The future of kawaii.vox.com

Throughout the past year, I've been slowly making changes to my online identity. My plan has always been to transfer all of my content to more permanent sources and then eventually have it all linked to ONE main website. I knew the task would be big, but I didn't realize exactly how long it would take me to do. I thought I'd spend this Vox post explaining my overall plan and hopes for the future concerning my blog at kawaii.vox.com.

I know that I've mentioned bits and pieces of everything that's been going on with the transfer on other sites, like Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, but I thought it would be a good idea to have a blog post where I can better explain myself in more detail. These days, an online identity is a huge deal, especially for people who hope to eventually support themselves through an online business. For me, I'm still planning to open my own shop to sell plushies and doll clothes, and other toy items... I feel like it's going to be a while until that happens though. In the meantime, I've been gathering all of my thoughts and energy and pouring them into the roots of my plan, which is to have my own website. The website will include my photography, any art/illustrations that I've made, videos from my everyday life, a contact page that will help link all the websites I belong to into one place, and of course... a blog.

Plum & the Pudgy Hammy

The new blog is going to be a bittersweet project. For the most part, I'm ecstatic about branching out into my own realm of the internet-- completely on my own. I'll be able to experiment with different website layouts and really express my creative side any way I please. Another part of me is extremely sad that I'll be leaving Vox. I've been blogging ever since blogs started popping up on the internet. I started off at Open Diary (oh gosh, such memories!) and then played around with several smaller blogging sites like LiveWire (when it existed). Then I moved on to LiveJournal, and I eventually came across Vox. Out of all of the blogging communities I had participated in, Vox was the place that felt like home. The big point that really drew me in was Vox's sense of community and its option to pull so many websites (Flickr, Photobucket, Amazon, LiveJournal, etc.) together. For the most part, I've had a very positive experience here.

There are a few things holding me back from continuing blogging here. Much of the community (my neighborhood) that once existed no longer resides here. I feel honored that so many people still come back to my blog to check up on my life even though they don't have blogs here anymore. Thank you to everyone who still reads my blog! However, the increasing number of spam blogs is pushing me to move on. I've been keeping my comments open to the public because I love being able to meet new people through my blog, but the number of spam comments that I'm receiving now is overwhelming. A new website where there are more controls over comments will be much appreciated on my part.

New Twitter!

For now, I'm going to put aside the minor issues, and I will continue blogging at Vox while the plans for my new website are put into motion. The project is pretty huge, considering how I plan to do all the illustrations and graphics myself. I'm learning how to use Illustrator now so I can create pretty and detailed images and designs for the layout. (I think that's the most exciting part of the process for me!) Ever since I started blogging, it's been important to me that everything within my website is created by me. I guess it's my way of expressing myself and sharing my perspective of the world... with everyone who comes across the website.

The gears for this big project have been turning for a while now. As some people already know, I've changed all my online forum identities to Happily Candied, along with other communities like Facebook. I created a new Twitter (this time, a public account) and a new Flickr account. I'm in the process of transferring many photos, my contacts, and my groups to the new Flickr. (Whew, just thinking about it is making me tired...) I've been reserving my new name on as many websites as possible, including a few that I'm not yet active at, like Tumblr.

I'll make sure to update Vox with the latest news. I always share these updates with my friends on Facebook and Twitter, so feel free to add me on there if you'd like to receive those updates in your feeds/tweets. Letting me know who you are (and that you're a reader of my blog) will definitely be helpful since I don't add back every single person I receive a request from. <3

Comments

[EdoardoGreece89]

Yeah, so for your new website just put into motion.

[Jeff D]

good luck.  As you can already see I think Vox is about finished as a blogging platform these days.  Spammers dominate it and Six Apart appears to have no interest in spending further money on Vox.

[Lauren]

I'm really sad to see that there's so little activity on Vox these days. It has such amazing potential! In fact, I used Vox as a focus in a lot of my college papers about streaming multiple sources into one blogging place-- that concept was the future of blogging in my eyes. I still feel like Vox holds so much of the future in its virtual hands... so I'll always have hope for it to grow into something more someday. <3

Still, I'm extremely grateful for everything that Vox has given me over the years. Even when I have my website up and running, I'll be posting small updates on kawaii.vox.com about my new blog for old time's sake. ^___^

[TechMusicGospel]

So many of us started here at Vox and it is sad but I think many of us began doing our own thing. One thing I'm glad about is that you will have your own site and not make the mistakes that many are making now in regards to making FB their main blog. You know where ever you set up your big brother is there to watch your back. 

[Lauren]

Thanks for your support, Darren. It's much, much appreciated. Once I have my site set up more, I'll let you know if I need any help. ^_~

I definitely agree with you about people making the mistake of using Facebook as their main blogging place. Facebook is fine for networking, but it's not something I'd fully rely on as a form of expressing myself. It just doesn't have the full palette of design options and overall preferences that I'm looking for. Also, there's the question of how long Facebook is going to last. So many fads come to an end, or at least slow down, once something shiny and new comes along. I'm interested to see what'll happen to the community in the future.

