A true story. A tragic one. Why You Should Get Your Own Domain.
My name is Mun.
This post is not exactly my first post. I started a blog with Blogger (also known as Blogspot) in August 2005. Everything has been running great there for about 2 years until last week.
On 24 July 2007, my fitness site suddenly disappeared. A new owner has claimed the domain name. Thought that fellow has hijacked my account. Later, was told that Blogger may have classified my blog as spam blog accidentally. Once a blog fell into that category, it will be deleted.
So, Blogger has deleted my blog. It has also released the domain name to others. Gone were my 520 posts and 1680 comments. 2 years worth of effort went down to the drain within a day. The feeling is like hitting my head with a 50-pound dumbbell and the pain goes straight into the flesh and deep into my heart.
I wish that person could see the blood in my tears.
Thinking since Google owns Blogger, I would be able to escalate this issue to the support team. Not really. Blogger has only some standard Web support forms. I gave it a try anyway.
Later, found Google Blogger support group. So, I posted a message there, hoping for a solution. What surprised me the most was that I was not the only victim. Others were screaming for help too and none of Blogger employees dropped by at the message board to give any explanation.
On the second day, I posted another message at that message board. Still, no response. No news. E-mails from my loyal blog readers started to flow in.
On the third day, many were directed to adult sites when they tried to access my previous blog address. My heart sank to the hell. Received more e-mails showing much concern.
At this juncture, I lost hope on Blogger which I had a strong faith on. Decided leave my comfort zone. Asked around about Web hosting service and Word Press.
After doing research for a day, proceed to sign up 1-year prepaid Web hosting package with Media Temple (which is well known to survive in Digg traffic) and bought a domain name. Spent about 16 hours consecutively over the weekend learning many things from scratch.
On the fifth day, Google Blogger support teams finally responded. Not a word of sorry from them, but a thank you e-mail for telling them about their mistake. They restored my blog. I got all my published and draft posts. But, I still lost the Web address since someone else already took it days ago.
I did not want to pursue the matter further. Damage has been done. It is more important to move forward. What else you can expect from Blogger, a free service provider? They can be nice to you today, but they can take whatever they give to you the next day.
May be I should be glad that this incident happened earlier. If it would have happened after five years (instead of two years) ever since I first started, I probably would have given up for good.
It has been a crazing week for me. The learning curve of using Word Press is steep. Fortunately, few friends have been supportive. Thanks, Weng Yee, Iry and Lilian as well as to those who sent e-mails to me. Not forgetting the loyal readers too. You all are great.
My passion for fitness stays. Life goes on. I will pick up all the shattered pieces and put them into one. Piece by piece.
Do come back here. Mun will continue to write. Help me spread the news. Tell them about my painful experience and let’s learn a lesson from this incident.
It is another beginning. A new one. A better one.
Be Strong. Be Fit.
Last updated: Just like the remake of King Kong or Star Wars, you will see the remake of Mun Fitness Blog. I have hand picked some of the best posts and update them accordingly to kick start this new home. However, I shall continue to come out with new posts to keep the site afresh with new contents.
Someone just pointed to me that Google has actually deleted its own blog in year 2006. Source.
Did you like this post? Subscribe to MunFitnessBlog.com today. It is free.
Scroll down to leave a comment. I really want to know what you think.
Read more posts like "A New Beginning for Mun Fitness Blog. A Better One.":
Subscribe in a reader
taggy // Aug 1, 2007 at 12:52 am
So sad to hear this. I was on blogger too but moved in to wordpress very soon. Rest assured you will love this company of Wordpress and Media Temple. Both are the best :) All the best
lilian // Aug 1, 2007 at 1:13 am
I cannot imagine how you feel ‘cos losing the PR sucks yeah? I hope you don’t mind I bring this little warning on what can happen on free hosting to my readers. I will blog and mention it. Plus, let me try to ‘pull’ your new domain up with my PR5/10. It is hard to start from scratch.
sherrina // Aug 1, 2007 at 2:09 am
Oh my, what a sad thing. I am also worry. I’ve been using Blogger since 2003. I hope you can shed some light about your new blog and how you make it. I should start getting worry about it.
Keep on blogging, ya. We need to learn more about health and fitness :)
ShaolinTiger // Aug 1, 2007 at 2:16 am
You can import your old blogger posts to Wordpress, it’s not too hard.
And welcome back, good luck in the new venture :)
Rodrigo // Aug 1, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Hi!
I’m a instructor of body combat in Chili,southamerica, and always I visit your blog for information and interesting tips…but when i couldn’t find you…men, I colapse!!
so I’m so glad that you can make a new blog…keep going!!
(sorry if my english it’s bad, is the best i can do :)…)
YogaJess // Aug 1, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Congrats on your own hosting!
Lili // Aug 1, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Mun,
Feel sorry that you have to go through all this, but glad that you’ll continue on blogging. I’m sure the others feel the same way too. Remember, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Stay strong, Mun.
If you need any help just holler yah =)
kitboi // Aug 1, 2007 at 2:59 pm
hey Mun,
Thank you so much for soldiering on ! My friends and I really enjoy reading your witty post with those so very apt pictures !
Please do continue blogging ya !
stupe // Aug 1, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Youre’ not the only one, my old limevan.blogspot.com was also hijacked.
not sure why, maybe that time LIMEwire was a hit, someone must had hijacked it and turned it into a LIMEvan.
Fortunately, you signed up with a proper hosting services. I think i better do that too, or i might risk my own blog being deleted, again.
unfortunately, i’m inbetween jobs now, so that luxury has to wait.
:(
welcome back bro!
