Adding a 2nd domain
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I just purchased “MetroDanceClub.org” domain from Blue Host to be directed to my existing WordPress.com hosted site “MetroDanceClubdfw.org” Blue Host says they can’t map it unless I also have a hosting account with them. HELP!
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Hi there,
Do you mean you want to change our URL from MetroDanceClubdfw.org to MetroDanceClub.org and redirect traffic, so anyone who has bookmarked the old URL will be taken to the new one automatically?
Or do you mean something else?
Thanks for the additional info!
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Yes, I would like the new domain, MetroDanceClub.org to be the primary and for MetroDanceClubdfw to be redirected. Also, I registered the 2nd domain name at Blue Host today. When I read WordPress directions, they say to start with BlueHost to make the mapping, but the helpful person at Blue Host found that I have to also have a hosting acct there to do that. Should I cancel my new registration at Blue Host and register with Word Press. Can I do that with Word Press? I always look for a phone number to talk to a live person at WP but I guess that is not possible?? So I will wait for help here. Thanks for the guidance.
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Yes, I would like the new domain, MetroDanceClub.org to be the primary and for MetroDanceClubdfw to be redirected
Gotcha, that is what I thought you wanted. So the good news is that I can help you out here, and you don’t need a hosting account with Bluehost to accomplish this.
So, to get started, you will need to set up mapping for your MetroDanceClub.org domain, following the instructions here: http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/#instructions-for-mapping-an-existing-domain
Note that you will need to change your DNS (domain name setting) at Bluehost, and their customer service can help you with that if you are not comfortable doing it yourself.
Once you have that set up, you will want to change your primary domain from MetroDanceClubdfw.org to MetroDanceClub.org which you can do at Store>Domains in your site dashboard. Just select the new domain as your primary, and save the changes.
After that is all done, you will need to redirect traffic from MetroDanceClubdfw.org to MetroDanceClub.org and that is something that with the registrar where you have MetroDanceClubdfw.org currently registered at. Ask for their help in setting up this redirect, as it must happen on their end.
At the end of all of that, you should be all set, but if you get stuck just let me know!
Also, I registered the 2nd domain name at Blue Host today… Should I cancel my new registration at Blue Host and register with Word Press. Can I do that with Word Press?
Do you mean a different domain than the two we have been talking about? We cannot accept incoming transfers, and if you cancel a new domain at Bluehost you may not be able to register it here, as there is a waiting period after cancellation before the domain is available to purchase again. Better to leave it where it is for now. :)
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Thanks for the directions. Here is where I am at the moment. I went to Blue Host a couple days ago and had them change to ns1, ns2 and ns3 at Word Press. I had already purchased the new name, MetroDanceClub.org from them a couple days before that. I gave all of that some time to work through the systems, if needed. Today I went to WordPress.com store, purchased mapping and changed the primary to my new name, MetroDanceClub.org. That introduced a problem I had not considered – now I have multiple ads on the page. That is definitely a problem! I wasn’t trying to build a new site — just catch and re-direct people who know the name of the club, but who don’t know to add “dfw” to the end. So, for the moment, I have changed the primary back to the original name to avoid the advertisements. I thought my prior purchased WordPress upgrades for the original site would remain on the site, since the site is still there-just the mapping changed. Finally, I have not gone back to Blue Host to ask them to redirect traffic. What are my options now? I don’t want to purchase another round of upgrades for a site that already has paid upgrades.
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Well, I changed the primary back to the original, MetroDanceClubdfw.org and it looks like the ads have disappeared. That’s good! I find I can also use MetroDanceClub.org and it sends me to MetroDanceClubdfw.org and there still are no ads. So that’s also good. I have not gone back to Blue Host to have them re-direct traffic. I think maybe I just need to hold on to what I have, mainly, people who know the original name can find me and also people who, logically, use the club name (without dfw on the end) can also find me and there are no ads. Maybe, I’m done. I don’t know what Blue Host re-direct would do that WordPress mapping does not do?? Or if/why I would need the re-direct. Thanks for your help on all of this I think it is simple and logical if you have done it before … but it can be confusing when you have not.
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That introduced a problem I had not considered – now I have multiple ads on the page. That is definitely a problem!
While we do display ads on our sites, we only display one ad per page, located between the end or the content and the start of the comments section, as shown here: https://cloudup.com/c02Ph6kiy7S
You can learn more about the ads you may see on WordPress.com here: http://en.wordpress.com/about-these-ads/
You can also add the No Ads upgrade to your site, which removes all ads from your site: http://en.support.wordpress.com/no-ads/
However, you mentioned multiple ads, which has me thinking that your browser may have adware on it, which is inserting it’s own ads. A good way to test this is to try visiting the same page, but use a different browser, or even better a different computer, and see if that clears things up.
If that is the case, I am happy to help you the rest of the way with getting your domains switched, or any other questions you may have.
Cheers
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I think I am at a good point now. Entering either site name brings you to the old site, which has paid upgrades and I have accomplished my goal of having someone be able to guess at the site name by entering the name of the club + org.
I don’t know the difference between asking Blue Host to redirect (which I haven’t done) and having WordPress mapping (which I have done). Can you explain that? It seems like they do the same or similar thing??
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Hi there,
Yep, both of your domains metrodanceclubdfw.org and metrodanceclub.org are mapped correctly to your WordPress.com site. You’re all set with those. :)
When you map domains to WordPress.com, all of your domains (listed on your Domains page under Store > Domains in your dashboard) will automatically redirect to the primary domain you select for your site. Visitors can use any of those domain to reach your site, and the primary domain is the one they’ll see in the address bar in their browser.
You can also ask another domain registrar to set up a redirect for a domain registered elsewhere, instead of mapping a domain to WordPress.com. In that case, visitors will be sent from that domain to one of your WordPress.com domains, but you won’t see the domain listed on your Domains page.
Please let me know if I can provide any further help with this. :)
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