There were so many issues while I was shifting from wordpress.com site to this self-hosted site. Infact actually it’s easy if you are starting from a self-hosted site itself as I did for qualitynotion [One of my other websites].
But I really enjoyed each stage in this shifting process.
It’s always nice when you learn something new, try it yourself, test it, rectify the glitches, and finally feel the moment of fulfillment.
Once you have purchased a web hosting and registered a domain name, install wordpress in your C panel. Update name servers. Now you are ready to transfer your contents from old wordpress.com blog to the new self-hosted site [which is in wordpress.org community]. Also get your site connected to Jetpack. It’s a pluggin with which you can still get all the cool features you enjoyed at WordPress.com.
So let me just summarise those main areas/issues during the migration process and my answers for the same. Feel free to contact if any support is required in this lines.
| # | Issue Area | Issue Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contents [posts, media, comments etc.] | How to import entire contents from old blog to new one? | Use the export- import feature in Tools [Refer https://move.wordpress.com/exportimport-content/ ] • Don’t miss to check the checkbox to include the attachments while exporting. • Assign posts to an existing user while importing • Sometimes there could be upload size restrictions. In that case you can contact you host to increase the upload size |
| 2 | Wordpress reader | Your posts not appearing in wordpress reader? | Go to Settings>Permalinks Ensure that common settings are same as that in your wordpress.com site [ Normally it has to be in the below format https://wordsandnotion.com/2017/12/07/my-dear-readers/ ] Otherwise your posts won’t appear in wordpress reader |
| 3 | Subscribers | How to migrate your subscribers? | Who can think about saying good bye to a good number of wordpress readers because of migration? So Jetpack pluggin is the best solution. Once it’s installed just follow the instructions for the subscription migration tool. Both the WorPress.com site and the Jetpack connected self-hosted site must be using the same wordPress.com user account. Your email subscribers will continue to receive email notifications of new posts as before whereas WordPress.com followers will only see new posts in the Reader. They will not receive email updates unless they subscribe to receive those on your new site. |
| 4 | Gravatar | Does tapping on your gravatar take you to the old blog? | If tapping on your gravatar takes you to the old blog, check https://wordpress.com/me/account and make the new site as your primary site |
| 5 | Statistics | Worrying about missing your statistics? | It’s always a little bad to miss that count especially if you have built a good number in your statistics. So don’t hesitate to contact Jetpack and they will get it done for you as there are no other automated tools for the same |
| 6 | Internal links within the post | Does internal links within your posts take you to old blog? | Use the “Velvet Blues Update URLs” plugin to change the URLs that you have previously added in your posts and pages. Otherwise those links would be taking you to old wordpress.com blog |
Following concerns still exist; maybe Jetpack or wordpress may take some actions to rectify these too in future
- WordPress.com likes wont be transferred.
- Entire comments didn’t get transferred in my case. I lost around 4k comments
- Reblog links also didn’t appear after I migrated
- Follow button [that plus icon] wont be appearing as before
- Comments don’t appear in wordpress reader if checking via mobile devices. It appears in laptop.
- If you follow a huge number of sites, say like 2000, then posts from a self-hosted blog may not appear in your reader. Also WordPress.com followers will not receive email updates unless they subscribe to receive those on your new site.
So if you are missing my posts in your reader please subscribe and then you will be getting email notifications.
Nice guidance
Thank you…
Welcome
Good tips and information, Akhila. I’m not sure whether I’m seeing your posts on my ‘reader’ as I do not go through the reader these days but visit only the blogs I like to read. I’ll check and do the needful… 🙂
Thanks a lot maniparna….