Upgrade Your WordPress.com Blog: Transition to Self-Hosted WordPress

Elevate Your Blogging Experience

If you’re ready to take your blogging journey to the next level, it’s time to consider migrating your WordPress.com blog to a self-hosted WordPress platform. While WordPress.com provides a solid foundation for bloggers, self-hosted WordPress offers more flexibility and growth opportunities. In this in-depth guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of migrating your WordPress.com blog, ensuring a search engine friendly transition.

Exporting Your Content from WordPress.com

The first step in the migration process is exporting your WordPress.com blog content. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Login to your WordPress.com account and access the WP Admin dashboard.
2. Go to Tools > Export.
3. Click on the Export All button to generate an XML file that contains your blog content.
4. Save the downloaded file on your computer.

Setting Up Your Self-Hosted WordPress Site

Once you have exported your blog content, it’s time to set up your self-hosted WordPress site. Follow these steps:

1. Select a reliable hosting provider for your new WordPress blog. We recommend well-known hosting companies like SiteGround, Bluehost, or HostGator.
2. Install WordPress on your hosting account by following the instructions provided by your chosen hosting provider.
3. Login to your newly installed WordPress dashboard and delete the default post and page.
4. Go to Settings > Permalink and choose the “Day and name” option for your permalink structure.
5. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Tools > Import > WordPress.
6. If prompted, install the WordPress importer plugin and upload the .xml file you exported earlier.
7. Assign the appropriate author for the imported content.
8. Select the option to “Download and import file attachments” to transfer your images and files to your new hosting account.
9. Note: Make sure that your hosting provider’s upload limit is higher than the file size of your .xml export. Contact your hosting support if needed to increase the limit.

Importing Images and External Links

If you encounter any issues with image import or experience incomplete imports, follow these additional steps:

1. Install the “Import External Images” plugin to import external images from your WordPress.com blog to your self-hosted WordPress site.
2. Run the plugin to import all external images and files to your hosting account.
3. Use the “Cache Images” plugin to scan your site and ensure successful import of all images from files.wordpress.com.

Making Your Migration SEO-Friendly

To ensure that your migration is search engine friendly, follow this important step:

1. If you haven’t been using a custom domain name, set up a redirect from your WordPress.com blog address to your new domain. This prevents loss of traffic and backlinks.
2. Purchase the Site Redirect add-on from your WordPress.com site dashboard’s Store section.
3. Add your domain name for redirection and enjoy the benefits of 301 permanent redirects, which are search engine friendly, provided by the add-on.

Migrating Your WordPress.com Subscribers

If you wish to migrate your WordPress.com subscribers to your self-hosted blog, the Jetpack plugin can assist you. Refer to the official Jetpack guide for detailed instructions on accomplishing this seamlessly.

Congratulations! You have successfully migrated your free WordPress.com blog to your own self-hosted WordPress platform. Now, let’s address some common FAQs:

Should You Delete Your WordPress.com Blog?

If you have set up the Site Redirect feature or if some images are still hosted on WordPress.com after migration, it is recommended not to delete your blog.

What Should You Do with Your WordPress.com Blog?

In your WordPress.com blog dashboard, go to Settings > Reading and choose the “Search Engine Visibility” option. This will prevent search engines from indexing your WordPress.com blog, while maintaining the visibility of your new self-hosted blog.

What Other Steps Should You Take After Migration?

After completing the migration process, make sure to configure your new blog settings and install essential SEO plugins. Additionally, refer to our comprehensive guide on monetizing your self-hosted WordPress blog.

If you have any questions or encounter any issues while following this guide, please feel free to leave a comment. Don’t forget to share this comprehensive guide with other WordPress.com users considering a migration to a self-hosted WordPress platform.