So, you have started a blog on WordPress.com, have had some success with building a following and now you want to monetize your blog. The question is, do you stay with your existing blog or venture out and see what other options are out there?

Fortunately, there are several options to consider when making an informed decision:

1. WordPress.com is free, unfortunately they do not give you any real options to monetize your blog.
2. The largest benefit of hosting your own blog is the ability to install plugins, everything from SEO to shopping carts and email collecting.
   1. I currently have 11 plugins installed on my blog, all of them offering additional functionality.
   2. You will have to purchase a domain name that is renewed yearly. Godaddy.com is what I use and recommend.
      1. I recommend you purchase it yourself. Then you will have control over your own domain name. I have had disgruntled clients who transferred their websites to my care and have had a very unfortunate experience trying to switch their domain name over to our servers.
      2. If you decide to let the new hosting company purchase your domain, I recommend that you have your contact information, especially your email address, listed for the account. That way all communications will go through you. Believe me, this is a huge factor when you decide to transfer your domain name to a new hosting company or when it is time to renew your Domain name.
      3. Hosting your blog on your own website will cost you money.
         1. If you want a professional looking site you will have to hire a professional to design a site for you.
         2. Or you can choose from a rather large selection of themes that are free.
            1. i.      For a more distinctive look, you can purchase a theme. Depending on the complexity of the theme you will pay $65 and up.
3. Installing a theme is a simple matter of searching and having your blog install it.
4. d. Additionally, WordPress.com and WordPress.org software have access to their own themes. They may not be compatible with each other.
5. You will have to pay a monthly fee for hosting

The 2 biggest problems of switching to a blog on your own Website is:

1. Transferring you posts to your new site
2. Losing all of the links to your posts

Moving Your Posts

If you are moving to a self-hosted blog using the WordPress.org software, you first need to obtain appropriate web hosting and have your WordPress.org blog/site up and running before transferring your content.

1. In the old blog, go to Tools → Export and download the XML (WXR) file to your computer.
2. In the new blog, go to Tools → Import → WordPress and upload the file you downloaded in step 1. Make sure that you choose the option to Download & import file attachments.

Videos uploaded to WordPress.com cannot be moved through the import process. However, you can continue to use the existing videos through VideoPress plugin, which provides an easy way to manage and embed videos hosted on the WordPress.com service.

Redirecting your posts

Redirect yourblogname.wordpress.com (as well as all of your permalinks) to your new domain name can  be accomplished through upgrading your WordPress.com blog with Site Redirect. This is a one-time charge of $12.00. Once upgraded, you enter in the old domain followed by the new domain. Just follow the prompts.

A more detailed post is listed here

Once these steps are accomplished you are now good to go. Happy blogging!!

If this is still confusing or you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, just contact me for a very reasonable quote!