Okay. So my job has me working on something kinda neat currently. I’m setting up a Free Blogs For Women service that runs on Wordpress. The goal is to be FREE! like Blogger, but PRETTY. We only have three “pretty” themes available now, but we have dozens more to come down the road (and you can tell us which ones you want to see first!) The thing is, it’s hard to test this process or this service by myself, so I was wondering if anyone out there would like to sign up for a FREE BLOG! FREE! FREE! FREE!
(Yeah. I’ll quit that now.)
Anyway – if you have thought about starting a blog, but don’t know how, here is an easy place to start. Mainly because I’ll be the one you talk to for support issues, but not as Miss Zoot, but as Kim. Isn’t that exciting? No? It’s not? Crap. Well…how about if I promise to put the themes you want designed at the top of the list? Please?
Just sign up and write an entry or 2 (or hundreds if you want! I’d love for you to fall in love with the place and stay there forever. We’ll be neighbors!). Let me know if you run into any kinks or weird hangups. The next phase will be to add forums so you can talk to other bloggers and we’ll be featuring our favorite daily entries (once we have more than, like three to choose from) on the front page. Once it grows we’ll feature the best articles in specific categories (Food! Politics! TV!) and again – it will all be free! What more could you ask for?
So, head on over to HerHangout.com and sign up today!
Done and done! I’ve been wanting to check out Wordpress for a while now (and start a recipe blog), and this gives me the perfect opportunity! Thanks!
Hizzell to the EFFing yeah! I’m on my way.
Can I make a suggestion without you blowing a gasket? Pleeeese?
One of the things that drives me freaking batty about blog templates is that all the pictures of women are, well, shall we say, unrealistically drawn. All of them have 2″ waists and big boobs and little hair styles and fun legs in stilletos, and frankly, they’re offputting. At least to me. When I first started looking around at what was available for a new header, pretty much all the cartoons depicted skinny 20 year old women with silly outfits. That’s NOT me, and I don’t want that to be the only choice. So if you’re going to have premades, could you at least add some more realistic cartoons of women of substance?
Thanks!
margalit – I understand, but I don’t make those graphics. They are royalty-free stock cartoons, so I can’t change them. Also – they are the most requested graphics from when I used to design. I’ll keep an eye out for “realistic” cartoons – but I think mostly people just get those because they’re fun, not because they look like themselves.
What a cool idea!
So much fun bloggity goodness, so little time. Sigh…
I will let a friend know who is wanting to start a blog!
I already have a blog at WordPress but am tiring of the graphics , so if you have any ideas you’d like to test, lemme know!
Very cool idea! If I wasn’t blogging it up already, I’d love to give it a whirl.
like i couldnt love you any more and then you go and give me free wordpress!!!!
thanks honey!
I would LOVE to try the swirly-looking page when you get done with it. Most of the ones that aren’t plain don’t seem to fit my personality (I don’t drink coffee at cafe’s nor do I exercise frequently!) but I signed up because I am your ever-adoring fan who would probably jump off a cliff if you spoketh thusly. Thanks for the free blog!
I’m doing it! I was going to start a blog when I had my littler girl almsot 8 months ago, but then this whole parenting gig go tin the way, and I’ve really, really been thinking a lot (A LOOOOT) about it these past few months, and well, I adore you and you asked nicely so that’s as good of a reason as any in my book! I just set myself up (hee, so excited. I’m SUCH a nerd), and I think i will post my very first blog in the morning…one second into blogging and I am already procrastinating. But I have laundry to fold, cereal to eat and a bed to sleep in… awesome, thanks Zoot!
What if we already have a blog on Wordpress? Is there an opportunity to join this community for us too? That would be great!
This is such a cool idea and I almost wish I didn’t already have two (yes, two) blogs–otherwise I would totally get another. I love Wordpress and your designs are awesome. Best of luck with the whole thing!
Thank you!! I love the baking one. I have a cooking blog at another site but have been wanting to move it. Is there any way to move a blog to this new site??
I also like the TV one but wish it was a little different…maybe and older late 30’s person who doesn’t work out…lol!
Thanks again! I’m so excited
Ok, so far, I have done one post on my new page, clicked on the picture and it designed it for me, LOVE IT!!!!!! Thanks. That is an awesome idea.
Wait a minute…one of those themes is ME!
I’ll try it but I tried wordpress before and found it to be very user unfriendly. And the graphics – UGH. They all look the same.
I have signed up. Thanks!!
I’m signed up. I’m waiting for my confermation email. I love the design with the lady with all the arms. That is so me
cool.. great idea.. one weird thing is my first post was written in 1969.. email me and we can talk!
If we allready have a blog can you help us move stuff over to the new one?
Hiya. I like the sitting around the table theme.
Also, I’ll do another blog. I’ll write you at 451 and let you know.
zoot/kim:
i would totally sign up, but i just paid out my butt for a server thinger which refuses to upload my theme.
(i bought a space/domain name…sheesh, i don’t even know what you’re supposed to call it, maybe that’s half the problem…at blue host, and i had picked out a pretty wordpress theme which refuses to acknowledge it’s existence in any sort of uploading capacity. and so i hang out at my blogspot. and whine. a lot)
but!
i totally would help you, were i not spending all of my time trying not to whop my computer upside the head with blunt objects.
good luck to you!
(and, to me, too!)
