Since our switch from blogger to our own dot com, I have had many emails asking how I did this, if it was easy, and if I could help them switch theirs. So I decided to write a tutorial to help you Do-It-Yourself.

It only takes 3 steps and you can have it up and running in under 10 minutes! You can then have a professional website that you can control, customize, and be very proud of!

Here is the breakdown of how your website is run when you use a self hosted service:

Top: Your Website (Final product)

Middle: I call WordPress “Mr. Middleman” Think of it as a program in which you create everything that will go on your website. I like to compare it to blogger’s dashboard only better! You will have your own dashboard where you can create widgets, edit comments, create posts. Plus it is super organized and easy to navigate.

Bottom: Bluehost Service (where everything is stored)

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ARE YOU READY TO SWITCH? HERE WE GO:

#1-First you need to get your own web hosting. Sign up with BLUEHOST. I highly recommend them as they provide a very professional service and one that makes the process super easy. I only pay $6.95 per month to keep my website running. (I pay a full year up front then I don’t have to worry about missing a payment-that is easiest for me!) This also gives you your own domain name (www.yoururl.com) FREE since you are a new customer, along with the web hosting space (your own server space). You will then be able to login to your c-panel.

#2-Now that you have your own dot com set up and self hosting paid for. Simply log in. You will then you will need to scroll down until you see Software/Services. There you will click the WordPress image. Click “Install”. You will then be asked where you want it saved. Just leave it at the default setting. You will then see a progress bar showing it installing.  Done!

#3-Now go to this link: http://YourBlogName.com/wp-admin (inserting your own domain name) & Log in. Next you will want to import your blogger posts and comments into your wordpress. Super easy-peasy! On the left of your dashboard click “Tools”, Click “Import”, Click “Blogger”. Now locate which Blog you want to import as it will show a list and Click “Import” You can see the progress. Once it is done you are ready to rock-n-roll! I recommend keeping your blogger blog active and just putting a note on the home page saying you have moved and where they can find you. You can see how I did this here. That way if someone comes looking for you they can be redirected to your new site and not think you are LOST forever.

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Now is when you get to have fun creating your New Look. You can choose from thousands of WP themes (Click “Appearance” then “Themes”), add your widgets (Click “Appearance” then “Widgets”) , and get your site going!

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any other questions and I will definitely answer them.

Stay tuned for more tutorials to help you with the switch over…coming very soon!