Moving from a free WordPress blog to a paid site
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I want to convert my WordPress blog to a proper domain. So I want to buy a new domain name through Namecheap, and host a WordPresss website through Siteground.
Any idea how I can import my blog site to the new way please?
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Hi alwaysfullfull,
If you do so, it will be a self-hosted WordPress blog. WordPress.com will no longer have control over your blog.
I suggest you can buy any of the upgraded plans from WordPress.com and you will get free domain credit to buy your domain.
WordPress.com will be your domain as well as the hosting provider.Please check the pricing.
https://wordpress.com/pricing/ -
Hi alwaysfullfull,
Using SiteGround as a host means you will need to install WordPress.org software there. We have some information about the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org here:
You don’t need to host the site elsewhere in order to use a custom domain though. The free address you are currently using (containing .wordpress.com) can be hidden by registering a custom domain:
Alternatively, the domain can be registered through NameCheap and connected to alwaysfullfull.wordpress.com with domain mapping — this will also hide the free address:
https://en.support.wordpress.com/map-existing-domain/
If you prefer to use WordPress.org and SiteGround instead, just let me know and I’ll be happy to send you more information about moving to a self hosted site :)
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Hi both,
Thanks a lot for your replies and the links! I already bought the domain now through Namecheap, and now I have to host it through Siteground. I have already used them before, and prefer them over WordPress hosting.But when I move my blog there, will I be able to retain my followers, and the links and comments on each post? Will I have to redirect the WordPress.com site then, to the new one?
Thanks a lot!
Poulomi -
Hi Poulomi
But when I move my blog there, will I be able to retain my followers, and the links and comments on each post?
Followers can be transferred from alwaysfullfull.wordpress.com to your WordPress.org site if it is connected to WordPress.com with the Jetpack plugin:
If you reply here after activating Jetpack and connecting to WordPress.com, we can transfer the followers for you. We are unable to transfer likes from one site to another but comments will be included in the export file — along with posts, pages, categories, tags and references to your images:
Content and images will need to remain on alwaysfullfull.wordpress.com until the import has finished on your new site, otherwise the process will not work correctly.
Will I have to redirect the WordPress.com site then, to the new one?
A Site Redirect can be used to automatically redirect visitors from alwaysfullfull.wordpress.com, to your new site:
Come back to me if you have any questions.
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Hi,
I had one more question, sorry. Currently a lot of readers find me through the WordPress reader. When I move to a self-hosted site, will I lose access to them?I read that if I use the Jetpack plugin and have the WordPress.com toolbar, my posts will still show up on the reader. Is that correct?
Otherwise, how else will it work?
Thanks a lot for your help again!
Poulomi -
Hi Poulomi,
When I move to a self-hosted site, will I lose access to them?
Once your followers have been transferred, posts published on the new site will be listed in their Readers. It’s worth noting they will not receive email updates unless they subscribe to receive them on the new site.
Currently a lot of readers find me through the WordPress reader.
People will be able to follow your Jetpack connected site through the Reader but posts will only appear in tag searches if you have a paid Jetpack plan.
I read that if I use the Jetpack plugin and have the WordPress.com toolbar, my posts will still show up on the reader.
I think you are referring to the bar at the top of the Reader (with My Sites and Reader) — the presence of this bar doesn’t mean your posts will show up in the Reader as it is displayed by default on all WordPress.com accounts.
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Hi,
Thanks a lot for the detailed answers! I think I follow now, but just to be sure, wanted to check one last thing with you. Actually I found a few websites that are exactly like how I want, but I am not sure how they work. One owner told me that his blog is still on WordPress.com. Are these WordPress hosted, then?https://cristianmihai.net/
https://eclipsedwords.comThey seem to be self-hosted sites, which get followers from WordPress.com. They write excerpt of their posts on the Reader through their WordPress.com profiles, and for the full posts, provide links for people to visit their full sites.
If I want to make the features available like this (so a self-hosted site, with the possibility of WordPress.com readers liking and commenting), will hosting my new site through Siteground also work? Or do I have to upgrade through WordPress.com?
Thanks a lot for helping me through this. Really appreciate it.
Warm regards,
Poulomi -
Hi Poulomi,
My pleasure, I’m happy to help!
One owner told me that his blog is still on WordPress.com. Are these WordPress hosted, then?
That’s correct, both cristianmihai.net and eclipsedwords.com were created on WordPress.com and are hosted here with us.
Actually I found a few websites that are exactly like how I want, but I am not sure how they work.
Features like the donation buttons and newsletter signup have been added to those sites as widgets. The WordPress.org support forums will be a good place to ask for advice on how to add these sort of features on a self hosted site.
If I want to make the features available like this (so a self-hosted site, with the possibility of WordPress.com readers liking and commenting), will hosting my new site through Siteground also work?
Creating a site with WordPress.org software and using Jetpack to connect it to WordPress.com will give you some of the features available to sites hosted here. For example, being included in the Reader, Like buttons, Publicize (sharing your posts to social media) and managing the site through your WordPress.com account.
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Thanks a lot! Your help has been so invaluable!
I will migrate my site now, and update with about the status :)
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