how can I use the domain name I already own with wordpress?
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I already own my Domain name, so how can I use it?
my original website was built by a friend using wordpress and since then my hosting company mistakenly took it down and lost all the content, so I have rewrite it. I am using your step by step guide to stating a new one but I can’t see how I can insert my current domain name. http://www.beautifulbirth.co.nz
also I don’t want a blog I want a website for my business so I’m a tad confused when your guide keeps talking about a blog…is it same same?
thanksThe blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Hi there,
I already own my Domain name, so how can I use it?
You can add your domain name on the Domains page. We have a guide to Map an Existing Domain with step-by-step instructions for that.
also I don’t want a blog I want a website for my business so I’m a tad confused when your guide keeps talking about a blog…is it same same?
Sorry for the confusion! In most cases, when you see the term “blog” on a support page that also applies to a website. You can make any WordPress.com site into a regular website or a blog (or a website with a blog!) so the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
You can start turning your site into a regular website with our guide to Set a Static “Home” Page (Front Page).
Please let me know if you have any other questions about that. :)
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Hi Rachel, I am a little confused still as it says I have to pay $13 /per year to have my domain name changed.
The thing is is that my old website that was made on WordPress initially, never had a domain name fee even though I used my hosting companies domain register. (they nicely accidentally deleted my website without telling me and I was on maternity leave so had not realised until it was way too late for them to retrieve my info, hence the start over).
So what I am saying is, isn’t my domain name already registered with wordpress from my previous website?
how can I find those details?
thanks -
Hi there!
It sounds like you were previously using your domain, beautifulbirth.co.nz, to point to a self-hosted site running the free WordPress software. This is different from being used with WordPress.com. This page explains the difference:
So when you map your domain to WordPress.com, we’re your new hosting service. The thing is, we don’t charge anything for the hosting itself. Anyone can have a free site using our wordpress.com web addresses. Instead, we charge for other upgrades like our Premium plan, and in your case, domain mapping.
The domain mapping costs $13 each year, and if you want to use beautifulbirth.co.nz as a custom domain for your site, that’s the way you’ll want to go. If not, you can keep using https://nzbeautifulbirth.wordpress.com/ for free. :)
-Alex G.
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Hi Alex,
thanks for answering my question. I have been reading up on the .com vs .org and realised I must have been on .org. I had my site made for me by a friend hence the lack of knowledge on the subject.
2 more questions.
1) If I use the .com and map my domain to the site can I at a later date when I feel more confident, switch to the .org? and keep my content? or would I have to rewrite it?2) at present my current host has my domain name and because they lost my website content they are giving me free hosting for a year (to be honest I know that is a pittance and the very least they could do) so what I am wondering is, can I switch to wordpress for hosting when that expires in a year? should I bother to even do that or just go with wordpress straight away? is my understanding correct, that hosting would be $13/year for the mapping my domain? how do I hold onto my domain name rights in my country if I switch to wordpress? I am a bit confused on this.
thanks to who ever can answer this!
I think I will be able to choose after these questions are answered, super amped to get started! -
Hi again!
It’s a commonly confused issue. Glad I could help clear it up. :)
1) If I use the .com and map my domain to the site can I at a later date when I feel more confident, switch to the .org? and keep my content? or would I have to rewrite it?
Yes, you can use the Export and Import tools built into WordPress to export your content to a self hosted site, then change your domain’s mapping to point to self hosted instead of WordPress.com whenever you’re ready. More information on that here:
2) at present my current host has my domain name and because they lost my website content they are giving me free hosting for a year (to be honest I know that is a pittance and the very least they could do) so what I am wondering is, can I switch to wordpress for hosting when that expires in a year?
If you want to setup your site again on that host, you’ll first need to install the free software from WordPress.org onto that hosting service:
http://codex.wordpress.org/New_To_WordPress_-_Where_to_Start#Step_Three_-_Install_WordPress
Then rebuild your site as you like it. You can use the WordPress.org support forums for help on working on self-hosted sites.
Whenever that hosting is done, if you want to transfer the site to WordPress.com you can, by using the same Export and Import tools. Just know that WordPress.com does carry with it some restrictions, so things on a self-hosted site may not always transfer properly to WordPress.com. In particular, we do not allow third party themes or plugins to be installed.
should I bother to even do that or just go with wordpress straight away?
That’s definitely a personal choice. I’d recommend setting up your site where you prefer to be for the long-run. If you know you’ll want self-hosted eventually, you might want to go that route. But if you like what we have here at WordPress.com, we’d love to have you. :)
is my understanding correct, that hosting would be $13/year for the mapping my domain?
Technically, the $13 just pays for the domain mapping and the hosting is free. But it boils down to $13 a year to use your outside domain, and you’ll need to keep that domain renewed with your registrar as well.
how do I hold onto my domain name rights in my country if I switch to wordpress? I am a bit confused on this.
Wherever you purchased the domain beautifulbirth.co.nz, just keep it renewed. Where a domain is managed is called a domain registrar, and it doesn’t always have to be the same company that manages your hosting. But you’ll need the domain to be stay registered in order to map it to WordPress.com.
-Alex G.
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