I already have a domain name – how do I use it?

  • Unknown's avatar
    apkimble · Member ·

    Hello! Thank you in advance for your help – your site is awesome. I have created a blog through your site, but now I would like to create a website. I have already purchased a domain name (perhaps that wasn’t smart), but can’t find how I might create the site from wordpress using the domain I already purchased. Do I need to upgrade? Do something else? Is it really easy, and I am just missing it?

    Thanks for your help!

    Andrew

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

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    re: website not blog

    A blog is a website.

    A blog is a post based website designed for interactive communication. As the posts are frequently updated and appear on the front page of the site it’s very attractive to search engines.

    What most people call a website is merely a page based site that functions as a one way noticeboard. As the structure is page based and as pages are for static content that rarely changes, and as pages do not have RSS feeds, and as others do not backlink to pages, it is not as attractive to search engines as a post based blog structured site is.

    Any WordPress blog can be restructured from being post based to being page based – no upgrade required. For greater clarity read > http://en.support.wordpress.com/using-wordpress-to-create-a-website/

    Here’s a link to my step by step post too http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2013/07/25/create-a-wordpress-website-step-by-step/

    re: mapping an existing domain
    WordPress.com provides free blogs and hosts them free of charge. There are no bandwidth charges. All WordPress.com blogs come with 3000 megabytes (~3 GBs) of space for storing uploaded files and images. Free features are listed here https://en.wordpress.com/features/

    See here for details of all 3 plans http://store.wordpress.com/bundles/ offered by WordPress.com.
    Premium bundle details http://store.wordpress.com/plans/premium/
    Business bundle details http://store.wordpress.com/plans/business/

    Note that each upgrade bundle applies to a single blog only and is for a single year only when it is due to be renewed.

    We all pay in full for every upgrade at the time of purchase. Make sure you read the comparison very closely so you know exactly what the restrictions and limitations on WordPress.COM blogging are: http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

    Read Important Notes Before Upgrading http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/#important-notes-before-upgrading

    WordPress.com does not accept domain transfers but mapping an existing domain is possible. Domain mapping of an existing domain URL that you already own and purchased elsewhere is not done free of charge. You will have to renew the domain name purchase where you made it and the domain mapping purchase here every year.

    Mapping an existing domain costs $13. annually and a domain name purchase and domain mapping are included in the Premium upgrade bundle.

    In order to map to a domain one must have an underlying .wordpress.com sub-domain blog to map from and it does not matter what that underlying .wordpress.com URL is. It does not have to match the domain URL.

    If you have registered a .wordpress.com blog you log in as Admin under the exact same username account that registered the WordPress.COM blog, and as you own a domain URL already, you can see here for mapping an existing domain. http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/

    It can take between 24 – 72 hours for domain name propagation to take place throughout the internet. You can view the DNS changes here > http://www.whatsmydns.net/ What’s important during that stage is to be patient.

  • Unknown's avatar
    apkimble · Member ·

    I have a follow up question on the mapping…I have to pay $13/year to map a domain to wordpress, and probably around the same amount per year to own the domain from godaddy.com. Since I own the domain, I can’t just transfer it from godaddy to wordpress for free? Why would I have to pay a mapping fee every year? Does wordpress “sell” domain names? Can I disclaim ownership at godaddy and then repurchase the name here? Thanks.

  • Unknown's avatar
    apkimble · Member ·

    OK, one more related question. I’m sorry for my ignorance. You state above that “a domain name purchase and domain mapping are included in the Premium upgrade bundle.” If I upgrade to WordPress Premium, will I be able to map THREE different domains to my wordpress blog/website?

    Thanks, Andrew

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