Hey Reader,
Jeff Finley here. I've got some exciting news:
I'm moving to Ghost!
This is a huge deal for me. If you've followed my blog for any time recently, you know I've been talking about moving my website away from WordPress onto something more modern and inspiring. But the logistics of moving and potentially breaking something always held me back.
At first, I stuck with WordPress because it was what I knew. I brushed up on my web design skills, even considered going back to school for it. My plan was to redesign my site using a modern page builder and CSS framework. But after a month or two, I realized how much work it would take and I just didn't have the energy or gusto to see it through.
But before I had a chance to feel too bad about it, WordPress CEO Matt Mullenweg "went nuclear" on rival WP-Engine. It seems like every week there was some new embarrassing scandal. The vibes plummeted into the toilet as Matt was acting like a billionaire man-child throwing ego tantrums and burning the bridge behind him. Why would I want to stay on WordPress after this when I was already half-way out?
That's when I reconsidered Ghost as a platform to move my website to. Their Ghost Pro plan would actually cost less than what I was already paying for hosting and it included a free concierge migration service. I applied back in November and they're finally getting to my site in the queue.
They moved over all my content relatively smoothly, and have been refreshingly thoughtful and considerate.
But...
There are going to be some differences. Things I think you should know about.
What you should know about the new JeffFinley.org
The whole point of my site is to provide a home for my creations, thoughts, and offerings to others. It's my digital home, and is very important to me considering I don't use social media anymore.
Most things will stay the same, but might look a little different. Some things might break or not function the way they used to. Others will see a refreshing improvement. Let's talk about what you can expect from my new site:
First off, my shop will change. Ghost doesn't do e-commerce in the typical way. They are a publishing platform first and foremost, so my books, merch, and design assets will be sold via a trusted third party like Shopify, Lemon Squeezy, Etsy, Gumroad, or FourthWall. I likely won't be able to migrate over my customers or order history to the new e-commerce platform. It will be a fresh start. If you've purchased something from me in the past and need to access your downloads, you'll just need to email me and I can help you out.
Email subscribers will become "Members". If you're on my mailing list and receiving emails like this, you'll still be subscribed—You'll just be a free member on my Ghost site and receive emails like normal. Nothing will change except the way the email design looks and you'll manage your subscription on my site. An added perk is that you'll be able to comment on my posts and be part of the community. You can still unsubscribe any time.
Memberships are a big part of what Ghost offers. It's a platform for creators to post their work/writings and interact with their fans and supporters. I won't be using Kit (formerly ConvertKit) for my email newsletter anymore.
Paid Memberships - An added bonus is you'll be able to join paid membership tiers if you want to support me and get additional perks. It works like Patreon or Substack. I don't know what perks to add yet, but I'm open to suggestions! What ways can I add value and not be another subscription?
A new, faster, and lightweight site design. I'm going to have a brand new theme that will be much faster to load, and easy on the eyes.
"Under Construction... Pardon my dust." I won't be able to get my site 100% perfect before I switch over. Things are going to be a bit awkward for a little bit, especially on the e-commerce end. My SEO might take a hit, but it also might be boosted in some ways. I'll be figuring it out as I go.
When will the new site take effect?
I'd love to launch the new site as soon as February 1st. But that means things won't be entirely finished. I might break some things and have to fix issues after the fact. That's okay, I really just want to move and get on with my break-up from WordPress.
Open to feedback and suggestions
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have ideas, suggestions, or issues. A big reason for the rebuild is to create a wonderful digital garden with my creations, thoughts, ideas, tools, and resources—and to share them with a community of like minded folks. As a quiet refuge away from the noise of social media.
This move is scary for me, like moving from a house you own but is too hard to maintain, to a nice condo. You lose some stuff, but gain some stuff and you gotta adjust to the new way of life. But I'm excited. Bring it on!
Thanks for reading ✌️
Jeff
The Official Newsletter of Jeff Finley
Designer, Author, Mystic
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