A beginner’s guide to moving from WordPress.com

If you’re feeling like your WordPress.com site isn’t quite meeting your needs, you’re not alone. Many site owners start their journey with WordPress.com because it’s simple, user-friendly, and free. But as your ambitions grow, it’s easy to bump into WordPress.com’s limitations.

With WordPress.org, you’re no longer confined by restricted plugins, limited monetization options, or SEO roadblocks. Instead, you gain total control – the ability to choose the perfect hosting, unlock advanced features, and fully customize your site to align with your goals. It’s like moving from a rented apartment to owning a dream home: no more compromises, just endless possibilities.

This guide is your complete roadmap to making the switch, even if you’re nervous about the technical steps.

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org: What’s the difference?

Before diving into the how-to of migrating, it’s important to understand exactly what sets WordPress.com and WordPress.org apart. While they may share a name, these two platforms are very different in terms of control, customization, and possibilities.

Ownership and control

Think of WordPress.com as renting a space. They host your website for you, but this means they set the rules. Want to add a specific feature or make significant changes? You might find yourself limited by what the platform allows.

However, WordPress.org is your home, and you own it outright. You’re responsible for hosting, but in return, you gain full control. From the software to the smallest tweak on your site, you’re the one in charge.

Customization

Customization is limited with WordPress.com. You have access to a small selection of themes and plugins, but premium upgrades are required for additional functionality.

In contrast, the sky’s the limit with WordPress.org. You can choose from thousands of free and premium themes, install any plugin you want, and even edit your site’s code. Whether you’re a beginner or a developer, WordPress.org empowers you to build the exact site you envision.

Monetization

With WordPress.com, monetization options are heavily restricted. You’re limited in how you can run ads, and some ecommerce features are locked behind paywalls.

On the flip side, you have total freedom with WordPress.org. You can run ads, open an online store, or create a membership site – WordPress.org supports your efforts to turn your site into a revenue-generating powerhouse.

Why move at all?

If you’ve ever been frustrated by WordPress.com’s limitations – like not being able to install a crucial plugin or struggling to rank higher on search engines – then WordPress.org is your solution. 

It’s designed for scalability, offering tools to grow with your ambitions. Whether you’re looking to create a personal brand, enhance your business, or launch an ecommerce empire, WordPress.org puts the power in your hands.

For SEO enthusiasts, the move from WordPress.com to WordPress.org is especially rewarding. Self-hosting allows you to implement advanced SEO strategies, use powerful tools like Yoast SEO, and optimize your site’s speed and performance – all of which are critical to climbing search engine rankings.

Pre-move checklist: Preparing for the migration

Evaluate your current site

Take stock of your WordPress.com site to avoid surprises later. Here’s what to do:

• Back up everything: Use WordPress.com’s export tools to back up your posts, pages, images, and media. You’ll export an XML file that contains all your site’s content. It’s your safety net, ensuring nothing is lost during the migration process.
• List must-have features: Identify the themes, plugins, or customizations your current site uses. If WordPress.com has any built-in features you rely on, you’ll want to find alternatives in the WordPress.org ecosystem.
• Review analytics and SEO: Take note of any Google Analytics or tracking codes and keep an eye on your most popular content and keywords. These insights will help you maintain continuity post-migration.

Pick the perfect domain name

If you’re already using a custom domain on WordPress.com, you can transfer it to your new hosting provider. However, if you don’t have a custom domain yet, now’s the time to choose one. Your domain name is your online identity, so:

• Choose a name that’s easy to remember, spell, and type.
• Reflect your brand or niche to make it clear what your site is about.
• Use domain privacy options to shield your personal details from public databases.

Most hosting providers, including Liquid Web, allow you to purchase and manage domains directly, simplifying the setup process.

Secure reliable hosting

Your hosting provider plays a critical role in your website’s success. A good host ensures your site runs fast, remains secure, and can handle traffic spikes. When selecting hosting, consider:

• Performance: Look for optimized servers that ensure fast loading times – a key factor for both SEO and user experience.
• Scalability: Choose a provider that can grow with your needs, especially if you plan to expand your site.
• Support: Reliable, 24/7 support is invaluable during and after migration.

