Upgrading

  • Unknown's avatar
    jacksoncrabb · Member ·

    Hi Forum People…

    I’ve read a handful of info in the search forum but I’m hoping to clarify a few items that are pestering my thoughts tonight.

    I’ve come to terms with converting my free-blog into a full fledged website and start working on making extra income through the site. I’m fairly certain I’ll be upgrading into the Premium plan, but I wanted to understand how the conversion of the free-site gets flipped over into the new URL.?

    Next there is the add-ons (plug-ins) such as email, or Woocommerce, etc. As this is my first Official Website, and I’ve not begun to generate money yet, I’m not particularly keen on spending too much money on extras/plug-ins, etc, at this time.

    Then there is the web hosting. I’ve read up on Bluehost and although their rates seem to be a bit less than your own, I’m unclear if I can transfer the myfree.wordpress.com blog site, over to Bluehost and have it upgraded into a new URL.ca from their hosting services site? Or if this is all just wishful thinking. To be honest, I’m leaning at just continuing with WordPress, but really want to make a well educated decision on this one. Because from what I have read, it seems that Bluehost offers some widgets which weren’t included in the premium price plan here in WordPress. Or it could be that they are identical plans and I’m just not knowledgeable enough at this time on the language and definitions, and thus am missing the connection between the two hosting sites?

    Lastly, to add in E-commerce, the products that are sold thru this plug-in are they hosted on other sites? For example, lets say I wanted to create merchandise swag based on my soon to be new-URL.ca For this we’ll use your example of CakePanda. If i wanted to sell hats, stickers and sweatshirts with a logo and CakePanda on it, does the Woocommerce have hats, stickers and sweatshirts that I apply my designs to, and they get bought by customers and drop shipped to the customer? Or does the Woocommerce connect to a 3rd party shop like Zazzle, Cafe Press, or another 3rd party supplier of customized clothing?

    Whoo. I think that is it for now. And I do appreciate anyone who reads this lengthy message and provides answers.

    cheers

    WP.com: Yes
    Correct account: Yes

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to moderators and staff)

  • staff-mckluskey · Staff ·

    Hi there!

    I’ll try to answer all your questions one by one.

    I wanted to understand how the conversion of the free-site gets flipped over into the new URL.?

    When you upgrade your plan you can register a custom domain and set it as your site’s primary address. When you do that, the free address will be automatically redirecting to the new domain. Nobody will see the old address, yet, if someone will type it in their browser or use a link to the free address, they’ll end up on your site anyway.

    Next there is the add-ons (plug-ins) such as email, or Woocommerce, etc

    A custom email is a separate subscription, you can read more about those here:

    https://wordpress.com/support/add-email/.

    Plugins let you add advanced features to your site. For instance, you mentioned WooCommerce – that’s software that will allow you to create an online store. To be able to use plugins on WordPress.com, you’d need to upgrade to at least plan Business.
    WordPress.com is a shared environment and we do not allow installing third-party themes or plugins for security reasons. Business sites undergo a series of structural changes to allow that and that is why you’d need to upgrade.

    I’m unclear if I can transfer the myfree.wordpress.com blog site, over to Bluehost and have it upgraded into a new URL.ca from their hosting services site?

    You wouldn’t be able to transfer the free .wordpress.com address outside of our platform. You can move all your content though. We have some instructions on that here.

    Having a self-hosted website that uses the WordPress software (that would be the site you host on Bluehost) is not quite the same as having a website hosted on WordPress.com.
    
    WordPress.org refers to open-source software, which requires self-hosting and self-management. WordPress.com is a platform that is optimized for the WordPress software; it includes managed hosting and provides many additional benefits for security, speed, and support.
    
    We outline the differences in this guide, to help you compare and learn more: https://wordpress.com/support/com-vs-org/.

    Lastly, to add in E-commerce, the products that are sold thru this plug-in are they hosted on other sites?

    WooCommerce will only allow you to create an online store, it will not provide the products for you. For that, you’d need to look for dedicated stores that allow that, and see if they have a WooCommerce extension.

    I hope that helps :)

  • Unknown's avatar
    jacksoncrabb · Member ·

    Hi Fresatomica, thank you kindly for the responses. I will soldier through the many links over the next couple of days. And if I have clarification questions, I will reach back out to you. Again appreciate your time. Cheers.

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