Hi everyone,
I have a new look for my blog! I hope you like it. It’s still new and I’m figuring out how I want it to look aesthetically and to make it reader-friendly.
I wasn’t planning on changing my blog’s theme, but I got a notice from WordPress that I had used up all my storage space and I couldn’t load any more photos. So I had to reluctantly upgrade to a business plan for more storage and spend way more money than I wanted. The charge was in the hundreds and Chris got a fraud alert on the charge…I guess it was a random charge that raised red flags for the credit card company. Anyways, I really don’t think I need a business account, but that was the only option for me unless I started a new blog. No way! I love the community here.
So changes will appear with font and color, but in the meantime, this is the new look.
- If you have any recommendations on how to resize photos to make the images smaller before uploading to WordPress, (especially with a phone app), please share. I must be notorious for using a lot of storage space with photos.
35 responses to “A new theme for my blog…had to upgrade to a business plan”
Hi Esther, if you use Photoshop or Lightroom you can resize your photos to less than 500KB so they are of good quality but not the original 2 or 3MB. Do a google search if you haven’t got PS for the how to.
Thank you for this information! I do have Photoshop but gave up on it soon after I started learning. It’s so difficult and time-consuming to learn!
Ok, I have Photoshop, so I will try to tinker with that.
BTW, you once mentioned to me that I could use another program or app for photo editing that is not as difficult as PS. Do you remember which one it was?
Lightroom is comprehensive and much simpler to use than Photoshop, or if using your phone for photos try Snapseed to edit them but I haven’t found a tool in it to resize photos.
Thank you for your recommendations! I will definitely look into them.
Photoshop was too difficult for me. lol
I like new look for your blog. Very nice & simple. Iam so happy.
Thank you, Raj!
You are most welcome, Esther 😊
I can only afford the “FREE” on WP. I use the reader feature to view and write comments. If WP starts charging for people like me, then that will be the end of my journey with WP.
I don’t know a thing about phone photos, except that their photos are usually 12 megapixels, which measures roughly 4032 pixels wide by 3024 pixels tall. I think phone version makes a difference. I always upload from my computer, and resize photos to 1600 wide, with the height automatically adjusted. I also make sure that my compression is 72 dpi, since that’s adequate for the web (I use 300 dpi for printing).
I just looked, and on The Task at Hand, which is a free site, I have a 3 GB upload limit, and have used only 32% since 2008. At Lagniappe, which is much newer (2017) but photo heavy, I’ve used 44% of my 13 GB limit, so I’m probably good for another five years or more.
That’s great you are have many more years of storage! You use a lot of photos too.
I think I need to upload from my computer too. I post from my phone, and I think that used up all the storage space.
Thank you for the information about the pixels and dpi. I’m taking notes now!
Wow, couldn’t you just have removed some of your stored files and kept things “as is” (?!) Just doesn’t seem right, but you should be able to claim the bus. account on your taxes (hoping!)
That’s a great point! I also thought of doing that too, but if you delete photos in your media, the photo will be deleted from your posts too.
I will need to be more mindful of my photo sizes going forward. Thank you for your tip about claiming the charge…maybe?
Hope you are well.
See if you can clean up old posts and anything else, including comments — I think WordPress should be helping to optimize your site and file sizes, without having to go to a business site 🙏🏼
Ah, it’s a very nice layout, Esther! I really like the new look. It’s too bad WordPress won’t let you just purchase extra storage on a free plan, though.
Thank you so much! I’m glad to hear that. There’s so many themes to choose from and there’s pros and cons to each of them.
Actually, buying extra storage costs more than upgrading to a business plan. Isn’t that strange?!
Really now?! That’s so weird. Okay, I’ll keep that in mind if my storage space starts getting full.
Hi Esther! I only use an iPhone for my fancy smancy technology. This post is reader-friendly for me if that feedback helps you in anyway. As you know, I don’t have a blog so I have zero knowledge to share on the “how to” topic. It looks like this might be a new id pic of you with your children which I can see well even though it it tiny on an iPhone. It’s clear!
I can only afford the “FREE” on WP. I use the reader feature to view and write comments. If WP starts charging $ for people like me, then that will be the end of my journey with WP.
Chris might have had a mini heart attack when he received the fraud alert! What a relief that it was you. Yikes!!
Best to you with another transition. 😊
Hi TD, glad to hear that you think the blog format is reader-friendly. I need to tinker around with it some more.
The “Free” is good enough and I’m glad that there is a reader feature. I started with a free account but then I wanted the static header photo used in my old format. That was an upgrade and the price wasn’t too bad on that per year. But that theme expired and my storage space was full…ultimately had to pull the trigger and upgrade further.
