Creating custom website, look, but leaving existing blog with the same look.

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  terrienne · Member · Jul 21, 2014 at 9:25 am

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  I already have a blog and want to make it part of a new website. I want to customize the front page of the website, by using the lens, chateau, stay or nexus theme. I want my blog look to just be a menu piece, but not change the look of it at all. How do I do this?

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  raincoaster · Member · Jul 21, 2014 at 9:26 am

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  What is the URL of the website? What is the URL of the blog?

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  terrienne · Member · Jul 21, 2014 at 9:34 am

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  I have purchased a new domain name from go daddy – it’s http://campagnetours.com
  My blog is http://lestroisamies.wordpress.com I want to keep the blog as is, but make it a menu piece on the new campagne tours website. Can I upgrade to lens, stay, chateau or nexus theme for the new homepage look?

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  1tess · Moderator Emeritus · Jul 21, 2014 at 10:21 am

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  http://campagnetours.com/?reqp=1&reqr=
  This means that you will have to pay someone (go daddy?? or someone else) to host your site. You own the name but do not yet have a host. You will also need some software to make that site work. I think go daddy offers some sort of software, but IMO you would want to use the free software to build your site from WordPress.ORG. The themes you mentioned are most likely offered from wp.ORG.

  You may find that domain mapping your current blog would be most useful for your purposes. Keep in mind that a blog is a website with special options! It makes use of software which allows you to update information as often as you like. A standard website consists of pages with information about you or your organization which shows your customers or readers the basic / essential facts. WordPress.com allows you to have both in one site.
  http://en.support.wordpress.com/add-a-domain/
  (or all of the support documents about domain mapping: http://en.support.wordpress.com/?s=domain+mapping

  After you get your paid website set up and running with wp.org software, then you can use a custom menu to include a link to your current blog.

  Please be certain that you do want to set up a separate website which you will pay for. Here is information about the two different options with WordPress: .com (free hosting) .org (you pay for hosting)
  http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

  This is all a bit complicated, but please feel free to ask more questions.

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  terrienne · Member · Jul 21, 2014 at 10:37 am

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  Thanks for your help – So, if I want to use wordpress.com, instead of .org, can I have the site hosted by wordpress .com or do I have to have another host because I already bought the name from go daddy? Actually, my blog name was bought from go daddy, so I’ve answered my question – is this correct? Can I still re-direct my existing blog to the new menu bar on the custom theme I’ve chosen? I’m still confused about how to start. Do I begin a new site w/ wordpress and attach my existing blog to it later w/ a re-direct?

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  1tess · Moderator Emeritus · Jul 22, 2014 at 9:28 am

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  So, if I want to use wordpress.com, instead of .org, can I have the site hosted by wordpress .com

  Yes you can.

  You can just use domain mapping with your current site and the domain name you bought from godaddy.
  This information should help you make it work:
  http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/#instructions-for-mapping-an-existing-domain

  As I said above, a blog is a website.

  So once you get your domain name mapped to your current website / blog, you can then change it to look more like a standard page-based site.
  http://en.support.wordpress.com/pages/front-page/
  Then use the custom menu option to add other static pages and a link to your current blog:

  Menus

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  1tess · Moderator Emeritus · Jul 22, 2014 at 9:31 am

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  Note: hosting is free on WordPress.com but domain mapping is a paid (yearly) upgrade ($13). A bargain price if you want to present a professional face online (IMNSHO).

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  terrienne · Member · Jul 23, 2014 at 9:36 am

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  Thank you for all of your help. So, if you’ll bear with me one more time – I will create a new “web” site. I will buy a custom upgrade so I can use that format with the custom theme. I will then have the option for a custom menu where I will place the existing blog. I am assuming the look of the existing blog won’t change and I will create posts as before. Then, I will buy the domain mapping upgrade and I should be good to go. If any of this is not correct, please let me know because I will start as soon as I hear back from you.