Flickr AND Mocpages and/or Brickshelf? Or blog?

[vynsane]

So, I've been active on Flickr for quite some time, as it was the first place I found AFoLs posting images. In fact, I'd wager the LEGO community on Flickr, in addition to the Indiana Jones and Star Wars themes and video games are the reason I came out of my dark ages - particularly nnenn's stuff.

Anyway, I was toying with the idea of opening a Mocpages and/or Brickshelf account, now that I've reached the 200 image limit of my free Flickr account. I don't like that images are dropping off my photostream (even though I know they're still there to some extent) and don't really feel the compelling urge to spring for a 'pro' account. I'll still post to Flickr when I have something worth posting, but probably only one image per MOC with a link to the MP or BS page.

The reasons I'm considering this are two-fold - it would allow me to post more images, obviously, and open an additional avenue of publicity. I have a feeling not everyone who is on Mocpages/Brickshelf is on Flickr, and vice-versa.

The other option is to set up a blog site on my own server, and use it in the same way - as the main 'repository' where more images are posted, and link to it from my Flickr posts. Obviously it would be quicker to do it at MP or BS, but I'd have more control over the design of the site and it would serve as another example of my own content management system I've been developing for the past couple of years.

So, my question to anyone who cares to answer is: What do you think the best option is? I feel like Mocpages/Brickshelf are generally used by younger LEGO enthusiasts, whereas Flickr is used by more aged AFoLs, but I could be completely mistaken. Which would you choose to go with of the two? Or should I go the 'personal blog' route?

[lordharrier]

As a fan of yours waiting to see more Modular Starfighters I would like to contribute as well.

Never being into Lego until this year but being on the Internet forever I can tell you what I've observed. I too get the feeling that Mocpages/Brickshelf is where the younger population is found but still used by AFoL's and at least a few Lego designers. I've found that Flickr is much easier to navigate and very much populated by AFoLs.

Personally I can spend all day browsing the lego photostreams on Flickr and when I do see a blog page I certainly will follow the link. I also like using the Flickr app, does Mocpages have an app?

How much does it cost to go Pro on Flickr? I'd choose to go Flickr and your own Blog. Hope this helps.

[vynsane]

Thanks for your input, and praise!

Though I haven't used BS or MP, I know it's so easy to upload to Flickr via multiple avenues - I have iPhoto connected to it, Uploadr for Mac, and the drag-and-drop function on the site itself. I don't think any of those things exist for MP or BS, but I could be wrong.

Flickr Pro costs $25/year. I just don't know if I can justify that to myself, much less my wife...

I will probably go the "single pic to flickr/link to personal blog for more pics" route. While Mocpages or Brickshelf might garner my work a little more exposure, I don't know if it's worth it to maintain upwards to three distinct accounts just to showcase the same MOCs.

[Legobrandon]

I've hit the 200 photo mark too on Flickr. Don't have the cash for a pro account. But what I hate about Brickshelf is that you have to wait until your photos are approved before you can post them on websites. MOCPages is very slow for me and I think my internet connection is quite fast. Flickr is by far the easiest to use and the most sleek and clean looking design.

[Legobrandon]

Forgot to ask, what would be the average cost of hosting a website? A small one, nothing too complex. Maybe just to showcase some YouTube videos or MOCs.

[vynsane]

My hosting plan is about $12 a month, but I have multiple sites running on the same server. There's a lot of space/features for that money.

I'd imagine, just to showcase youtube vids and pics of MOCs, using the free Blogspot or Wordpress options would more than suffice.

[Morgan19]

In the US, the cheapest (reliable) web hosts I found while looking for a home for my non-LEGO website was about $3-$5/month, with the 12 months usually due upfront. I personally use iPage and it's about $3/month. There's nothing fancy about it so I'm sure services with more bells and whistles would be more, but it gets the job done. Add on a domain name for $7-$10 and I'd say you're looking at about $50 a year.

This page may be of some help.

m19

[vynsane]

FWIW, my hosting company is Site 5. I've been happy with them for a LONG time after jumping from host to host every year for about five years. I opened my Site 5 account on August 10, 2006 and haven't had a huge issue that wasn't immediately addressed and rectified in all that time, whereas I once lost a years worth of forum posts on a different host, and their response was tantamount to audibly shrugged shoulders... via email.

[Legobrandon]

What I don't like about Wordpress and Blogspot is that you don't have a unique domain name as a URL. It will always be "legobrandon.wordpress/blogspot.com". Or can you buy your own domain now?

[vynsane]

I don't think you can use your own domain name on the freebie blogs. That said, mine will most likely end up as a subdomain of one of the domains I currently hold, so to each their own...

[Legobrandon]

I think I have found a cheaper option than hosting your own site. You just register your own domain name for like $10 and have Tumblr host your blog.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/22157/ad ... mblr-blog/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[vynsane]

Domain names are an annual price - so that would be around $10 per year.

I find Tumblr to be a mess to navigate most of the time. Maybe it's the themes, but I have a feeling it's the way it was built.

[Legobrandon]

Domain names are an annual price - so that would be around $10 per year.

I find Tumblr to be a mess to navigate most of the time. Maybe it's the themes, but I have a feeling it's the way it was built.

Aw. I thought is was straight out $10. But I think it is the themes that are causing you trouble. While I don't go on Tumblr much, but some themes are outrageous, sometimes it take me 10 minutes to find the "nest page" button. Some themes are nice and clean and look like traditional blogs.

[vynsane]

It's gotta be the minority that look like 'traditional' blogs - the "user experience" part of my brain just decides to put its fingers in its ears and go "LALALALALALALA" most times I end up on a Tumblr site

[dr_spock]

I use flickr and brickshelf. You can deep link brickshelf photos that haven't been moderated yet. It is easy enough to set up your own photo host server out of your home if you have Internet bandwidth to spare.