After two weeks of redesign and reformatting, my move to self-hosted WordPress is finished… Welcome friends to the new Reader Voracious! It felt a little weird to just resume my posting schedule and not acknowledge the new site, so here’s a post talking about who is behind the new look and how excited I am for this next chapter.
New Look
One of the things that I wanted to accomplish during the move was a soft rebrand. I wanted to tie together the mountains and space that have come to be part of my brand, while also visually encompassing my tagline of “adventures in books and nature.”
I commissioned the ever-so-talented Kat from Waffley Cute Designs (of Novels and Waffles fame – go follow her blog if you aren’t already) and friends, it has been two weeks and I still can’t stop staring at the header she created! She also designed my site’s favicon and a button, and I love it all.
All of my followers and comments imported over via Jetpack, so if you were already following the blog via WordPress or email you do not need to do anything! The only thing that didn’t come over was my post likes, but I didn’t want to pay $130 to keep them.
Adventurer Motif
The new blog logo inspired me to really lean into the adventurer concept. I got the idea for a new “me” icon and used the inspiration as an opportunity to play around with vector graphics. The end result is my “me” icon with the adventurer cap.
One of the first plugins that I installed is a redirect to a random post plugin because I thought it would be fun if the blog’s visitors could go on adventures in my post archives!
The explore link in the sidebar and at the bottom of my posts will take you to a random post of mine. If you’re new here, it’s a cool way to poke around if you want to. 😊
Accessibility
The other big enhancement that I made to the site was adding an Accessibility Plugin. The accessibility menu is the purple icon at the bottom right of every page. Clicking on that gives you options like changing the contrast, fonts, font size, and even reading the website’s text.
There’s Still Miles to Go
The new Reader Voracious is fully functional and redesigned, but I do have a few things that I will be working on in the coming week or so.
- Update old post headers: I deleted all old versions of my headers and am slowly replacing them with the design that I have been using for almost six months. Some of my older posts will be without a header graphic until that is complete.
- Create a subdomain for Flapping Pages: that’s right, soon Flapping Pages will live at flappingpages.readervoracious.com! I have some improvements to work on as well before relaunching the program and am hoping for July 15th or sooner.
- Adding alt texts to all my images.
- Update SEO, keyword, and metadata for all of my old posts.
- Reply to the last bit of comments.
I have a post in the works on all the lessons that I learned about moving to self-hosted WordPress. It’s been in the works for a long time because it has a list of things all those WordPress.com VS. Self-Hosted guides don’t tell you that annoyed me over the last eleven months. It’ll be up sometime in July.
Thank you so much for your patience and for making this journey with me! Please let me know if something isn’t working right so I can add it to my list. I am really excited for the new adventures we will have together.
Let’s go on another adventure together!
KALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ahhh I’m so excited to see the new look and all the awesomeness that you’ve been up to while setting this up. Also yes, please write that post because it is valuable and people need to know (and something that would’ve been handy). e.e
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT, Soph! You were so wonderful to be my sounding board and you helped me so much! I will write the post soon, and sing your praises in it. ILY
Your new site looks so great Kaleena! I also can’t wait for your post on going self-hosted. I’m super interested in doing so but I’m also nervous and intimidated.
KAL I’M IN LOVE WITH THIS NEW LOOK!!! It looks so amazing omg ♡♡♡
😭😭😭 Thank you so much, Aki!!!
Thank you so much, Kayla! The post should be up next week, and I promise it isn’t as scary to move as we all think it is!
AHHH I am so proud of you for taking this step! Your content has always been a source of learning and adventure in storytelling for me so I am excited and beyond happy to watch as you grow! Can’t wait to watch you bloom some more! *throws confetti in the air and pops open a bottle of champagne*
😭😭😭 Thank you so much, Sam! I am really excited for this next adventure, and am so happy you are joining me on it!
Stunning redesign. Well done to both you and Kat. And I too can’t stop looking at your header, either. Dang, I feel inspired to add more graphics to my blog now.
Thank you so much, Alexandra! Honestly, Kat did such an amazing job and I haven’t stopped staring at my blog for like 2 weeks.
Oh wow, Kal! I love the new look!! Kat is honestly so so talented and I love everything she designs. I’m in love with the “explore the unknown” feature you came up with; that’s such a unique idea and it goes with your theme/brand so well! Can’t wait to see more of your wonderful posts on your new blog!! <3
Thank you so much, May! Kat did an INCREDIBLE JOB and I am so pleased with how everything tied together. 😭😭😭 I can’t wait to go on more adventures with you, love!
