Do you want to transfer your blog from wordpress.com to any other platform that may include wordpress.org? Many beginners who first created blogs at wordpress.com later conceived the idea of transferring them to other platforms. There may be many reasons behind it. In this blog, I will highlight all the restrictions and limitations that a wordpress.com user initially faces, which is the main reason for transferring to any other platform.

What is the reason for transferring from wordpress.com to wordpress.org?

The amazing fact about wordpress.com is that it allows anyone to start a blog by creating an account almost free of charge. However, as time passes, the user has to face some limitations and restrictions while operating on the wordpress.com free version, which has limited monetization ability. It comes with many other things later, like being unable to install plugins and third-party add-ware, which is also displayed on their site. This is the primary reason for migrating from this to the more energetic and powerful platform, which is wordpress.org.

What are the significant differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

To fully understand their point of contention, please visit www.technopixelss.com, where I have already covered the details.

 I will confidently recommend wordpress.org as it is a self-hosted, robust platform for creating a blog with maximum freedom and enjoying all its features. To start with things, you need to move from wordpress.com to wordpress.org.

Best Hosting for Website.

What are the basics of migrating from one to another on wordpress.org?

First, you need a self-hosted WordPress account and a unique domain name. In the current scenario, I recommend Blue Host and HOSTINGER as the best hosting companies for customer care and service providers. If you want to buy hosting, you can use my referral link.

One more interesting point is that if your WordPress site already has a custom domain, in that situation, too, you need web hosting. Proceed further and sign up with Blue Host and follow the domain step. I will guide you on how to move from wordpress.com to Wordress.org while keeping the same domain without disturbing your site’s ranking. Besides this, of course, you must access your wordpress.com account to quickly transfer all your posts, blogs, images, pages, and data to a self-hosted WordPress site. For that, you must follow the below-given steps carefully.

Step 1: Export data from wordpress.com

The first step in this context is to log in to the wordpress.com site and navigate to the account dashboard, where you will find the tools >> EXPORT menu, followed by the export all option. It will lead you toward exporting all files from the WordPress site.

Once you’ve exported the file, it’s ready. You will see the download link. A zip file is accessible for download on a computer. You will also be intimated via e-mail. After downloading the file, you need to unzip it. This simultaneously carries all your images, posts, data, comments, custom fields, navigation menus, and other data.

Step 2: How do I install WordPress?

After exporting a file, the next step is installing WordPress on your web host. As you know, WordPress is straightforward to install. If you have taken Blue Host, it will take only a few clicks to install automatically. Otherwise, you have to follow a few steps to install WordPress. Once you have successfully installed WordPress, the next step is to import content onto your new self-hosted WordPress website.

Step 3: Importing Content into Self Hosted WordPress Site

How do I import content into a new WordPress self-hosted site?

For importing content to your newly hosted WordPress site, it is necessary to log in to the admin area and then to TOOLS>>IMPORT.

 And then click on the “install now” button. WordPress will begin the importer installation process for you. Once it’s finished, you must click on the RUN IMPORTER link for continuity.

This will be the case. It will take you to the screen where you will be asked to upload the wordpress.com XML file which you have downloaded in step 1.

One notable thing is necessary to mention. If your file size is more significant than 2MB, you will request the web hosting company to provide you with extra space temporarily. If not, the other option is to split the file using WXP SPLITTER as per convenience.

In addition, you are also given the option of assigning a file to an existing user, or you may create a new user. You also facilitate importing file attachments. It is imperative to check this box. So you can easily import your image files.

Step 4: Importing Your Blogroll Links

If you have been using the blog link features on your wordpress.com blog to ensure blogroll storage, then you must follow the instructions. If not using link features, then you can skip step 5. WordPress, as we discovered, does not support blogroll features. You must import OPML format if you have too many links. It is an XML format that is built for supporting links and links categories and helps in importing them. WordPress.com has an OPML file which is located at an address like this.

http://example.wordpress.com /wp-links-opml.php

You can replace this example with your wordpress.com blog or subdomain. If you are using a custom domain, then your address would be like that.

http://www.example.com /wp-links-opml.php

This will open an OPML file in a browser window which you can save (CTRL+S on Mac) on your computer. After performing all these functions, now you have backed up your wordpress.com links. The next step will be to import them into WordPress. However, it is one thing lacking here. The system does not support a link manager by default, so for this, you have to install and activate the link manager plugin. It was already updated a long time ago so you can use it confidently. It leads you to the following steps.

• Add new menu
• Admin bar will label LINK.

Furthermore, you have to install and activate the new OPML importer plugins. This plugin’s work enables you to import blogroll links. When it is activated, go to TOOLS > > IMPORT and then click the “RUN importer” link that will allow you to the blogroll importer link.

Once you have imported and saved the OPML file, you need to upload it to the blogroll importer page. Now you need to upload the OPML file you have imported and saved.

Now is the time to import it. At this point, WordPress will start importing all your link categories from the OPML file, and you will be able to see the real progress via messages.

Step 5: Setting your WordPress.com blog to private

If you are unwilling to make your recent site visible to old users, this will be your final step.

The following steps must be carried out.

• Open the old blog wordpress.com dashboard.
• Click on the Manage Settings menu.
• Scroll down to the privacy section.
• Click on the privacy option.
• Save the selected one.

The action will hide your blog from old users and will only be visible to new logged-in users you approve.

Step 6: Redirecting Visitors and Preserving SEO

For this purpose, 301 HEADER is the sole solution for redirecting users to the new site. This will do the work without affecting your site’s ranking and transfer it from one location to another. If you do not have access to http access on wordpress.com, you are unable to make any changes or alterations. But here, we found the solution wherever you want to redirect users.

To eliminate the problem of transferring location, that can be done by taking the wordpress.com paid upgraded tool site redirect. The tool will help redirect visitors to another location without disturbing the site’s ranking.

For this, perform the following steps.

• Go to the wordpress.com blog dashboard.
• Click on the managed setting.
• Click on the redirect link.
• Give domain name.
• Provide the domain name where you want to redirect visitors.
• Enter the new wp site domain name.
• Click on GO.

Note: I already mentioned that site redirect is a paid tool, and it will cost approximately $13 per year. It will help add 301 site redirects and efficiently transfer your wordpress.com blog and users to a new site.

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