Allan Avery – new WordPress Blog
-
Trying to complete the WordPress BLOG set up!! An 80 yo; my first time with something like this. I’m ‘ here-in-the-cosmos.com ‘ Is it set up? How do I finish the set up? I haven’t paid WordPress for anything yet. ?? I paid ‘Bluehost’ $200 for something, but couldn’t get to WordPress from their screens. So I just pulled up WordPress and entered a lot of presumed log content there. I’m tempted to STOP the payment to Bluehost because I don’t see that I accomplished anything there. But ARE they ‘Hosting’ this, my (hopefully) WordPress Blog? Or do I pay WordPress for the ‘Host’ function?? I need to TALK TO SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE for the answers! SOMEBODY Please send me a phone # to call ! THANK YOU.
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
-
Hi there,
It sounds like you bought a hosting plan from Bluehost. Let me explain:
There are two versions of WordPress: .com and .org
If you buy a hosting plan from someone like Bluehost you are using WordPress.org. In other words, over there you’ll use the WordPress software that’s available for free online and which anyone can use. You don’t pay Bluehost for WordPress, but for installing WordPress on their servers so that your site is online.
On WordPress.com we use a different and somewhat simplified version. Sites with us are hosted for free, and you only pay for optional extras, like connecting a domain to your site. We have some restrictions on what you can do with your site which Bluehost doesn’t have, but we take care of all the technical aspects for you.
So, knowing that, you need to decide where you want your site. If you want to use one of the sites in your account with us, but have it show at your domain, here-in-the-cosmos.com, you can cancel your hosting plan with Bluehost, but don’t cancel the domain. That will need to stay registered with them.
Then you need to add a plan to your site under My Sites ->Plans, which in turn will allow you to add the domain mapping upgrade to connect your domain:
Use a Domain You Already Own (Domain Mapping)
(Note that if you cancel your hosting with Bluehost any content you might already have created on their end will be deleted, so make sure you export anything you have with them before you cancel. Their support can help you with that.)
We don’t have phone support on WordPress.com, but I’m happy to answer any further questions you might have.
-
Mr. Kokkieh. I attempted otherwise to send this to you earlier today. I have informed Bluehost choose to have you- WordPress- host my presumed new and terminate using them. I had already paid them by
CC, have requested they reverse that charge, and instructed my CC Bank that I dispute the charge. I asked they “export” ‘ here-in-the-cosmos ‘ to you, although I had found it to be available elsewhere well before I signed up with them. After attempting to get through Bluehost to WordPress without success; I took the above actions and I then opened Word Press directly with ” here-in-the-cosmos” and completed several pieces of your set up. So, how do I complete the WordPress setup? When I open just to WordPress it tells me I HAVE a blog. But it clearly is not complete. When I login: WordPress here-in-the-cosmos it takes me to a screen of alternative sites including one showing me, which takes me HERE. Please supply further instructions. THANK YOU!!
Blog -
There are currently 7 free WordPress.com sites in your account. If you click on My sites and click Switch Site at the top you should see them all listed. First of all, you need to select which of those sites you want to use for your site.
Second, import the content from your Bluehost site as explained here:
Moving from a Self-Hosted WordPress to WordPress.com
Third, you will need to purchase a plan under My Site ->Plans, which will allow you to add a domain mapping as explained in the link I gave above.
and instructed my CC Bank that I dispute the charge.
I strongly advise that you cancel that instruction to your bank. By doing that you essentially accused Bluehost of fraud, which will both prevent them from refunding you and will most likely make them less willing to help you. They might also suspend your account because of this, which will prevent you from exporting your content.
I asked they “export” ‘ here-in-the-cosmos ‘ to you, although I had found it to be available elsewhere well before I signed up with them.
I hope you did not cancel your domain, here-in-the-cosmos.com. If you cancel a domain it does not become available again immediately, and you run a risk of losing the domain. You must leave your domain registered at Bluehost, so you must keep paying them for ownership of the domain. Not hosting, but only for the domain. Then you can map it to a site here on WordPress.com.
Also note that you should not cancel your hosting with Bluehost until you have exported your content. If you cancel your hosting with them they will immediately delete your site there, meaning the content will be lost if you haven’t finished transferring it over here.
-
Mr. Kokkkieh, Thank you. Your first advice:…. There are seven…. choose one…. Where/how? This business is NOT intuitive to an 80 yo “IT beginner” like me. I want to start over, from Scratch, with WordPress. The one Blog I have followed for years is on WordPress. It was a mistake for me to use the web link that recommended Bluehost, and to use them. I am NOT accusing them of fraud or impropriety. Their product simply did not work for me. I was required to pay before the opportunity to see what it is and how it works. No doubt common practice in the “business.” But any reasonable merchant has to be willing refund to customers who cannot use the product. I assure you that I will inform that I am NOT charging them with any dishonesty. I am not worried about continued availability of here-in-the-cosmos (of universe). If it is not, I’ll choose another. At this point, again, I want to BEGIN over, at WordPress. As mentioned, I did already some data into “beginning” pieces of your Blog format. If that can be salvaged ok; if not I’ll start over.