Aaaaaaah I’m so proud of you Kal! It looks absolutely amazing and I love the plugin that directs you to a random post ❤️ Can’t wait to see what awesome things you’ll do next!
AAAHHHH Michelle, thank youuuu!!! And I am glad you like the random post redirect, it brings me such a weird amount of joy lol
This is so wonderful, Kal. Loved the new look. Can’t wait to see the new things you would bring to your site. And the accessibility plugin is really great. That cane with your theme?
Thank you so much, Sim! And the accessibility plugin is a free one that I added – “Accessibility by UserWay”
Wow wow wow!! That HEADER!!! Magnifico 👌😍 This is great news! I’m happy for you that things transferred smoothly! Looking forward to the future of Reader Voracious 😘
Man, that header!
😭😭😭 Thank you so much, Safiyya! Kat did such an amazing job on the header and I love it so much! Things went really well, I don’t know why I was so nervous hehe
I love the new look!
Thank you, me too!!!
Your blog looks LOVELY!!
Thank you so much, Naty!
I love love love the logo!
KALLLL it’s so pretty!! 😍
Thank you so much, El!
Kal! Omg this is all so wonderful!! You’ve done an amazing job 😍 I’m so happy seeing an accessibility plugin – it’s something I’ve had in my mind to do at some point if I go self hosted so I’m glad to see one in action! Congrats on everything my friend 💖
Thank you so much, Victoria!!! I am surprised to find out you aren’t already self-hosted, but yes this plugin is perfect and I am so glad I made the self-hosted step so I could include it.
Kal, congrats on the move!! Everything looks absolutely wonderful, and I’m so happy for you! Also, Kat does amazing work with graphics. 👀 I might have to start saving my money…
Thank you so much, Meaghan! 12/10 would I recommend working with Kat, she is so incredibly talented and really affordable.
I love the new header, and all of the new designs! Everything is amazing and so beautiful, Kal! ❤️ I can’t wait to see the other new changes!
Thank you so much, Xandra!
Welcome back! It looks so good <3333333333
Thank you so much, Hamad, it feels good to be back!
Kal, I’m not even exaggerating in the slightest when I say your new blog is one of the best blog layouts and looks and general vibes~ I’ve EVER seen and I am obsessed. I just keep scrolling around and even made the spouse come look at it because I’m so in awe. Great job and congratulations!! <3
😭😭😭😭 OMG Destiny, thank you so much for the compliment!
omg the site looks so fantastic!! very excited to see what’s coming next! congrats on your move!
Thank you so much, Jenn!
I expected nothing but this perfection from Kat and your blog looks amazing <3
Kat did such an incredible job with the header and really captured what I was looking for! Thank you so much!
I love the new design, Kal! Also, I’ve never seen an accessibility menu, that’s pretty cool. Welcome to the self hosted club😁
Thank you so much, Tammy! And the plugin is called Accessibility by UserWay if you want to add it on your site, it is super easy to set up.
KAAAAAL THIS LOOKS SO PRETTY! I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BLOG! Congratulations on this new milestone in your blogging life. Will always be here to cheer you on 😘
Thank you so much, Rain!!! ILY SO MUCH!
AHHHH Congrats on the new self-hosted blog Kal!! I’m loving the new graphics and the new look. I’m so excited to see all the amazing content you’re going to put out. Everything looks ~ BEAUTIFUL~ I can’t wait for more!!
Thank you so much, Tiffany!!! I am so happy the move went smoothly and everyone loves my new layout as much as I do!
Kal I LOVE the accessibility function!! You’re so amazing and thoughtful for adding this – it’s something that a lot of people don’t even consider.
I love the new site in general, but mostly the random post section with the Winnie-The-Pooh quote!! 💕
I am so glad you love the random post addition, because my nerd ass was SO EXCITED about this silly little thing, hahaha! Thank you so much!
Aaaah I’m in love with the new graphics Kal, also love the accessibility function you’ve included <3 Congrats on taking the dive into going self hosted!
Thank you so much, Clo!
I love the new look, Kaleena! Congratulations!♥️🤗 I haven’t been much active on social media and on my blog lately due to some health issues so I’m kinda late congratulating you for the new update. I love the accessibility features! And now I know who to ask for help just in case I plan on getting self-hosted!☺️ I’m not really familiar about SEO and I read somewhere that putting alt text can help drive traffic to your blog?