Jason Lee // Aug 1, 2007 at 5:11 pm
I thought your old blog was facing some technical issue that could be fixed very soon or you were changing host.
But it seems that it’s not what I thought it was …
No choice then but to adapt to what has happened. I’m truly sorry about what happened, also to others who has not read your blog, how much information they’ve missed out.
Anyway, welcome back ^_^
surfnux // Aug 1, 2007 at 5:38 pm
So sorry to hear this. But I can still see your pasts articles through xfile007.blogspot.com though. But anyway, thanks for informing me. I will update my blogrolls.
Keep doing your best. Your posts has been keeping us motivated and informed.
KA® // Aug 1, 2007 at 6:02 pm
2 years of hard work down the drain … at least u look on the bright side and said it wasn’t 5 years … stay positive … do enjoy your posts :) keep on blogging …
michelle // Aug 1, 2007 at 7:03 pm
sigh.. sorry to hear this mun.
hope everything goes well for ur new hosting.. i’m still with blogger.. hope it won’t happen to me.. i’ll like totally freaked out.
*fingers crossed*
bloodnite // Aug 2, 2007 at 12:02 am
Recently I lost my blog of 6 years (of intensive postings) due to personal issue.
I am still upset about it so I can understand ur lost too… *pats*
dJ phuturecybersonique // Aug 3, 2007 at 12:44 am
dude, all is not lost. you can either:
1. use googlecache to view some if not all of your post on the old weblog. just use the query “site:xfile007.blogspot.com” on google search or if you’re lazy to type… it’s http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Axfile007.blogspot.com
2. use wayback machine to view back some of the old stuff. here’s the url: http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://xfile007.blogspot.com
sharina // Aug 6, 2007 at 8:05 am
Heh, blogspot did the same to me in a way. They blocked me from posting for about 5 days because someone marked my blog as spam. I packed my stuff and moved to wordpress. It’s A WHOLE lot better day.
Good luck with this one though :)
Vincent Chow // Aug 19, 2007 at 4:51 pm
I see you are doing quite well. For your information, you can import every single post from your blogger to WordPress within several clicks. Good luck :)
Leon // Aug 19, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Dear God! What a tragic tale! Well, you get what you pay for. I just moved about a week ago. Glad I did.
Selaplana // Aug 19, 2007 at 5:11 pm
using free hosts is really disadvantageous. however, for those who can’t afford to buy domain, they have no choice but to use them
Michael from Pro Blog Design // Aug 19, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Yikes. This should serve as a good warning to bloggers to stick to self-hosted blogs. :(
Glad you got the posts back in the end!
Jon Lee // Aug 28, 2007 at 1:17 am
mediatemple plus wordpress is a great way to go! People say they’re expensive but with a coupon and one year paid works out to less than $15 a month!
zarar // Aug 28, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Be thankful you got your content back and move on. Try wordpress.com
James Mann // Sep 2, 2007 at 10:00 pm
That sucks big time Mun.
I have been preaching that marketers need to have their own domain for just that reason.
I have been fortunate enough not have lost any of my blogger.com blogs before I decided to use my own domains along with WordPress blogs.
In the back of my mind I expected blogger.com to do something that would destroy my online business. Well now I have moved all my blogger.com blogs to my own domains except for one.
I am much happier now.
Ankit // Sep 8, 2007 at 1:17 am
so sad to hear this , it takes lot of pain and efforts to reach at a height and to go down from there is a pain for sure..
Hope you will continue blogging…Al the best mate.
Mang // Nov 1, 2007 at 3:55 am
I am sorry for you, MUN.But i am happy now because i thought you were not writing again in your life. I get so upset when i try to find your blog, it directed me into porn site.HATE IT!!
I enjoy very much reading your blogs since 2006.And now, i can read again!!!hehe..
Vertigo7 // Nov 1, 2007 at 6:28 pm
“Gone were my 520 posts and 1680 comments. 2 years worth of effort went down to the drain within a day. The feeling is like hitting my head with a 50-pound dumbbell and the pain goes straight into the flesh and deep into my heart.”
Look at the bright side Mun, at least you did something for us, better than not at all. And if anyone needs answers to their questions, I’m sure either you or one of us can bring the particular topic up again, as we’re all in the same boat here. Seems like the boat has become a cruise for us all. Keep up the good work. All the best and thank you for your efforts. Hard work pays off!
ryokan // May 29, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I’ve been blogging with Livejournal.com for about 5 years. They just recently were purchased by a Russian company. I wasn’t sure what would happen to live journal so I started hosting my blog on my servers to avoid what happened to you. To date, Livejournal.com is still up and running, but one never knows what the next day will have in store.
John Tyra // Jul 13, 2008 at 12:27 am
Hi Mun — I also use MediaTemple after having many bad experiences with those ‘el cheapo shared hosting’. Once I found out that my old hosting provider put over 400 people on a single (low-end) shared server, I decided enough was enough. While I have read my fair share of negative reviews about MediaTemple, so for everything has been good the past few weeks. Since your still with MediaTemple (based on a quick WhoIs lookup on your domain) ever since this post, I’m assuming you’re still a happy customer, too. Hopefully my experience will be the same as time goes on. Oh…and of course…you can visit my newbie blog at JohnTyra.com but no laughing at my low post count! =)
Yin Teing // Sep 22, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Hi Mun, I never thought I will do it but I’ve finally migrated to my own domain and started using Wordpress. Thanks for sharing your experience and the recommendations- I am also using Media Temple (for hosting) since yourself, Wordpress and a number of forums recommend it. Lots of hard work since I’ve hardcoded so many links and I had some bug issues (that requires me to go into every post to manually fix it). But it’s WORTH it.