I am not staying with Bluehost. And again, I will ASSURE them it only because I Could Not Understand their telephone advice. Please advise me, in the simplest terms, how to start with WP. i.e. with your web browser open WordPress. Next….. (to return to anything I’ve entered, that can be used). Or from the beginning. (It would be comforting to know what I will be charged and at what point(s). Based on your reputation, I assure that I will follow through with this! -
Please advise me, in the simplest terms, how to start with WP. i.e. with your web browser open WordPress.
As I said, you already have several sites in your account. Click on Switch Site on the My Sites page, and pick any one of those. I’d assume you prefer one of the addresses appearing there above the others, so pick that one, of pick one on which you know you’ve already added some content that you can continue with.
Next, I want to ask you to work through the tutorial here:
That will take you through all the steps you need to customise your site and add your first content to it. You can ignore the parts about registering an account and registering a new site, as you’ve already done that. (If you want to create a brand new site rather than working with one of those already in your account you can, of course, do so. The tutorial will explain how.)
We also have a number of tutorial videos on Youtube you can look at:
I would recommend you first do this before thinking about upgrades and a custom domain for your site. Once you have mastered the basics, you can then start adding more advanced features to your site.
As an aside, I’ve helped many bloggers who only got started on this past 70, and most of them do great at this. I’m sure you’ll do as well, and I’m happy to help you with that :)
-
Mr. KoKKieh , THANK YOU!!! for still trying to help me. (I’m worse off than imaginable.) The only way I am now able to get to anything WordPress related to me gets me here, under FORUMS. I’m apparently logged
In to “My Account,” but if I log OUT (top this page), and log back in, same thing. I don’t know how to get to those “several sites” in my account. If I could just get to My Sites screen and click Switch Site. And then per your instruction “pick one” address, I’d sure as heck do the learn.wordpress. I’m lost. What I’m going to try now is submit this, and then try https://learn.wordpress.com and see if there’s any way there to connect with the sites on my account. Please don’t give up on me. :-) I’m going to get this yet, because I really have ideas for the blog. -
In to “My Account,” but if I log OUT (top this page), and log back in, same thing. I don’t know how to get to those “several sites” in my account
There is no reason for you to log out. If you look at this forum, do you see the My Sites heading top-left?
https://cloudup.com/c3etrKSUZa4
Hover your mouse over that heading, and the other options will appear. You can also go to the WordPress.com home page and click on My Sites top left there.
If you are logged into the forum you are also logged into all the rest of WordPress.com, so can access the Reader and all your sites without needing to log out and back in again.
-
That blue link above: “Hover” cursor over it- nothing. Click on it- full screen black page with 2 smaller boxes in center w/big Red arrow pointing to up left corner to e. Click arrow- to Switch Sites. Click on any of the lines listed there- it just stays there. Goes nowhere. Didn’t see anything else on that screen to try. Also, that Switch Sites screen says I’m in “Premium” mode. I want to start with the beginners one.
What Am I doing wrong?Next, to try your ” WordPress.com ” suggestion, I “left THIS page” (which I get to from the email msg box), and I entered WordPress.com in my Browser. It took me to a screen apparently connected with things I already have entered with WordPress. But the few click I tried there didn’t take me ahead that anything that would open. Should I go back there and “click around” till I get where I’m supposed to continue from?? Right now I’m going to “leave again” and go back there. But if I’m still OFF TRACK, please!
-
That link contains two pictures I sent of where you are supposed to click. Clicking on the pictures won’t do anything. They are just to illustrate where you are supposed to click on this forum page.
Also, that Switch Sites screen says I’m in “Premium” mode. I want to start with the beginners one.
I took those pictures using my account, and my site is on Premium. If you hover your mouse over My Sites you’ll see your own account’s details.
I entered WordPress.com in my Browser. It took me to a screen apparently connected with things I already have entered with WordPress. But the few click I tried there didn’t take me ahead that anything that would open.
If you go to WordPress.com, do you see the headings My Sites and Reader at the top? Click on My Sites.
That is the dashboard where you can create posts and pages on your site as explained in the tutorial. Click the Add button next to Blog Posts to create a post. Click the Add Button next to Pages to create a new page.
-
Kokkeih, Hopefully, this might me the last time I need to bug you. Clicking on My Sites @ top of This page takes me to a “list” screen: Blank box @ top, next 2 boxes down show my (apparently) Two WP sites: allanmerry- here-in-the-cosmos -and- Our Place in the Cosmos.
