Moving from Blogger to WordPress? – My Advice

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At the end of February I began the journey from moving from Blogger to WordPress. I say journey because that is exactly what it was – a journey. A journey that just ended at the end of March.

3706488901_443d1bb699 — Photo Credit: Creative Commons

Now for those of you who are tech-savvy and knowledgeable in all things computer, count your blessings. That is one skill that I wish I had because it would make life a whole lot easier (and cheaper). But even though I have learned a lot over the past few years blogging, there are some things I am still not comfortable with and moving my whole blog to another platform without knowing what the heck I’m really doing in not one of them. It takes me a long time to figure out just the smallest online tasks, and even then I usually have a hiccup. The threat of losing everything was enough for me to hire someone without a second thought.

And so that’s what I did.

I hired a person who was recommended, has a beautiful website, seems very talented (and I’m sure she is), AND was half the price of what I expected to pay. Bingo! She landed the grand prize for the job.

Except that the job ended up being bigger than what she expected – I think. I am assuming she is better at designing than the really techy stuff. As days turned into weeks with glitch after glitch, finally communication stopped. Yes, stopped, and my blog was in an upheaval and not completed. It’s hard to get someone to respond to an email when that’s the only form of communication you have – no phone number, no address (not that I would really pay a visit), nothing. And so I was stuck.

Luckily, the wonderful, wonderful women at DIY Ministry – Lisa Boyd and Amy Bayliss – came to my rescue. I know that sounds dramatic, but that’s truly what it was – a rescue. Come to find out my blog was in more of a shambles that I had known. (Blogger even contacted me saying that they were deleting the blogspot URL because they found malicious code? or something?) It became a bit of a nightmare.

So my advice for moving from Blogger to WordPress?

1. Don’t go with the most inexpensive business to do the migration.

2. Ask for references that you can contact.

3. Request daily emails or updates on how the migration is progressing, and when it is expected to be complete.

4. Get your advice and help from DIY Ministry.

Are you considering making the move? What questions do you have? Or if you’ve made the move from Blogger to WordPress, what is your advice?

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Comments

11 responses to “Moving from Blogger to WordPress? – My Advice”

April 9, 2012

EdwardsGranddaughter

Hi Brenda,
Glad that you got your transition made. I am doing it myself and just finished moving all my post. I still have much to do.

Reply
1. April 9, 2012
  
  Brenda
  
  Good for you for doing it yourself!! I wish I knew how to do all of that stuff. It’s a big job! Good luck!! 🙂
  
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April 9, 2012

Barbie

So thankful you are up and running again. Sorry for the nightmare of transition. I hired someone who was also recommended, not too cheap but overall expensive either. It was more important to pay someone to migrate my blog correctly. As far a design, I’ve always used daughters of bloggers I follow. My currently designer is just 17!! Love supporting the younger generation in their giftings!

Reply
1. April 10, 2012
  
  Brenda
  
  I love the idea of hiring someone young for the blog design. I bought a prefab design, but when I decide to have it custom designed I will have to get your recommendations! Thank you, Barbie, for your ideas!!
  
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April 9, 2012

Heather 🙂 🙂 🙂

Oh wow…thanks for the advice, good tips and the good referral.I actually follow Amy’s blog…and it’s good to know that she can also help me if I ever decide to switch blogging platforms. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂

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1. April 10, 2012
  
  Brenda
  
  Yes, Heather, Amy is amazing!! I want to be on the ocean shores of California! I’m about three hours away from the ocean shores of North Carolina. Does that count? I don’t think so. 🙂 Love and hugs to you, too!!
  
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April 10, 2012

Erica {let why lead}

That is SO crazy about her not returning your messages. She must have felt awkward, but I think it would have been far LESS awkward to just admit she was in over her head and offer a refund or something. I moved my blog from blogger to wordpress a little while ago. I used nothing but tutorials I found by googling it! It zapped a lot of my time for a bit there, and I probably lost a few followers along the way, but I think it is working out. As far as the design, I’m using the basic Thesis framework. Your design looks fantastic! So I guess that means all the loose ends are coming together!

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1. April 10, 2012
  
  Brenda
  
  Erica, I know!! It was strange. Finally I got the hint and just contacting DIY. I am impressed that you did it yourself through Google. I think I would have been a wreck. 🙂 I had purchased an inexpensive prefab design when on Blogger and just took that with me. And for a short time I had another website for a reading tutoring business, so I already had purchased StudioPress and the Prose Child Theme. It is coming together now! I love your design too. I love clean and simple!!
  
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April 10, 2012

Brenda

Wow! Yes, I knew there was no way I wanted to try it myself. I will have to check out your blogs. 🙂 I am so happy you’re blogging again. That’s great!!

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April 12, 2012

Julie Wilson

I confess… I hate change! I also hate spending any money on my blog when it gives me no money in return. That being said, I just won a one year subscription to DIY… I don’t know what to do with it! 🙂 … help!

Reply
1. April 13, 2012
  
  Brenda
  
  Julie, I am sooo with you!! I love to blog, and it does require some investment, but it’s so hard to make that investment sometimes. The biggest piece of advice I’ve heard is that blogs grow slowly – really slowly sometimes – and the money can come, but it’s not going to be overnight. That is great that you won a subscription to DIY! I love it and use it all the time. They probably get tired of me!! The most helpful for me are the forums where you can ask questions and get good, right answers. Also, Amy and Lisa’s web seminars are SUPER! I think you have to pay extra for those, but they are really inexpensive and so worth it. Just spend some time on there looking around!
  
  Reply