The south end of the beach at Hua Hin, Thailand.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Hua Hin, Thailand.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Maldives on March 23rd.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Blog changes

I'm going to make some changes to the blog. First thing gone is the Blogger "Followers" button on the right side. For whatever reason, this button and the followers weren't showing up anyhow. A Blogger "glitch" and despite trying to figure out why it wasn't there, I couldn't fix it. So it's gone.

Next thing is to try and install a Facebook "like" button so that you can follow with Facebook. That will show up sometime over the next couple of days, but in the meantime you can like Travel with Kevin and Ruth on Facebook by following this link....

http://www.facebook.com/TravelwithKevinAndRuth

Then, I'm going to investigate getting rid of "Blogger" altogether and going with a different format. Maybe switch everything over to Wordpress or something. That will take some investigation, but I think I like the formats people seem to be able to come up with better there. Anybody have any opinions, feel free to comment!

And, although our travels have been with an RV for the past four and a half years, one of the main reasons was our dog Whiskey. Now that she's gone, we're going to expand our horizons beyond RV'ing. We don't plan much beyond the next couple of months, but we don't think we'll be spending much time in the motorhome over the next year or so, and so the content of this blog will be focused on budget travel and I'd like the format to reflect that.

Also, I'm going to find some advertisers and sponsors. Other websites seem to find ways without the old standard "adsense" so I'm going to try and find a way to take advantage of the fact that we have an increasing readership.

So stay tuned for changes!

17 comments:

  1. Sounds like some very positive changes. If you figure out wordpress, let me know. I'm stumped!

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  2. Wish you lucky with all your changes. We look forward to the new look. ~wheresweaver

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  3. I had noticed your followers had disappeared a few days ago. I'm not sure of the whole need for showing "followers", except to boost one's own ego or something. "Oh look, a got a MILLION followers!"

    It seems that every so often blogger needs some sort of an enema. I don't know what the deal is, but the other day there were a few glitches.
    I basically tossed a coin when it came to the choice between Blogger and Wordpress. Either way I'd just as soon keep it as simple as possible. Even though I seem to have "all the time in the world", I just as soon not waste it on sorting out issues it a blog.
    Have fun with whatever changes you make. If it starts to seem like "work"? Well, that might be an issue.
    Should be interesting.

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  4. new looks new ideas and new travels..good for you both!!!

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  5. Let me add a ditto. I want to move my blog to wordpress and if you manage to do it, please do a tutorial so the rest of us who are sick sick and more sick of blogger can protest in the only way possible with them, by quitting using their product.

    4.5 years on the road at your age is amazing. Wish I were a fly on the wall to see how you bring in the money to do it. If you can do Europe and other travel on $1000 a month, I'm right behind you.

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  6. Geez, I am just beginning to be able to half-a** do
    blogger

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  7. I'll be watching to see what you come up with in the way of sponsors. I seem to remember that you had a healthy AdSense revenue until Google quickly removed the floor covering on which you were standing.

    WordPress is not immune to irritations, and you may want to look into whether you're allowed to monetize your blog there. I agree that WP has nicer-looking templates available.

    I don't know of a way for people to follow WP blogs, and the "following" gives people a way to keep track and check in on you.

    The way I look at the "follower" button is that it's a little "thanks!" for bothering to follow. Like hey, you sorta like me right now - here's your picture on my blog!

    I guess that was more than one opinion. Is there a limit? :D

    I missed the part where Whiskey isn't with you anymore. I'm so sorry.

    Good luck!

    Roxanne
    The Good Luck Duck

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  8. I have been following you because of your travel in Mexico and I have an RV. I do believe others follow for the same reasons. I plan on going there next year with my RV. I am getting rid of this work thing in the mean time. Will you get the same number of followers when you travel to Europe without the RV? If people are interested in your means of travel and where you are going then they will follow. Others will not. Good luck with your travels and it has been very interesting following you over the last year.

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    1. Yes, that's exactly right, Mr. Anonymous. We will lose some followers, but we will gain others. Because of the "RV'ing" theme, our readership was limited, mostly to the United States. I'm guessing our readership continues to increase as a result of our expanded travels.

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  9. We're sticking with ya' no matter where you go. We've enjoyed your travels and look forward to more adventures.

    PS: Love your new header pic, tough life, eh? ;c)

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  10. Hey, Kevin and Ruth

    We look forward to your new travel blog. We are not married to our RV either, and we are interested in frugal travel ideas, wherever they might take us.

    Good luck and we will follow you even without our smiling faces on the "Followers" block .... LOL.

    Take care ... TnT

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  11. I think the changes will be great, maybe we will all learn a little about a new format for blogs. We will also love to follow your travels no matter where they take you - how exciting!

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  12. Yup.. we follow you because of you two! Planes, trains, automobiles or rvs, any way is fine to read about in your blog. We especially love your frugal way of travel...

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com

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  13. When you are ready for a change go for it. I have been doing that my whole life and works wonderful for me.

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  14. Will be interested in see what the future brings for you two.

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  15. Very interesting. Will be following along to see how the changes all work out.

    Just wondering, if you are going to do a lot of travel without the RV, will it be worth it to keep it in Mexico rather than sell it? I would worry about a leak developing or critters chewing up wiring or getting inside and just the fact that it is "sitting" for long periods of time. Just wondering...

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