My bad. I only want one. I think that the” here-in-the-cosmos” is the one I have already done the “most beginning set” up on. But the “Our Place in the Cosmos” is the “domain” name/user login that I’d really prefer , if it in fact is “available.” but I’ll need to know how to remove on of them.
(I need to “leave” This screen to go back and check that I got that right; so I’ll do that, and I’ll be right back here.” -
Back. (And just now realizing I need to STAY here till you have a chance to reply. After “looking at” ALL my “sites” it looks to me like they all need to by removed Except the ” Our Place In The Cosmos” one if that is a domain/login that actually is available. (I had the impression from my ill-fated Bluehost experience that Caps and spaces- only “hyphens”- were permitted. If that is true, then the domain I’d wand would be our-place-in-the-universe (or -cosmos ) So, can I remove all “unfinished” sites, except the ” Our Place …. one? And then continue with that one, At that site? Or remove all and start completely over? Or can you do the Removes for me? If I’m permitted to go on with the Our Place… one I think I can do that. Or Start Over, I just go to your main start site and go from there. Using the http://learn.wordpress.com/ site if I need to. So one last “advise”? I sincerely thank you for your help.
-
-
Kokkieh,
Apparently my “Bluehost” account is not closed. Can you see my last two posts here – “Back” and “ohh…”? Can I now go back to My Sites and CLOSE out all but the one titled “Our Place in the Cosmos” domain name be changed to that “title” or (something other than here-in-the-cosmos)?I promise, I’ll do it myself, reading https://learn.wordpress.com/ if you can give one “start”
-
Right. Let’s first make sure which site you want to keep, then we can move on to deleting.
Two WP sites: allanmerry- here-in-the-cosmos -and- Our Place in the Cosmos.
My bad. I only want one. I think that the” here-in-the-cosmos” is the one I have already done the “most beginning set” up on. But the “Our Place in the Cosmos” is the “domain” name/user login that I’d really preferEvery WordPress.com site come with a free address. Note that the free address doesn’t matter. If you have a custom domain on the site that is all people can see – they’ll never see the free address. The free address cannot have hyphens, but your custom domain can
A – Your site with the title, Our Place in the Cosmos – Allan Avery, is at the free address, https://hereinthecosmosdotcom.wordpress.com/ I see you also have a Personal Plan on that site.
B – You have a site at the free address, http://hereinsidethecosmos.wordpress.com/, with the custom domain, https://here-inside-the-cosmos.com/ This site doesn’t have a title at the moment.
Both of these sites are essentially empty, containing only the default content that is set up with your theme.
C – You also have a site at the free address, https://hereinthecosmos.wordpress.com/, which is also empty and without title and which have no upgrades
So, one question I need you to answer at this point:
1. On which one of those three sites do you want you Personal Plan and domain? A, B or C?
-
I guess A. Yesterday I tried to do “set up” entries on that one , with that Title.” Is that the one you see with a “Personal Plan”? Maybe that’s what I tried entering yesterday. I also tried (and I want) to Upgrade to next higher category- ($36/yr). I’m still obviously confused about “domain name.” Is that what “visitors” will type in to go to my blog? Or is it the whole blue https:// …. address show in A above? That would be too long. Could it be just here-in-the-cosmos ? The “Title” on the blog site that I want IS Our Place In The Cosmos. Anyhow- I ready to go with A!
-
-
Kokkieh- (Ok i’m hopeless.) Shall I just go back to A and resume work in it? “Activate it somehow?
Thank You Squared!
-
KoKKieh, I want site A, in the “premium” version. (Soon, w/my Lucky Stars and yours willing, I’ll a load off your mind.) :-) Shall I open ” https://learn….. to learn how keep A, and proceed or correct it; or are there more instructions I here need?
-
I want site A, in the “premium” version.
Okay, I’ve moved your domain over to site A. Visitors will be able to reach that site by typing “here-inside-the-cosmos.com” into their browsers.
Your Personal Plan also includes a free domain, so I’ve linked the domain with the plan and refunded the $26 you paid for the domain.
If you still want to delete the extra sites, follow these steps:
1 – Go to My Sites
2 – Click on Switch Site
3 – Select the site you want to delete
4 – Click on Settings. The delete site option is at the bottom of the page.
You cannot delete a site with a domain, so your main site cannot be deleted. You will be able to delete the other sites.
Keep in mind that this is permanent. Once you delete a free address you can’t use it again, so if you still want to keep one of the free addresses you have, don’t delete it but instead select the Privacy option on Settings to set it to private.
- The topic ‘Allan Avery – new WordPress Blog’ is closed to new replies.
WordPress.com Forums 