How do I transfer an expiring domain name to WordPress.com?
-
I currently have my domain name registered with Go Daddy masking my blog on WordPress. It is expiring on 11/19/15 and I want to register it on WordPress and have growingforward.net be the primary domain.
I have my domain unlocked on Go Daddy and was given the authorization code. How do I proceed?
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
-
You cant – WordPress.COM is not set up to accept incoming domain name transfers – you will need to renew the registration not at WordPress.COM
Also forward and mask has some issues – not the least being that your domain name never much gets picked up by search engines – also problems with people not being able to find a good URL for your Posts or Pages – Domain Mapping is much better – $13.-/yr
http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/
-
WordPress.com doesn’t accept incoming domain transfers. I suggest that you renew your domain with GoDaddy now, then you’ll have time to look into transferring it to a different registrar if you’re unhappy with GoDaddy.
-
Ok thanks. I understand how to map. What if I let my current domain name (growingforward.net) expire, then try to claim it on WP?
-
What if I let my current domain name (growingforward.net) expire, then try to claim it on WP?
Real Real Bad – it can take up to 60 days for a name to be released by the registrar – no guarantee you will get it back – might be picked up by a squatter and held for hostage, might be auctioned off to someone else – and for the time after the name expires your custom mane will not work and search engines will trash your site and no links will work – if you let it lapse you might very well not get it back
I got my name when someone let it lapse
Some friends use Name Cheap and are happy
-
So your advice would be to re-up w/ Go Daddy, then map to WP? I was just trying to avoid ($16/year) renewal + $13 (mapping) vs. $18 total for WP to claim a domain, but if there’s no other way I’ll do it. Let me know. Thanks for your help.
-
Yes please re-up with someone – Name Cheap might save you a couple of bucks a year
Sorry no real way to get your domain name transferred to WordPress.COM – they have a real low cost so I suspect that there would be a lot of people that transferred their names here to save a few bucks – I looked at moving my main name a few years ago and decided the cost savings of something like $3.-/yr was not worth it – and I am registered with a a small local business so I figure the $3.- goes to a good cause
-
-
Thanks for your help. If I re-up w/ Go Daddy, what’s the advantage of mapping from WP vs. masking like I’m doing now?
-
Masking gives Google two domains with identical content, which Google doesn’t like. Masking also prevents people from linking to inner pages of your site. That being said, if you’ve been doing the masking for awhile, are happy with the results, and are looking to save money, you can continue doing it that way.
-
Heads-up that masking a domain on WordPress.com also often breaks the theme’s responsiveness, breaks dashboard links, and has other negative consequences. If you decide not to map your domain, I’d strongly suggest you use unmasked forwarding at the registrar, instead of masked (framed) forwarding.
If you take a look at your site now on a small device like a phone, you’ll see that the responsiveness is not working and it’s almost impossible to read.
- The topic ‘How do I transfer an expiring domain name to WordPress.com?’ is closed to new replies.
WordPress.com Forums 