You know, us WordPress users are good and getting all high and mighty and saying that WP is better than Blogger. And maybe it is… for us.

While I love Google’s services and entrust them with out 99.9% of my personal information, I can’t trust them with my blog. I’ve been doing this blogging shebang for six years and I need more control, like what WP can give me.

Which is all fine and dandy until you’ve had one too many run-ins with hacks on your server, no matter how tight you think your security is. 2012 is my year to grow Smarter Admins and I need something more secure and reliable for my business. And yesterday I discovered a really discreet but damaging hack, one that only affects Google search results and makes the site look like it’s selling viagra.

Oh dear.

Source: facebook.com via Nate on Pinterest

I’ve encountered it before – and beat it – but this time? This was enough. I’ve been on an el-cheapo webhost for four years and got too comfy with them. Enough is enough and after much researching and asking around, I’ve moved to a new, more expensive but more secure webhost. I’ve already experienced really quick service from Media Temple (never underestimate the power of Twitter) and have had a smooth transition so far. I’ve moved two domains over and have a few more to go.

That said, the skill required for me to do what I’ve done in the last 36 hours isn’t insignificant – I had to teach myself some new coding tricks, spend a lot of time Googling around and trying to think clearly to make sure I didn’t screw anything up. And exactly why WP isn’t for everyone. There are people who charge a tonne to people who are vulnerable, especially when it comes to a blog.

That said, I’m stoked to have moved rainbowtatt successfully to its new server and even quickly rigged up a new theme to celebrate (if you’re reading this in your RSS reader, come click through and check it out, tho probably best not to if you’re fighting the hunger pangs :))

So, sure, I didn’t go along to the Problogger Training Day this week. But that doesn’t mean that I didn’t learn anything from missing out :)

With thanks to the wonders of modern technology I was able to keep up with the Training Day pretty well

• #pbevent Twitter stream
  Though I had to wait until breaktimes to read the stream, I was able to pick up on some of the key themes of certain presentations. Like Darren’s emphasis on putting your heart into blogging. And Mrs Woog’s authenticity in her content.
• Blogs of presenters and panel members
  I checked out the web sites of the presenters, panel members and attendees, many of which I’d either not heard of, or I’d not spent a lot of time on their sites. I’ve checked out Copyblogger and downloaded some free ebooks from Chris Garrett‘s site (and from Pint-Sized Sites, too). The ebooks have been downloaded onto my iPad so I can read them during the week. I cheated and started reading Pint-Sized Sites’ Your Website is Ugly and am loving the little tidbits I’m picking up already. Lots of note-writing about “above the fold”, “reader profiles” and “solving problems for your readers”. It’s not necessarily rocket science, but so so handy to have spelled out to me.
• Roundup blog posts by attendees
  I found Kelly Exter‘s posts about her #pbevent experience to be really helpful and Nobashake has a link up for follow-up posts as well
• Hitting up my friends who got to go along :)
  I’ve been chatting online, at the supermarket (though that was a complete fluke) and I’m taking another out for coffee to get the low down on the whole shebang

I’ve sat down for a good half hour this afternoon and thought through the tips and tidbits that I’ve picked up around the traps. Here’s a start to what I’ve written down so far:

Why I’m blogging
My personal blog is just an outlet for my thoughts and memories. It exists for my own selfish reasons and I enjoy looking back on old posts (I always laugh at them).
My business blog exists because I know it’s a good idea, that there’s a need for it. It’s a topic I’m passionate about, that I’m good at. I want to use Smarter Admins to extend myself in my day job, but also to extend my readers. I’ve already been experimenting with changes to my “voice” on Smarter Admins and I think I’m getting closer to what I’m comfortable with… less stuck-up, less matronly, more rah :) I struggle often with my motivation for the blog, for content, for direction – I need to focus, pronto.

My blog design is great
Jarod and Liz did a fan-bloody-tastic job of designing Smarter Admins for me (I’m so proud to be one of their first clients in their new venture) and it will stay largely as-is. I’ve realised that I need to focus on what’s “above the fold”. Make it easier for readers to see that I’ve got the solution they need. Get the content to match the great design.

Finding readers
This is a tricky one for me, because I’m sure that many potential Smarter Admins readers don’t read blogs, don’t access Facebook/Twitter at work and sure as hell don’t Google things like “How do I correctly fold a piece of paper to fit a DL envelope”. I have some strategies that I’ve started putting into place to find the readers who are online, but there’s a whole other level needed to really break into the market I’m looking to nab. Sadly, I think this will need $$ investment :( In the meantime I’m going to implement better strategies for the readers I already have, then go from there.

Making money
I don’t want to think too much about making money from Smarter Admins yet. The site is only a few months old and it’s way too early for me to be earning a crust from it. But I’ve picked up on some great tips that will be really helpful when the time comes to start thinking about monetising Smarter Admins. One day :)

_____

I’ve also made a vow to bloody well go to the next Problogger Training Day. I’m saving my pennies already!

I have so many words I want to write about the weekend’s conference. How I won an awesome prize at the pre-conference drinkies. How I met fabulous new people. How I wrote lots of notes during the conference itself.

But I’ve had a cold since before the conference and I’m still recovering. AND MY BLOG GOT BLOODY HACKED like 5 times.

But the blog is recovering and so am I. #relief.

I’m going to review the post-conference piss-up on nuffnang’s money after party with one photo. This photo is the epitome of the event and I’m still laughing at it whenever I see it. Which is why it’s taken me 12hrs to publish this post:

Shae my darling, I love you. And I love everyone in that photo. And that’s not just the cold+flu tablets talking. I’m looking at you Toushka, Leigh, Suger, Liz, Tony, Glow, Rhi and Danielle.

I’ve uploaded SOOC photos to Flickr, some of which were taken by Danielle, some of which were taken by I DON’T KNOW WHO, I WAS VERY “HAPPY” AT THE TIME.

Ahem.

Roll the tape:

As I write this, I’m probably on public transport catching infectious diseases from the common people after dropping off my chariot for smash repairs for the week.

*sob*

But! I’m stoked to have officially launched my new blog earlier today.

Smarter Admins is a blog dedicated to my 9-5 profession: office administration. Y’know, secretaries, Personal Assistants and whatnot. It’s already loaded with tips and tricks and there’s a whole bunch more on the way (I’ve already got a week’s worth of content scheduled!). Last week it was featured on Lifehacker AU (and US!), which was a big win for my pre-launch vision :) I’m sososo excited about this blog; I’ve got a bucketload of ideas, something I’ve never experienced quite to this extent.

So if you happen to work in the same field as me, I’d love it if you’d take a look or even share it with people who you think would be interested in it.

(Psst, go check out Jarod and Liz Productions, the team behind my logo and brand management — from business cards to WordPress theme to FB ads — they’ve been beyond amazing in the development process of my new baby and I can’t thank/promote them enough… go go go!)