Linking my domain

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  rachnbear · Member · Mar 6, 2020 at 3:27 pm

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  Hello! I currently have a website up and running that was created in DreamWeaver. I would like to redesign my website in Word Press but want to site to remain up and running as is while I work through learning how to use WordPress / building the new site. If I link the domain, will the site go down ? WordPress will not let me begin designing until I link the domain.

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  staff-zinnia · Staff · Mar 6, 2020 at 6:10 pm

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  Hi –

  You can build the site on a free address with out connecting the domain, and then later do that once ready.

  Yes :) This is a very common question. Go ahead and build your new site on WordPress.com. Import your content, customize the theme, get it all ready to launch.

  Keeping the new site private will help prevent any SEO confusion since you’re going to have the same content on two different addresses.
  https://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/privacy-settings/

  Once ready, the domain can get connected with one of our plans. https://wordpress.com/pricing/

  There’s 2 ways to connect the domain. Either will work fine.

  1. Mapping: https://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/
  2. Transfer: https://en.support.wordpress.com/incoming-domain-transfer/

  Write back with more questions :)

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  hassellcam · Member · Mar 10, 2020 at 12:44 pm

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  Hello!

  I have a related question regarding mapping an existing domain; which domain name will be displayed in the browser?

  For example, if my website is called say, http://www.superduper.co.uk and I map it via WordPress, will the end user see http://www.superdupercouk.wordpress.com, or simply the original domain name, http://www.superduper.co.uk?

  Does this depend on the plan that one takes out with WordPress?

  Many thanks in advance :-)

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  fstat · Staff · Mar 10, 2020 at 2:12 pm

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  @hassellcam, if you map a domain to your WordPress.com site and set it as primary, then the .wordpress.com one will be hidden and only the custom domain will be displayed.

  Does this depend on the plan that one takes out with WordPress?

  You’ll need a paid plan to map a domain on WordPress.com. All our paid plans include the mapping upgrade.

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  hassellcam · Member · Mar 10, 2020 at 2:17 pm

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  @fstat, Thank you so much for your clear answer. I couldn’t find that information anywhere else. Cheers!