With my upcoming move to Verona I was trying to brainstorm what to do about this blog. I’m freaking out because it doesn’t make since to have Jessica in Rome when I am not living in Rome. Here are my options:
I could leave it as is and just start a new Verona one. Or I could shut it down and transfer everything over to a new, non city specific blog, since it’s likely we may move again in the future. I guess my main problem is with the address www.jessicainrome.com. Why did I pick that?! Why not Jessica in Italy? Is it even a big deal? I hate the thought of having to reroute everyone to a new website and re-establish links and all that. On the other hand, it would be fun to build a new blog and put all of it under a non city specific theme. Or, I could just leave everything here, under this address and just change the header and graphics. But I am afraid that would confuse people who are looking for current Rome stuff. What are your opinions? I need help!
I say leave it at the same web address, but change the look and setup…
You could keep the site at this same web- address and like Heather said just change the graphics and overall look. Go from living in Rome and lead into your new Verona life and this way when people come to your site they can get the best out of Rome and Verona.
When are you making your move?
I agree about not changing the web address. Why not change the name of the blog to something that incorporates both places - ie “from Rome to Verona” - something like that, then just carry on as normal. That way you’d only have to maybe change a few of the header photos and you’re done. Don’t create work for yourself
I would just change the header and leave the rest…maybe ‘Jessica in Verona via Roma’! LOL
How about…
nolongeris.jessicainrome.com
..or…
iamnolonger.jessicainrome.com
…or…
verona.jessicainrome.com
…or…
http://www.jessicainrome.com/butnowinverona/
just some random thoughts….
I say leave it as it is. It’s not a really big deal if you don’t live in Rome anymore, you can still give out advices for people who are new to the city.
I agree with everybody except with Jason. Just change the theme???? I think it would still be ok. People could get advices for both Rome and Verona!!
Love you,
Kristi
I’d keep the same address and just change the title to something like: “Jessica in Verona vis Jessica in Rome”. Don’t wear yourself out with this problem. Enjoy your new life in your new city.
I agree with most of the others. Keep the address, don’t get a migraine over that. Incorporate a new design and tell your updated story in the about pages. Started in Rome…now in Verona etc. After all, you will still have Rome stuff on the blog…you don’t want to erase all that work
Good Luck!!
I’ve two thoughts on this thing from two different perspectives:
1- the SEO and blogger perspective:
If you are concerned that you’ll lose some search traffic (that you get from Google, Yahoo…etc) or links that you had been getting since you started, there is a solution which is 301 redirection.
Using the 301 redirection, you can redirect visitors & search bots to a new domain without losing anything, however, I think there is no need for a domain change as the current one is well-established and brandable. Even If you apply the 301 redirection, search engines will take a long time to attribute the old rankings to the new domain. Additionally, you won’t get as much traffic as you used to due to the fact that the new domain would be brand new (Google puts a lot of trust on old domains) Let alone some duplicate content issues …. to in a nutshell, it would be pain the ass
2- the reader perspective:
As a reader, I’d still enjoy the blog no matter where you live. The blog has already tons of articles on Rome and people would also be interested in Verona.
Jessica, If you need any hand just let me know.
Thanks peeps! I will take all of your thoughts into consideration!
I think you should leave it because people can still benefit from your time in Rome and then figure out you’re in Verona. Sometimes it’s best to not deviate from a domain in which you’re established because people will lose you, you’ll lose your Google juice and it takes a lot of time to transfer everything…and for what, really?
I picked American in Athens because I knew there’s no other place in Greece I could live realistically and further my career. If I wanted to fall into motherhood or go back to being a barwoman or something, only then could I live on an island or in a village. The other option is to win the lottery, but being as I don’t play, my odds are pretty much zero. LOL!
Do whatever you want with it! Just make sure you let me know! I thought Jason’s idea was funny! Especially the first one! Love you babe! Mamma mia in Spokane!
Haha-Thanks mom! I am actually working on a whole new site! I will let you know!-love jessica