Liquid Web’s managed WordPress hosting takes the hassle out of self-hosting by offering pre-configured WordPress installations, automatic updates, and hands-on support. You get the power of WordPress.org with the convenience of a fully managed solution.

Step-by-step guide: How to move from WordPress.com to WordPress.org

Step 1: Export content from WordPress.com

Your first task is to safely export all the content from your WordPress.com site:

1. Log in to your WordPress.com admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Tools > Export.
3. Select All Content to ensure you’re capturing everything – posts, pages, media, categories, and tags.
4. Click Download Export File and save the XML file to your computer.

After exporting, double-check that all your content, especially media files, has been included. This is your backup plan, so ensure it’s comprehensive.

Step 2: Set up hosting and install WordPress

With your content safely exported, the next step is to set up your self-hosted WordPress.org site. 

Most hosting providers, including Liquid Web, offer a one-click WordPress installation through their dashboard. This is the fastest and easiest way to set up WordPress. If you prefer to do it manually, download WordPress.org from WordPress.org’s website, upload the files to your hosting server via SFTP (like FileZilla), and follow the setup wizard.

Liquid Web’s managed hosting for WordPress includes pre-configured WordPress installations, automatic updates, and optimized performance, making it perfect for beginners and pros alike.

Step 3: Import content into WordPress.org

Now, it’s time to bring your exported content into your new WordPress.org site:

1. Log in to your new WordPress.org dashboard.
2. Go to Tools > Import and click Install Now under the WordPress Importer option.
3. Once installed, click Run Importer.
4. Upload the XML file you exported from WordPress.com.
5. Map authorship (assign content to the appropriate user) and ensure all media files import correctly.

After importing, review your site carefully. Check that all pages, posts, and images have transferred and are displaying as intended.

Step 4: Customize your site

Now comes the fun part – making your new site truly yours. WordPress.org offers unparalleled customization options.

Choose a responsive, SEO-friendly theme like Kadence from the WordPress Theme Directory or premium providers like ThemeForest or StudioPress. Preview themes before activating them to ensure they align with your branding.

Also, install must-have plugins to enhance your site’s functionality:

• SEO: Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
• Security: Solid Security Pro or Wordfence.
• Performance: WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache.
• Ecommerce: WooCommerce, if applicable.

Avoid overloading your site with too many plugins. Focus on essentials and gradually add features as needed.

Step 5: Set up permalinks and redirects

Preserving your site’s SEO is critical during migration. Here’s how to maintain your rankings:

• Permalink structure: In your WordPress.org dashboard, go to Settings > Permalinks. Choose the Post Name option for clean, SEO-friendly URLs.
• 301 redirects: Purchase the Site Redirect upgrade on WordPress.com to forward visitors from your old URLs to your new site. This ensures any existing traffic or backlinks to your WordPress.com site aren’t lost.

Post-move checklist: Optimizing and securing your new site

Congratulations – you’ve successfully migrated your site to WordPress.org! Now, it’s time to ensure your new site runs smoothly, is optimized for search engines, and stays secure.

SEO updates

Preserving and enhancing your SEO rankings is one of the most critical post-migration tasks. Here’s how to ensure your new site maintains its visibility on search engines:

• Update and refine your meta titles, descriptions, and focus keywords to align with your new domain and content strategy.
• Review and update all internal links to ensure they point to the new domain. Broken or outdated links can harm your user experience and SEO.
• Generate a new XML sitemap using your SEO plugin. Submit it to Google Search Console to help search engines crawl your new site efficiently.

Security best practices

Protecting your WordPress site from vulnerabilities is essential for peace of mind and maintaining credibility. Here’s what to do:

• Use a unique username (not “admin”) and a strong password to prevent unauthorized access.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for added security.
• Install a reliable backup solution like UpdraftPlus or Solid Backups and schedule regular backups.
• Store backups in multiple locations (e.g., cloud storage and local drives) to ensure quick recovery in case of data loss.

Performance monitoring

A fast and reliable website keeps visitors happy and boosts your SEO rankings. Here’s how to monitor and enhance your site’s performance:

• Set up Google Analytics to track visitor behavior, traffic sources, and page performance. Use this data to identify areas for improvement and refine your content strategy.
• Use tools like UptimeRobot or Solid Central to receive alerts if your site experiences downtime. This ensures you can address hosting or server issues promptly.
• Optimize images with tools like Smush or Imagify.
• Use a caching plugin like WP Rocket to reduce load times and improve user experience.