[Tea]

it´s always good to move on and experience new things for yourself.
It will be lonely here, because you bring together so many people here, it´s like in the "good old days" at VOX.

But i know exactly what you mean. There are just so many open possibilities which are hold back and i somehow feel that there is not much future for blogging here anymore. Nevertheless, what still draws me back to this place is the community and the friends i still have here.
That´s actually what i miss at every other blogging place i have experienced so far.

But it´s good to know where we can find you in the future :D

PS: Plum´s so cute in the picture!

[Lauren]

Thanks for the sweet words, hon. <3 Sometimes when I write here, I really do feel like it's about three years ago, back when things were really booming! I think that's why I won't be giving up Vox 100%... It's more like it'll become more of a secondary blogging place. I'm glad you're sticking around, because just like you said about me, it feels like it's the good old days whenever I see a new post or comment from you. ^_____^

I'm probably going to make a new post on Vox every time I make a new post on the new blog server, so they'll be linked in that way. It'll be a nice way of sticking around and keeping in touch with friends/bloggers like you. ^^

And thanks! I can't seem to bring myself to change Plum's outfit. xD I just bought some new clothes for her, but I like what she's wearing right now too much to change it.

[patapete]

Added you on twitter! 

I feel the same way you do.  I'm also making / setting up a new website for myself away from vox, probably for the same reasons you are.  It's a scary process, but the timing feels just about right.

Good luck on your new website!  I look forward to hearing bigger and better things from you!

[TechMusicGospel]

@patapete: It's always cool to have your own site and I feel Lauren on not leaving Vox completely. I have had my Vox site for a minute (I think I joined in 2006). FB may be here to stay but with Vox it's still something cool and wholesome about Vox. I still love how Vox is set up and that is why it's still around and to be honest I don't think I have ever worried about my private content on Vox. 

As of this morning I deleted my FB main account. I have a private FB account and have only added close peeps I know and will use that only to follow musicians. I'm going to treat FB like I treat MySpace...just to follow musicians and use it only to promote my project and will not put photos or chat in there...that is what email, IM clients is for. 

[Lauren]

Thanks for the add! The entire process of creating a personal website is pretty intimidating when first thinking about it... It's nice to know that all the work and time put into it is worth it.

Good luck with everything you're working on for your new website, too! It's nice to see someone else going through the same thing. ^__^

[Lauren]

I agree. There's a very wholesome quality about Vox, which is why I think so many people I've known have kept their blogs here instead of deleting them. (I've never been able to delete any of my online accounts and I can't imagine doing so. I've put so much of my time and heart into all the content I "own" online. Plus, knowing that a deleted Vox account can't be restored, as mentioned in the TOS, is something that keeps me from even thinking about it!)

I'm glad that you've kept a second/private Facebook account, but I'm sad that your main account is no longer here! It would be sad to see you disappear from that community altogether. <3 I definitely think Facebook's best features are what you mentioned: following very specific groups of people and promoting projects/websites. I've come to use Facebook as a way of talking with people, but at its core, I think I appreciate it most for the features mentioned above.

[Jamie]

I would have swarn  I posted something but at least you can still be found!
Good task you set for yourself it is a shame but no blog stays the same they all end up not changing for the good or the good of the the bloggers. as long as your not disappearing all together, I am glad to know I will get a chance to still read what you have to say or what your up too 

[Lauren]

Yeah, I'll definitely stick around! I'm still so attached to Vox; I can't imagine completely disappearing. ^____^ And like I mentioned in an above comment, I'll most likely make a new post on Vox that links to my websites blog post every time I update it. It'll be a nice way of keeping in touch with friends, like you!

[Pixie Wildflower]

I look forward to seeing what you accomplish in the future. I'll always have a soft spot for Vox because it brought you into my life.

[Lauren]

*hugs* I feel the same way about you! That's why I'll never leave Vox for good; there are just too many good memories, and too many good people, here. <3

[Pixie Wildflower]

****HUGS***

[Kiwi]

starting your own website has its own good and bad. it's like moving from high school to college. let me know if you need help with anything techy, and best of luck!

[Lauren]

I agree-- moving to my own website will definitely be an adjustment. Then again, moving from high school to college for me was basically moving from high school to a glorified high school. xD There wasn't much change, haha. I have a lot of support from friends and readers so that makes me feel very confident with my decision! Yay.

And I'll let you know if I need any help. Thank you so much for offering. That's so nice of you! Shawn is a programmer so I'll be able to check with him, too, thank goodness. =D

[The Faustian Man]

[this is good] You have a great blog. Good luck to you! Added you on my twitter.

[zeE]

I just stumbled on your blog and I love it!

I started on OpenDiary and TeenOpenDiary too :)

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