean & simple signature style we all came to love. I am on board to join you in the journey along with the other readers. In the meantime I will enjoy your raw, down to earth and hilarious sense of humor posts. Thank you Cathy for showing us the little “bumps” along the road.
Susanna Boyd says
Cathy, reach out if you need help, I live and work in WordPress. There are plugins to fix broken links so that you don’t have to individually fix them. You shouldn’t have to retag anything either. WordPress can handle that by just changing the name of that category.
Becki says
Welcome to WordPress, you will LOVE it! Can’t wait to see the new site
PS, Susanna Boyd has good advice for you 🙂
Stephanie says
But isn’t that why you are retagging every post since 2007? So they will be on your new site. Or maybe I am just not understanding the true meaning of archives here.
I am the same way as Lida with blogs. I often refer back to older posts, or like to search through archives when I am looking for something I know I saw before. I hope you keep your old posts too.
Ari says
Website redesign is so exciting! I work with WordPress at work now and it’s super intuitive and learnable. Excited to see the new design!
Glenda says
Thumbs up and kudos to accepting change, which is always constant in our lives, otherwise, life would be pretty boring. Congrats and can’t wait to see the final blog.
cathy says
Well I may have to reach out, because Im changing my categories, narrowing them down to six, from like, wayyyy to many! My goal is simplification. : ) We will be importing my Typepad blog soon. Are you serious about offering help? Because I am more than happy to trade you for products from my collection. : )
cathy says
Thanks Jesa. I just know that if I have an expectation that its smooth as silk, well… it might be a bit more burlap-y than Id planned.
Kelli Panique says
Excited to see the new site! You’re a pretty smart cookie, so I no worries that you’ll be a WordPress rockstar in no time. 😉
Laurel says
I use WordPress for my blog and it is awesome! It’s so easy to learn! Can’t wait to see your new site! 🙂
cathy says
Oh yes, all posts are coming over, but instead of having multiple categories, I will just have fewer. Its all coming over. : ) Also, the Search function will be slicker than it was.
Teal says
Very exciting! I hope there will still be a tag for “Dogs I Do Not Own!”
Stephanie says
Fantastic!
madeline St onge says
Can’t wait to see it Cathy, Good luck girl
Jennifer says
will be here when you are all set!