Thank you so much, Karlita! I hope you are doing alright, keeping you in my thoughts! Yea, alt tags are image descriptions that help search engines. Definitely ask if you need any help!
Thank you so much Kaleena! I’m working on my alt tags now. I learned that when I rename a file, specifically jpg/png..I don’t have to put alt tags because they’re automatically describe the way I uploaded them from pc to wordpress. 🙂
OMG That is so good to know, thank you!!!
Also, I forgot to mention on my comment how I love your blog’s new header! It’s awesome! I super love it Kaleena!😍♥️
*waves* Welcome back! Not that you went away! Loving the new look, I shall have great fun continuing to adventure along with you!
Thank you, good to be back & excited to go on more adventures with you!
Love the new look and the accessibility feature! Congratulations on this new chapter!
Thank you so much, Merline!
I love the new look. Congratulations on your new site 🙂
Thank you so much, Maxine!!!
KAL!!! This is the FIRST blog comment I’ve made in like 6 months (because I’m failing at bookish life, but we don’t have time to get into that…) and I’m SO HAPPY it could be for such a worthy post! Your new site is STUNNING. It’s so aesthetically pleasing and I am IN LOVE with the accessibility function.
I am so envious of your skills and wish I knew how to do half the computery things you seem to be able to do so well! Love you so much and am so proud of you!
OMG TAYLOR, I feel so honored!!! Thank you so much, I am glad you love the site as much as I do. It makes me so happy to look at it.
Happy to help you with anything, love!
i absolutely LOVE it, Kal!!! You’ve done an incredible job here moving everything over, and I completely adore the new stuff and specific focus to ADVENTURE, ahh!! That header, too!!!! HEART EYES FOR DAYS!
Thank you so much, Cassie!!! Kat did an INCREDIBLE JOB on the header, I honestly’ haven’t been able to stop staring at it for 2 weeks!
Excited to see you back! Loving the new site, especially the Winnie the Pooh quote that’s alongside your post archives, it’s such a cute concept!
Thank you so much, Debbie! It is good to be back and I am glad you like all the little adventuring touches like the archives!
so proud of you love and very excited to see what else u have in store for us. ily!!!
thank you so much, Lauren! ILY2!!!
Kal, I just don’t even have words for how awesome this looks!! Congrats, girl!!
Thank you so much!!!
IT’S SO PRETTY!
😭😭😭😭😭 THANK YOU 😭😭😭😭😭
OMG this looks so pretty !! I’m particularly loving the accessibility thing – a first time to see it and it’s quite neat !
Congrats on the move and good luck for all the remaining work to do ! xx
Thank you so much, Kristina!
EEEEPPP EVERYTHING IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT AND MY EYES ARE CRYING HEART EMOJIS!!!! *ahem* Yes. I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but I honestly just feel so honored that you chose little ol’ ME to help you with this next step of your journey. HIGHLIGHT OF MY BLOGGING CAREER.
😭💖😭💖 KAT YOUR HEADER IS SO AMAZING AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Thank you to the moon & back for being able to bring my vision to such a stunning reality, it really pulled everything else I was working on together!
Everything looks so pretty I just wanna sit here and cry a little! Even your GoodReads shelf looks amazingly pretty on this! I’m glad you’ve gone self-hosted, it just seems like the plausible thing for an amazing blog like yours (nothing wrong with not self hosted….I mean I do use wordpress….and cry over it too but not for good reasons lol).
I want to gush about this more but I’m busy taking advantage of early access to the feedly post and setting one up for myself. [For those of you reading who aren’t Kal. Gooooo be a patreon, it’s worth it]
Thank you so much, Haley! 😭😭😭 You are honestly way too sweet and I am full of awkward whale noises now. I hope the Feedly post helps improve your hopping life!!!
I’m sorry if you are tried of hearing this but everything looks amazing on your new blog and congratulations on going self-hosted. It looks amazing and it is working wonderfully!! I love the colour theme and the graphics (Kat is amazing) and you can tell how much care you have put into this and it looks AMAZING!! Best of luck with the other tasks you have to complete— I always mean to put alt text on my images but always forget!!
Thank you SO MUCH, Sophie! I also forget about alts and ugh I wish I hadn’t, lol.