Yep, Chris was alarmed but also thankful that the credit card discerns strange charges.
Thank you for your well wishes with my new format! Hope you and Yorkie are well.
I had to do the same thing last year!
Oh yikes, you too?! It was expensive. I’m going to try to resize the images, but that’s going to be an extra task for me. I usually do everything on my phone.
My hubs upgraded my site and said it was a birthday gift! 🎁 I’m guessing it was expensive enough that I would’ve told him not to do it if I’d known hire much it was! 🤣🤦🏻♀️
I also do all my blogging and photos with my iPhone.
That upgrade is a generous birthday gift and he did it for you! so sweet.
I do think the phone uploads take up way more space. Same boat. I use an Android.
You know that makes sense how you would need more media space as you use phone photos. I never use the smartphone as you know, but sometimes I have taken a photo of something to see if I can use it in a blog post rather than dragging out the camera, but in the end, I usually opt to just take out the camera instead. But I know when I have taken photos before resizing them, they are very large. So what you could do perhaps is take the photos with the phone and resize them then or resize them later on your computer. I make all mine around 675 X 600 and the header image a little bigger, 700 X 675. I sometimes just screenshot the photo out of the camera to get those dimensions. I had no idea they would make you change the format of your blog. I just looked and I am 1.4 GB of 13 GB allowed. I am surprised it wasn’t more as I have so many photos in my blog.
Thank you for sharing the dimensions! Yes, I do all my photos from my phone and upload them that way.
I was paying for a theme but that theme expired. So the WP person said that I should use a new theme when I upgrade. In the past, you could experiment with customization with a theme before you decide, but that feature is not available now. So you pick a theme and there you go. I should see what else I could do with the business plan.
I am surprised you have so much space…because you use a lot of photos in your posts! I’ll be more mindful now.
You’re welcome and I was amazed when I got the phone and sent pictures as I was in a hurry and wanted to show someone something and thought “why is it so big?” There seemed to be lots of features for the business plan. You will not run out of space now which is good. I know my theme will likely get discontinued while I’m in Premium Plan because it is “Twenty Ten” so already old. If I had to start from scratch like you do, I would not be happy. It would have been a formidable task to go back and resize every photo to keep your existing blog intact.
Yes, it would be a formidable task to resize the photos. Whoa, I got so many posts. I’ll be more prudent going forward.
You do a lot of posts on the fly – no time to fiddle with the photos as you post them either. You can still post on the fly from your phone without resizing, then when you get a spare moment (yes, ha ha to that), go back and edit what you posted, maybe weekly so it’s not a formidable task.
I really like what you’ve done with your site. Lightroom is much easier to use than Photoshop. Since you already have photoshop, there is a monthly plan for Lightroom alone that is the least expensive. You could try it for a month to see what you think. 😊
Hi – I encoutered this “large photo” problem many years ago – and my problem was that images were taking too long to load – they were so big and just not needed. It also was taking up a lot of space.
I tried many options for resizing – and one of the best that works for me is the simple screen shot. – The usual screen shot is usually about 900 x 900 (as opposed to 3000 by 3000) and if I need more detail – I might upload the original – or a larger screenshot on the computer – but most of the screen shots on the mobile work good.
I also use screen shots for sharing group texts – because they load so much quicker for everyone in the text group
Also, one thing to note – if you did have to start a new blog – it is easier than you’d think. I have seen many folks do it and you just need to reach out and follow all of your own contacts – and then your first blog can sit as a reference. Restless Jo started over and it took a little work – but I think she did it smoothly.
Thank you for your insight and suggestion! I could do that too, but I conjecture it will take some work. I’m good for 2 years, but after that I may need to reconsider. I’m much more prudent with how many pictures I post…I found an app for resizing. I also got some helpful tips on how to resize with Lightroom and the computer, so I’ll look into that once summer vacation starts. We’re on the final stretch now!
yes – it sounds like you will have a lot of fun working with images.
I also found ways to save photos of an experience by making collages and then taking a screen shot of it.
For example, when my cousin was her ewe played Monopoly. I made a collage with three of the images of the game and the guys playing – and then took one screen shot – and feel like I preserved the fun without having to keep 15 large photos –
I reset my blog with a new one every year or so – I give followers info re the switch. I now also reduce the quality of photos I post. so the the free space lasts longer.
That’s a great idea! I had not idea my phone photos used that much storage.
this is what I did when my data filled up one one of my old blogs. see link. https://andyfinneganblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/31/shop-now-shut/ I also messaged some of my loyal followers like Linda. I have been posting since 2012 so have had to do this several times now. Hope it helps.
Yes, I remember you doing that! Linda is my loyal reader too…she’s the one who introduced me to your blog.