How To Switch From Blogger to WordPress?
Last Updated on 14th September 2023 by Ajmer Singh
Many people start blogging as a hobby and then eventually make it a profession.
There are many platforms you can use to start blogging for free as a hobby.
Most people go with Blogger as it is free and an ideal choice.
But if you want to make your blogging site more professional and start earning money from it, you need an advanced platform.
WordPress is the most common platform people use for blogging.
There are multiple tools on WordPress, which help you to blog at a professional level.
Switching from one blogging platform to another can be quite challenging. But you can easily switch from Blogger to WordPress.
If you want to keep all your content from Blogger and migrate it to WordPress, you just have to follow a few steps.
You can easily switch without losing any of your content.
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Blogger/ BlogSpot:
Blogger is a free blog site. You can create an account on Blogger and publish your blogs.
BlogSpot provides a domain name for a blogger account. Both of these blogging platforms are owned by Google.
You can use these platforms to create blogs for free.
Most people go with Blogger as a first choice because it is easy and free.
It is good for beginners, but you cannot grow your blogging business on this site.
You need a full-fledged platform to do it.
WordPress:
WordPress is one of the most popular blogging platforms.
More than 37% of sites on the internet work on WordPress. It is an open-source system.
You can start on WordPress by getting your own domain name, theme and web hosting.
You can use WordPress to create different types of blogs and websites.
Why Switch From Blogger To WordPress?
There are many reasons why you need to switch from Blogger to WordPress.
You can start to make professional blogs on WordPress.
Flexible: By using WordPress, you can easily change the template. You can even create your own template.
Own Site: When you run a WordPress blog, you have to pay for hosting and domain. It becomes your own site as you pay for it.
Customization: There are many customization options on WordPress. You can easily customize your blog using themes and designs.
Extendable: To use different features, you only need a plugin. You can use the plugins for more functions.
Bright Future: WordPress is run by a strong community. It ensures that this platform will keep functioning for years to come. The future is bright.
Open Source: It is an open-source platform, which means you can easily contribute and make changes to it.
Let’s move to the steps you need to switch from Blogger to WordPress,
Steps to Move from Blogger to WordPress:
Now, you know why so many people are moving towards WordPress.
It offers endless opportunities for you to grow your blog. You can easily monetize your blog by using the resources available on WordPress.
To move all your data from Blogger to WordPress, you need to follow a step-by-step process.
You will be able to move all this data.
- Posts & Pages
- Feed
- Authors
- Comments
- Categories
- Media
- Permalinks
Follow these steps to easily move all this data from Blogger to WordPress.
Step 1: WordPress, Hosting, and Domain
To run WordPress, you need to purchase a hosting plan and domain name.
A self-hosting service is better than free hosting because you get to own your domain name.
It provides more freedom to customize your blog, as well.
With some hosting plans, you get a free domain for one year.
Out of all the hosting plans, people mostly go with Bluehost or Cloudways as it works well with WordPress.
There are different hosting plans available online. You need to choose the plan as per your requirements.
You can start with a basic hosting plan and upgrade it as your blog traffic increases.
To get the domain name and hosting plan, you need to go to the hosting website, choose a plan, choose a domain name, and make the payment.
But I would recommend getting a domain from Godaddy and hosting from Cloudways.
Step 2: Install WordPress
After you get the hosting plan, you need to install WordPress.
After creating your hosting account on Bluehost, you can directly install WordPress. You just have to follow a few steps.
First, you need to go to your Bluehost Account. After that, click on the website section.
Use the install WordPress option to install it. You need to enter your domain name to do it.
If you want to make any changes, you can do it from the advanced option.
Now, read the terms of service carefully. Once you are done, click in the box and install WordPress.
Step 3: Prepare WordPress
After you install WordPress, you need to prepare it by making changes as per your niche.
Now you need to have a theme.
We use Themify Ultra on this website. It is the most flexible and multi-purpose WordPress theme.
After you select the theme, you need to install it on your WordPress.
You can make more changes and customize your blog by using other options.
Moreover, you can use various plugins for functionality. You can choose from different plugins.
After you choose it, install it on your blog.
You can use an SEO plugin, backup plugin, security plugin as well as a spam comment plugin.
Step 4: Export from Blogger
In this step, you need to export all your valuable content from Blogger to WordPress.
To do this, you have to open Blogger and follow some steps.
-First, go to Blogger and log in.
-Look for the name on the top. Use the menu on the right side. Choose the settings option.
-Go to the left-hand side. Use the menu option. Click on Other options.
-Go to Blog Tools. Choose the Export Blog link.
