Migrate WordPress.com to WordPress.org step by step Guide
WordPress.com is a good platform to start and learn blogging, But when you want to increase your blogging potence means increase your business, and earn money from it, then you have to transfer WordPress.com blog from ‘WordPress.com to WordPress.org’.
If you want to import WordPress website to self hosted WordPress.org then read this tutorial carefully. In this ‘WordPress-com to WordPress-org migration’ tutorial, you will also find answers to many questions:
For self hosted blog you will need a domain name and a good web hosting company. We recommend using Bluehost because it gives you a free domain and discount Up to 60% on hosting plan. WordPress org site officially recommends to Bluehost.
So let’s move to this WordPress.com to WordPress.org transfer tutorials…………….
Move from WordPress.com to WordPress.org Step By Step Guide
1. Export Data from WordPress.com
Sign in to your WordPress.com account for WordPress.com to WordPress.org migration and go to your WordPress.com dashboard and click on Setting then scroll down to the Export Option. In simple words, click on Setting >> Export.
After clicking on Export Button, new page will be open. In this page you will be asked to click on ‘Export All Button‘. In this WordPress migration page, you can download all the contents of your blog by clicking the ‘Export All button’. Click on the drop down menu to download specific content such as Posts, Pages, Feedback etc.
After clicking on the Export button you will need to click on the green download button, When you click on this download button, a Zip file will be downloaded to your computer which will include all your posts, pages, images, comments, custom fields, categories, tags, navigation menus and other information. You can see in the screen shot below:
2. Install WordPress and Import Content from WordPress.com to WordPress.org
If you have installed a new WordPress on your hosting, then you have to log in to your installed WordPress dashboard and Delete the default post and page.
If you want to create a new WordPress Blog with “Bluehost India Hosting” then you can see this WordPress tutorial.
Now you need to import WordPress.com exported data to your WordPress org blog (Self Hosted WordPress Site).
To import the contents of WordPress.com to WordPress.org blog, you have to go to your self hosted WordPress.org dashboard and click on Tools >> Import option.
Once you install and activate it, click Run Importer. This will bring a screen in front of you, where you have to upload an XML file by extracting your WordPress.com Zip file, Which you downloaded in step 1 from your WordPress.com blog.
Now you can click on the “Choose File” button to transfer the Exported Data of your WordPress.com blog to your new WordPress site, then select the XML file from your computer and click the “Upload file and import” button.
After importing, you will get the option of Assign Authors for your old content, in which you have to choose User. You must check “Import Attachments” box to import your media file so that your images can be imported.
3. Import Images from WordPress.com to WordPress.org
If you are unable to import all your images from WordPress.com, then you can use the Import External Images plugin, this is a very simple plugin that allows you to import all the images from your blog into your self hosted WordPress site.
- Install and Activate the plugin
- Go to Media> Import images
- Click on “Import images“
It will take a few minutes to import all images which depends on your posts and images….
After this, go to Settings> Permalink and select “Day and name“.
4. Redirecting Visitors and protect SEO After migrate WordPress-com to WordPress-org
To redirect your visitors to the new Domain, You have to use the WordPress.com paid service, which comes with the Redirect Service ($ 13 per year). By using it, you will be able to redirect your visitors to the new domain. If you want to use this method, Click on the redirect link at the bottom of the site address, which will automatically redirect to new page.
After clicking on Redirect, it will redirect you to the new page. Now you have to give your domain name and then click on the Go button, you can see in the screenshot below:
5. Migrate WordPress.com Subscribers to Self Hosted WordPress
After move WordPress com site to self hosted, you can transfer your WordPress.com subscribers to your self-hosted WordPress using JetPack plugin.
If you want to transfer your WordPress.com subscribers to self hosted WordPress then you can read this official guide to Jetpack.
Now your free WordPress.com blog has successfully migrated to your self hosted wordpress platform.
6. Making your WordPress.com blog private
After switching from WordPress com to WordPress org, you have to make your own WordPress.com blog private. If you do not want to redirect your old users to your new site, then follow this step. Click on the Settings option in your WordPress.com Dashboard and scroll to the Privacy page and select the last option. You can see in screenshot.
Should I Delete my WordPress.com Blog Now?
If you do not want to use the Site Redirect feature, you can delete your WordPress.com blog. In addition, some of your files (images) are hosted on WordPress.com even after migration, so you should not delete your blog.
If you have trouble in export from WordPress com to WordPress org or you have any questions about it, you can use the comments section.
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