Expired domain, disrupted service need assistance!
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I purchased a domain from Vista print which I mapped to WordPress back in May. I was not aware that I needed to register my domain and it has since expired. According to the customer service rep with Vista my domain is untouchable for 80 days from the 8-6-13 expiration. Once the domain is available later this month what do I need to do to register with WordPress and avoid having this disruption again?
[personal information redacted]
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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We are unable to accept incoming domain transfers. You can either leave it with VistaPrint or you can transfer it to another domain registrar. Regardless of where you register it, domain registration is good for one year, though you can often pay for multiple years depending on the registrar, so it’s always a good idea to keep track of that.
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I want to bring my website from VistaPrint to here, as well. Are you trying to say that this is impossible?
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…whaqt about the information here?
http://en.support.wordpress.com/add-a-domain/
or here:
I guess I’m confused….
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…whaqt about the information here?
You need to read down the link for the “I have a domain name”
http://en.support.wordpress.com/add-a-domain/#i-already-have-a-domain
or here:
Is also covering the same thing – your domain name mapped to a WordPress.COM blog here
http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/
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You can host your content here, but if you have an existing domain registered elsewhere, you can map it to your WordPress.com site but you cannot transfer the domain registration itself to WordPress.com.
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Alas, nobody tells me what the term “Mapping” means, or what it entails. All I imagine is: when you go to the Vistaprint site (which takes at least 2 minutes), visitors are redirected to WordPress. (Another 2 minutes?)
And does one still have to post in Vistaprint? Then why map it at all?
Or is it just a “virtual” mapping…first the domain name server, next, WordPress.And what about the email from the old host?
I guess folks are supposed to be born knowing this stuff! ;-) Who has time? This is why I am still with Vistaprint.
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Websites have two essential pieces that you need to consider:
1) the domain name (website address) – this can be thought of like the street address of your house
2) the hosting (where the content is kept) – this is like your actual houseIf you have a website, you must have hosting somewhere (#2) – this is where your content lives online. With this, you can either purchase space on a computer and upload your own software, including but not restricted to WordPress, and manage all of your security, backups, and upgrades to the software. This is what you would get from a service like HostGator, BlueHost, et.c. Or you can use a hosting option like WordPress.com, where you don’t have to manage the software installation and just use the software. Another analogy for this would be like using Microsoft Word on your computer, where you might have to perform updates every so often, compared with using a service like Google Docs.
For your website, if you use a service like WordPress.com, you can use a free web address provided by the service (in this case, yourname.wordpress.com) or you can purchase and register a custom domain name at one of hundreds of companies.
If you registered a custom domain name with VistaPrint (so something like yoursite.com rather than yoursite.vpweb.com), you can set up a new site on WordPress.com but use that domain to point here using domain mapping. It’s kind of like filling out a change of address card. :)
What you cannot do is make WordPress.com your new registrar, so in the future you would pay us for that domain, since we can’t accept an incoming domain transfer. You could, however, register a brand new domain through us (like yourevenbetterdomain.com).
Does this help?
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It sounds as though the traffic would first have to be routed to VistaPrint, and then to WP.
From what you day, it also sounds as though I wold have to use VistPrint software….
So why would I map to another platform?
But thanks, anyhow!
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You don’t use Vista Print software and nobody goes to Vista Print as long as Vista Print allows the name servers to be changed
You change the name servers to point to WordPress.com – then when someone tries to go to your custom domain name the address table all around the internet sends them to WordPress.COM – the domain mapping here then routs the visitor to the right blog and puts your custom domain name in the address bar of their browser – all done in the blink of an eye
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Aha. I guess my question was too simple for A geek to answer… ;-)
So, first I have to start a MyWebsite.Wordpress.com blog, and then manually copy everything over to it from VistaPrint. (Can I have an email address?) Then- do battle with VistaPrint to buy back my domain name, and then pay WordPress to map the name to them. Then I should be back in business, as long as the mapping is a very fast”Blink”.
(Actually, I already started a WP blog, but I spelled my own name wrong. So I assume I will have to start a new one?)
Yeah, I know…….
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Sorry–but one more question…
I just went to register my “Website.Wordpress.com
blog (this one with my name spelled right!). But it’s asking me if I want the $99 upgrade, which- yes, I do –but–Should I do it now, or wait until VistaPrint frees up my domain name? (It might take awhile). If I register the blog now and wait until the .com name is free, will I be able to get back to the $99 upgrade offer?