After implementing these changes, thoroughly test your site. Check for broken links, test forms, and ensure all pages display correctly on both desktop and mobile devices. Regular testing helps you catch potential issues before they affect your visitors.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to make mistakes during a WordPress migration. But don’t worry – most of these pitfalls can be avoided with proper planning and awareness.

Skipping backups

One of the most critical steps in any migration is creating a full backup of your WordPress.com site. Neglecting this can result in lost posts, pages, or media if something goes wrong during the migration.

Use the Export tool in WordPress.com to download a complete XML file of your content.

Save a copy of all your media files and consider using a backup plugin for additional safety.

Neglecting mobile optimization

A responsive website is a must. Forgetting to ensure your new site looks great on mobile devices can hurt your user experience and SEO rankings. Choose a responsive theme from the WordPress Theme Directory or a premium provider like Kadence. Also, test your site on different devices using tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure it performs well.

Forgetting 301 redirects

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not redirecting your old WordPress.com URLs to your new WordPress.org site. This can result in broken links, loss of traffic, and a drop in SEO rankings.

Again, purchase the Site Redirect upgrade from WordPress.com to automatically forward visitors to your new domain, and then check your redirects to ensure they’re working properly.

Overloading your site with plugins

While WordPress.org offers incredible flexibility with plugins, adding too many can slow down your site or create compatibility issues. To avoid this, start with essential plugins for SEO, security, and performance. Add additional plugins gradually, testing for performance impacts along the way.

Take control of your website with Liquid Web today

Moving from WordPress.com to WordPress.org is a major step toward taking full control of your online presence. With WordPress.org, you unlock the freedom to create a site that reflects your vision, grows with your ambitions, and reaches its full potential.

To make your journey even easier, partner with a hosting provider that puts your needs first. Liquid Web’s managed WordPress hosting simplifies the process, offering expert support, unmatched performance, and hassle-free migration services.

Take the leap today, migrate your site to WordPress.org on Liquid Web and experience the freedom, customization, and control you’ve been waiting for!

FAQs: Addressing common concerns

To help you feel confident and prepared, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the migration process:

Will my SEO be affected?

Yes, but only temporarily. Search rankings may fluctuate after the migration, but this is normal and usually short-lived. Properly implementing 301 redirects and updating your sitemap in Google Search Console will minimize disruptions and help search engines understand your new domain structure.

How long does migration take?

For most sites, the migration process can be completed within a few hours to a day. The exact time depends on the size of your site, the complexity of your content, and your comfort level with the steps involved. With a reliable hosting provider like Liquid Web, the process can be even faster, thanks to expert support and easy setup tools.

What happens to my WordPress.com site?

After migration, you have two options for your WordPress.com site:

• Set it to private: This keeps the site live but hidden from public view. It’s a good option if you want to retain access to content or features for reference.
• Redirect it: Use the Site Redirect upgrade to forward traffic from your WordPress.com URLs to your new WordPress.org site. This is essential for maintaining traffic and preserving link equity.

Do I need technical skills to migrate?

Not necessarily! While some technical steps are involved, this guide simplifies the process for beginners. Additionally, choosing a hosting provider like Liquid Web, which offers managed WordPress hosting and migration support, can make the process even more straightforward.

Can I keep my existing domain name?

Yes! If you already have a custom domain name on WordPress.com, you can transfer it to your new hosting provider. Most hosts provide tools and guides to make this transfer seamless.

What happens to my media files?

During the export and import process, your media files should transfer along with your content. However, it’s a good idea to double-check that all images and media have successfully migrated and display correctly on your new site.

What’s the cost of using WordPress.org instead of WordPress .com for your website?

While WordPress.org itself is free, there are a few costs to consider:

• Domain name: If you don’t already have one, purchasing a domain usually costs $10–$20 per year.
• Hosting: Depending on the provider, hosting can range from $10–$50+ per month. Managed hosting, like Liquid Web’s, often provides added value with features like backups, updates, and security.
• Premium themes or plugins (optional): Costs vary depending on your needs.