Domain name transfer & not interrupting old site during re-design

  • Unknown's avatar
    bethr31 · Member ·

    2 questions, I guess. I run non-profit and trying to minimize our expenses for getting a website through you all. I’m looking at the ‘Personal’ plan, but need to be able to use our original website domain. Right now it is in use on our other website service, so my questions are:

    1.) With the ‘Personal’ plan, will our website still be, i.e. columbiamediation.org or will it be ‘columbiamediation.wordpress.org’? I was hoping it would still be the exact same website. I understand the concept of ‘mapping’ the domain, but want people to still be able to use – and for OUR marketing purposes still use – the original domain name as it appears. It seems that’s what the plan allowed for anyway?

    2.) How can I go about playing with templates and re-designing/creating the new website WITHOUT initiating the domain mapping to wordpress and keeping the old site up and running during the transition/construction of the new site?

    Any suggestions on pricing/plans that are popular with other non-profits I’d appreciate as well.

    Thanks,
    Beth

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

  • Unknown's avatar
    justjennifer · Member ·

    Hello there, Not necessarily in the order you asked, but:

    WordPressdotcom does not currently accept incoming domain transfers. You will need to either keep your domain with your current registrar, or if that is not possible, transfer it to another accredited domain registrar prior to mapping it to your new WordPressdotcom site. Domain registration would be an additional expense outside whatever plan you choose here.

    Regardless of the plan you choose, you don’t need to map your Custom Domain to your new WordPressdotcom site until your new site is completely ready. So, yes, ultimately your new site URL will be columbiamediation.org

    In order to keep your new WordPressdotcom site out of search engines and public view while you set it up, change your site Privacy settings to Private. https://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/privacy-settings/ Some features, like Sharing buttons and Publicize, will only be fully available after your site is set up and Public.

    Depending on the level of customization you need, you can purchase either the Personal or Premium plan. Please see our pricing page for the various features available under each plan https://wordpress.com/pricing/

    Neither of the above plans will allow you to upload a custom theme. https://en.support.wordpress.com/themes/adding-new-themes/

    Under the Personal plan, you can use any of the free themes, or purchase a Premium theme separately. https://wordpress.com/themes/ Under this plan you have basic customization options.

    Under the Premium plan, you also have free access to all the Premium themes and the ability to modify both free and Premium themes using CSS. https://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/

    Expense wise, there will be some overlap since you said you want to keep the old site online while you work on the new one. All WordPressdotcom upgrade plans are paid a year in advance at check out and come with a 30-day refund period. You can read more about that here: https://en.support.wordpress.com/refunds/

    I hope I covered your questions, but let me know if you have any other question about this.

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