-Tap on the Download blog option. Save the file.
Step 5: Import to WordPress
After you export all the content from Blogger, follow this step.
Here, you need to import the downloaded content to WordPress. Again, you need to follow certain steps to do it.
-Open WordPress and log in.
-Go to the dashboard.
-Go to the left side menu option. Then, go to tools and click on import.
-Use the Blogger option.
-You need to use a plugin to import the content. To do this, use the Install Now option given at the bottom of the page.
-Tap on the activate plugin link.
-Go to choose the file option. Choose the file you want to import.
-Tap on the Upload and Import option.
-Choose the author. Click on an existing user. Leave a new user option. Click on Submit.
Now you will be able to check all your blogs on WordPress. It will appear on the left side menu.
If the size of the file is too large, you won’t be able to import it.
In this case, you can make changes in the settings. Increase the maximum size of the file.
Step 6: Set up Permalinks
It is basically a set of URLs. Everything you have on WordPress needs to have a unique link so that you can locate it.
These links might affect the SEO of your blog page.
You need to change the permalinks in WordPress. Make it as it appears in Blogger.
You can use month and name to make it resemble Blogger links.
To do this, you need to go to settings < Month and Name < Save Changes.
Now the permalinks will have the same format.
Step 7: Redirect your Content
After you set up your WordPress blog, you need to inform the users and subscribers about it.
To do this, you can write a new blog. In the blog, inform them about your move.
You need to add a link so that they can reach your new blog.
You can set the redirections to inform the readers.
Moreover, you need to do it in Blogger as well as WordPress.
First, go to Blogger account < Themes < Revert to Classic Themes.
Now, go to the new settings option < Edit Theme HTML.
After that, you need to delete all the codes. You need to enter your new domain name in the code. Once it is done, save it.
Similarly, you need to create redirection on WordPress as well. After doing that, redirect the feed.
Step 8: Get Images
Sometimes even when you follow all these steps, the images will not appear.
To get the images, you need to follow one additional step.
To get the images, go to Media < Library.
After that, check the images. If they are visible, check the link. The link should be to your new domain name.
If you are still missing some images, you can use a plugin to get them back.
Go to Plugins > Add New > Import External Attachments > Install > Activate > Media > Import attachments.
Sometimes the URL of the images may be wrong. To rectify it, follow these steps.
Plugins > Add New > Velvet Blues Update URL > Install > Activate > Tools > Update URLs.
Now, you will be able to see all the images on your WordPress blog with the correct links.
Migrate from Blogger to WordPress (In simple steps)
1. Backup your Blogger content:
Before you begin the migration process, it’s important to make sure you have a backup of all your content from Blogger.
This includes all your posts, pages, comments, and media files.
2. Set up a WordPress.org site:
To migrate to WordPress, you’ll need to set up a self-hosted WordPress.org site.
This will require you to purchase a domain name and hosting plan from a web hosting provider.
3. Install the Blogger to WordPress plugin:
There are a few different plugins available that can help you migrate your Blogger content to WordPress.
One popular option is the Blogger to WordPress plugin, which you can install on your WordPress site.
4. Export your Blogger content:
Once you have the Blogger to WordPress plugin installed, you can use it to export your Blogger content.
This will create an XML file that contains all your Blogger content, including posts, pages, comments, and media files.
5. Import your content into WordPress:
Once you have the XML file with your Blogger content, you can use the WordPress importer tool to import it into your WordPress site.
Simply go to Tools > Import, select the Blogger importer, and follow the prompts to import your content.
6. Redirect your old Blogger URL:
Once your content has been imported into WordPress, you’ll want to redirect your old Blogger URL to your new WordPress site.
This will ensure that any links to your old site will still work and that you don’t lose any traffic.
7. Customize your WordPress site:
Once your content has been imported and your old URL has been redirected, you can start customizing your new WordPress site.
This includes choosing a theme, adding widgets, and configuring any additional plugins or features you want to use.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, switching or migrating from Blogger to WordPress may seem like a daunting task, but it is a relatively straightforward process.
By following the steps outlined in this guide and using the available tools and resources, you can successfully transfer your blog to WordPress without losing your content or your audience.
The key to a successful migration is to plan ahead, backup your content, and test everything thoroughly before going live.
Make sure to choose a reliable hosting provider, select a theme that fits your blog’s style, and install essential plugins to enhance your website’s functionality.
Remember that the migration process may take some time, so be patient and take it one step at a time.
Once you’ve made the switch to WordPress, you’ll enjoy the benefits of a more customizable, feature-rich platform that can help you take your blog to the next level.
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