Knowledgebase

Migrating from WordPress.com to WordPress.org (Firstserv Guide)

If your WordPress.com site has grown and you need more flexibility—such as installing custom plugins, modifying themes, or adding eCommerce functionality—it may be time to move to a self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) site on Firstserv.

This guide walks you through the migration process.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

WordPress.com

• Fully hosted and managed platform
• Limited customisation
• No direct access to hosting environment

WordPress.org

• Self-hosted on your own Firstserv account
• Full control over:
  • Themes and design
  • Plugins and functionality
  • Monetisation (ads, WooCommerce, etc.)

Before You Start

There are a few important considerations:

• ✅ You can migrate content (posts, pages, media, comments)
• ❌ Themes, plugins, and custom fonts cannot be transferred automatically
• Some themes are exclusive to WordPress.com, so you may need to choose a new one
• You may need to redesign parts of your site to match your original look

Step 1: Install WordPress on Firstserv

Before migration, you’ll need a new WordPress installation.

• Log in to your Firstserv Client Area / cPanel
• Use a one-click installer (e.g. Softaculous) to install WordPress
• Choose your domain and ensure HTTPS (SSL) is enabled

Once installed:

• Select and install a theme
• Configure fonts (via theme settings or plugins if needed)

Step 2: Export Your WordPress.com Site

1. Log in to WordPress.com
2. Open your site dashboard
3. Go to Tools → Export
4. Click Export All
5. Download the export file (ZIP)

After downloading:

• Extract the ZIP file
• Inside, you’ll find an XML file containing your site data

Step 3: Import Content to Your New Site

1. Log in to your new WordPress site
2. Go to Tools → Import
3. Under WordPress, click Install Now
4. Once installed, click Run Importer
5. Upload the XML file from Step 2

During Import

• Assign content to an existing user or create a new one
• ✅ Check the option to Import Attachments (important for media files)

Step 4: Set Old Site to Private

To avoid confusion, you should take your old WordPress.com site offline.

1. Log in to WordPress.com
2. Go to your site settings
3. Find the Privacy section
4. Set your site to Private
5. Save changes

Step 5: Redirect Traffic (SEO Preservation)

To maintain your traffic and search engine rankings:

• WordPress.com offers a paid Site Redirect feature
• This automatically forwards visitors and search engines to your new site

⚠️ Without redirects:

• Visitors may still land on your old site
• Search rankings may be affected

Important Notes

• If your WordPress.com site is using a custom domain, migration may require additional DNS and domain configuration
• For smoother transitions, you may wish to:
  • Test your new site thoroughly before going live
  • Update internal links if needed
  • Check menus, widgets, and layouts

Summary

Migrating to WordPress.org on Firstserv gives you:

• Full control over your website
• Access to advanced plugins and features
• Greater flexibility for growth and monetisation

Migration Steps Overview

1. Install WordPress on Firstserv
2. Export your WordPress.com site
3. Import content into your new site
4. Set your old site to private
5. Configure redirects (optional but recommended)

If you need help migrating your site, choosing a plan, or configuring your new WordPress installation, the Firstserv support team is always happy to assist.