Site Migration & interruption advice

• 

  kyraaulani · Member · Mar 24, 2021 at 11:39 pm

  • Copy link
  • Add topic to favorites

  Hello!
  I am looking to rebuild my site using WordPress (YAY!) – I currently use Squarespace and would love to build my site with a template prior to migrating my domain over (it’s via Ionos, or 1&1) so I don’t have a lull in my page’s existence. I would like some advice on how to do this, pretty please!

• 

  fstat · Staff · Mar 25, 2021 at 11:01 am

  • Copy link

  Hi there,

  You can start building your site here using a free .wordpress.com address. You can even purchase an upgraded plan and use those extra features if you like.

  When your new site is ready, then you can transfer or point your domain here. This way your current site will be up and running while you’re building your new one.

  If you have any other questions, just let me know and I’ll be happy to help.

• 

  kyraaulani · Member · Mar 25, 2021 at 2:41 pm

  • Copy link

  I understand. However I have a theme forest theme that I would like to install. And I realize that you can’t install themes without upgrading to a paid plan. Would it be possible to create a sub domain to build the entire site, and then when I’m ready to transition everything over, use my actual domain?

• 

  helper-heroponriki · Member · Mar 25, 2021 at 4:27 pm

  • Copy link

  To use your Theme Forest theme, you would need to upgrade to the Business plan on your free WordPress.com site as that’s the plan level that allows you to upload your own themes and plugins.

  You don’t need to set your domain when you upgrade from the free site. After upgrading and when you initiate the upload of your Theme Forest theme, a staging site with a temporary wpcomstaging.com URL will be created and you can use that to import your site and get everything in place before you switch your domain over.

  I hope that helps! Let us know if you have any other questions or need help with anything else.