Thank you again.
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The terms can be a bit confusing at first (and sometimes, seconds, thirds and so on)
yes you need a base WordPress.COM blog to start ( MyWebsite.Wordpress.com) – the blog here does NOT need to match your custom domain name – I like to do that myself, I think it is a bit more class – but you can have cool-name.com mapped to stupidname.wordpress.com and visitors will see cool-name.com
yes probably hand copy from Vista Print unless they have the aility to export to a xml file
WordPress.COM is not an email host – but yes you can have an email address to match your custom domain name – several options some no charge some cost – there is also email forward where you can set up an address that matches your domain name and the email is forwarded to your regular email address – free and built in
Yes get your domain name renewed at Vista Print – WordPress.COM is not set up to accept incoming domain name transfers, but you could go to another Registrar such as Name Cheap or another one if you want
The domain mapping is easy but it can take two or three blinks – actually take a long walk while the internet is updated – can take 24 to 72 hours for things to settle down, but changes start in a few hours
http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/
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To everyone who posted in this thread (2haute, tst350 and mainescenes), please let me know if there’s anything still unclear about the process. The process for setting up a site at VistaPrint versus WordPress.com works is definitely different but we are happy to help you make the transition.
Also note we have documentation on most of our services and functionality here:
http://en.support.wordpress.com/Also thanks @auxclass for helping to clarify things further.
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Thank you, Jackiedana.
LOL…the main question is : what’s a host? what’s a registrar? what’s a name server? what’s a web host? what’s a DNS server? (I thought that the DNS server was the name server)
It seems that WP’s only role is as software provider -are they considered the “web host?” (one down, 4 to go)
After I pay WP for the $99 upgrade, who gets my monthly (yearly?) fee?
And how much down time should I expect for my site? I’m afraid to take the plunge, lest I get lost somewhere and lose my little website.
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Host = the company that actually has your web site / content – on their servers (fancy term for hard drive that the internet can see) WordPress.COM is a host (also a Registrar) – Vista Print is / was your host =
Registrar = the company that you register a custom domain name with – in your case now that is Vista Print (WordPress.COM is also a registrar but they don’t accept incoming domain name transfers, only new domain name registrations
WordPress.COM is a host
WordPress.ORG is the keeper of the “WordPress” software
For more on the difference: http://support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/
If you get the $ 99.- Upgrade, you will pay WordPress.COM that amount once a year
Down time – if you follow these instructions not much – as noted above
1) fix the domain name registration so you don’t loose the name
2) transfer the content to a blog here
3) do the domain mapping –
Once you do the domain mapping it will take a up to 24 to 72 hours for access to stabilize to your site here – but now you have no site so an improvement –
the biggest down time now is that your Vista Print site does not seem to be working – once you can get to that – people can visit the old site – then with the old site up – move the content here – then do the domain mapping
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mainescenes, I hope auxclass has helped you out with terminology!
If you “take the plunge” both staff and volunteers are here to help you. Furthermore, if you decide to go with the $99 upgrade, you have 30 days in which to cancel and receive a refund if you change your mind.
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You be welcome @jackiedana
So do I get some sort of honorary something for the terminology? :)
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So it seems that all I have to do (in this order) is to set up my “website.wordpress.com” blog here, then call Vistaprint (my current registrar?) and get them to release my domain name, at which point I quick go to NameCheap.com to re-register the name, and then —-do I also need a DNS server?.
You can see by all this, that I just don’t get it.
But once I own my own domain name and all is safe and secure, that is when I do the mapping. then sit tight for 24 to 48 hours.
Thank you.
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@mainescenes Here are the steps:
1) create a new blog at WordPress.com (or you can use mainescenes.wordpress.com, which was created when you signed up)
2) Purchase domain mapping for your existing domain that is registered at VistaPrint
http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/3A) Update the nameservers at VistaPrint (they should be able to help you) to point to the following:
NS1.WORDPRESS.COM
NS2.WORDPRESS.COM
NS3.WORDPRESS.COM
or 3B) Transfer your domain to namecheap.com or another registrar and then update the nameservers there as noted above.
4) Update your primary URL on your WordPress.com blog to point to this domain by going into your WordPress.com Dashboard and under Store > Domains choose the custom domain.
5) For general assistance with WordPress.com including how to create new content and choose a theme, we have support documentation here:
and a tutorial at http://learn.wordpress.com
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