I am there! It is wonderful. Thanks so much
I want one! I want one! I’m a sucker for free stuff.
Actually, I’ve been re-thinking the whole blogging thing, so this might be just what I need.
I’m also curious as to what would happen to my old blog and archives. Can those come over, or is this strictly for brand new bloggers.
Done! Thanks a lot. I really like the theme with the circles. Circles are fun.
Awesome! I just signed up, but haven’t done anything with it yet, because I am hoping that I can transfer all my stuff from my current blog over to this new one?
Is that possible? Please say yes! The pages and set up are GORGEOUS!! I love it!
(I cant wait for that one with the sassy lady with the long dark hair, leaning against the wall…that’s so me!!!!)
Yippee!!
I have one word for an awesome template: ARGYLE.
GAHHHHH. The things I’ll do for you.
For all of you who asked, you can import entries into the HerHangout.com blogs, as long as your current service allows you to export your entries out of it. (Some people don’t let you, for some reason.) I’m working on some FAQs here:
http://herhangout.com/faqs/
Also – I added new future themes to choose from:
http://herhangout.com/blog/2007/03/22/current-themes-available/
I did it! http://ladyboydskitchen.herhangout.com/ is my new recipe blog. From your comment list it appears Im not the only one who loved the idea of putting a recipe blog on a forum site for women!
I’d love it if there were more cooking type themes available. I saw there is one future theme with a lady grinning over a sheet of cookies… 
RE: the image conciousness of these cartoons? I think they are CARTOONS so that we can choose that aspect of ourselves that we feel is represented by the cartoon and then display it online. After all, isn’t an online journal at heart a way to display our inner selves to people who have no idea of the box that self is contained in?
What a great idea! I already have a blog, but I’ve been toying with a second one with a more specialized focus (no idea what yet though) and this sounds awesome. I have one question though… is there going to be a way to design your own template, or do you have to use the pre-mades?
Fantastic! I am kind of a web publishing dummy, but I was able to go in, set it up and get started without having to ask my IT guru boyfriend to help me figure anything out.
Cool – done! Thanks!
Question…(after numerous attempts at blogging) – what do you think of my blog title? I travel 2 – 3 times/mo (anywhere from 2-7 days at a time) for work, have 4 teen-age daughters and a 16 mo old at home…hence the title:
vagamom
Vagabond mom…get it? Or is it too…vajay-jay??
EEk! I just signed up. I have been lurking around several blogs for a couple of years now and fantasized about doing one but always had some excuse. I guess I was meant to read this entry, I took the sign and ran with it. Thanks for opening the door!
I signed up, and I actually posted. Hurrah for me! Now, let’s see how long this lasts.
Thank you soooooo much Kim.
btw, here is the link
izziesmomma.herhangout.com
I must have done something wrong. I didn’t get my password. But I did sign up :0)
I use IE at work and I can’t see any of the themes. I’ll look again when I get home and have firefox.
Hi! I am de-lurking (reader for about the last 2 months) to tell you I just signed up for a blog, WHEEEE! I figure this will be like working out, I need a buddy/community to help keep me motivated. Thank you! I hope to start on it in the next couple days.
~Elaine aka WoozleFuzz
I did it. I have never thought of doing something like this, but I did. Now you have to go look at it and tell me how to fix it purtier….
I just wanted to say thank you – just another reason why I think you are the best thing since Diet Coke. I have signed up (of course) because it’s such a great idea. I also loved how easy it was. I really appreciate that so much. It’s going to be so much fun!!
I’m already on Wordpress – but i’ll be a guinea pig i dont mind!!
Okay, I did it. I like Wordpress so far, but it is a little tough going. I think it might be easier to open a Flickr account for my pictures. I am figuring it out on my own.
Not to be a total kiss-ass, but I did pick your template! Check it out if you want. I am also trying to figure out how to transfer my vox archives to my new blog. I will send you an e-mail if I can’t figure it out. If that’s okay.
I did it. Cause all the cool kids are doing. Come visit.
Loving herhangout. Its just taking some getting use to. I’ve been on blogger for 2 years.
I did it. I hope you mean it when you say you’ll be there for me because I have no idea what I am doing. Also, I couldn’t see the themes. I even right-clicked and selected “show picture” and couldn’t see them. Am currently waiting for my confirmation email to get started! Thanks!
I did it too.
I signed up as well and it was dead easy. I’d already had one set up on the “free” WP area, but I like the idea of having alot more themes to choose from. This is great. Importing was a breeze.
[...] saw Miss Zoot’s plea for HerHangout guinea pigs. I’ve been blogging at Wordpress for a few months, [...]
I just imported my Wordpress blog into HerHangout. Did anybody else lose categories with the import? Everything else came through, but I lost my categories. Bummer.
Love the yellow flowers theme, but would like to be able to change the tagline. I assume more customizing options are coming down the pike? Will we be able to add sidebar widgets?
Thanks for the invite, MZ!
Aha! Just read the FAQ and saw how to change the tagline. Thanks!
Oh but one more question. Will there be a blog stats function like on Wordpress.com?
I did it! Thanks, Zoot! I’ve been a long time lurker on many o blogs, but I never had the courage to do in on my own. Well, I took the plunge and I’m loving it. And I’ve gotten so much joy from your blog, the least I could do was pay you back in this way. Now I just need to start reading some of the other nebies on herhangout. Thanks again.
Tank