Ladies and gents, I have a big announcement to make…
✧ I got self-hosted ! ✧
I’m thrilled ! I’ve considered getting self-hosted regularly during this first year of blogging. And as more and more time went by, I just found more and more pros for the self hosting side.
So let me show you how I did it and maybe it will help you if, like me, you are filled with doubt right now.
There are two places where you can get hosted on wordpress : wordpress.com and wordpress.org. To get self-Hosted, it means that your blog or website will be hosted on wordpress.org.
The pros of self-hosting :
- I love the Idea that you can do anything with your blog : you can modify your html & CSS code (you can do it through your theme’s features if you don’t know how to code), and therefore it’s whole apparence
- Also, wordpress.com can’t DELETE your blog if they think, somehow, that it doesn’t respect their policy
- You are allowed to work with brands without owing wordpress.com anything, I discovered that publicity for example was not freely allowed there (affiliate links aren’t all allowed either)
- You can add soooo many useful plugins !
- Get to choose between thousands of gorgeous wordpress themes
- You can make a bilingual (or trilingual) blog, as an almost trilingual person I can and will use this option ?
you are basically the REAL owner of your blog, and that is in my opinion really important to me, as I am the one creating the content of my blog.
So why did I hesitate ?
Well, the big issue for me as someone who was hosted on wordpress.com, was my fear of loosing my followers, and views from their reader.
BUT DON’T WORRY : you will keep those with the Jetpack plugin.
✧ How exactly do you go self-hosted ? ✧
So I got self-hosted with Lyrical Host. I browsed through all their website, compared prices and services and saw how happy the bloggers were with it, so I chose it without looking back.
Why Lyrical Host ?
Their client service is excellent, they answer you so fast !
They’re really patient and willing to help you, it was pleasing.
Their explanations are simple, and overall the whole process is plain and uncomplicated : they take care of EVERYTHING ! (including the backup of your site, they do it automatically). I didn’t have to do anything technic, as the price covers for them to take care of every essential computer maneuver.
Also, they have a free resources library, with lots of stock pictures, ebook pdfs… and a monthly pack with new goods !
Plus : you get 10% off with my promotional code : ORIANASNOTES10 !
Here are the steps :
- Go to the Lyrical Host website
- On the host page, click on the WordPress Hosting button :
- Then, you will have to choose between three plans. I chose the Tiny one, as it is enough for me at the moment.
- If you’re migrating a blog or site that already exists : choose “transfer your domain from another registrar”. If not, choose “Register a new domain” and add your blog’s name !
- Now proceed to checkout, and if there’s any place to write a promotional code, don’t forget that you get 10% off with my code : ORIANASNOTES10 ! If there’s no place to write the code, send it to the Lyrical Host team in a support ticket before the check out ?
- Last step if you’re moving from another host such as wordpress.com : book your migration ! The team will start migrating your site at the booked time, and will tell you how it goes little by little.
And that’s it !
If there’s ANY question that you need to ask, they are here for you, even really newbie rookie questions (don’t worry we’ve all been there honey).
I might have been capable of going for it and learning to do the process by myself, but honestly I don’t think it’s worth risking doing something the wrong way that would over-complicate a process, that would have been easily done by them.
So now here’s my new beautiful site :
I hope that you like the new features of my blog !
Ask anything you need concerning going self-hosted, i’d be happy to help ?
Thanks, something I am thinking about so really useful and easy to follow!
You’re welcome Anna ! I’m glad I helped, don’t hesitate to ask anything if needed ?
Many congratulations on getting self hosted! It’s amazing, isn’t it? You’ll love it more and more going forward 🙂
Thank you Shailaja, it is ! You’re absolutely right I love it more everyday ?
I must have another think about this. I would like a prettier page, but I think I’ve only tried to do one thing with my current blog for which I needed to be self-hosted. That’s not really enough to justify the change – although I admit there are probably things I would love if I did.
It’s true that you’d need a reason to do it, but for me being able to get a prettier page could have almost been the only reason ? I love to customise everything as much as possible ! As you said, there are so many things you could do (technically everything) on your blog, the only question is : would the change be worth it ? For me it was ?
Interesting post Oriana. What would you say are the negatives you have experienced? I have a WPcom blog as well as a self-hosted one and have been surprised that some things (e.g. Like This button, Reblog button, Follow Me button) are not always easy to implement, or not at all. Have you come across challenges yourself?
Well according to like buttons and all I didn’t have much problem, I’m good at computer and IT stuff so I managed to do it easily ? But for things like moving stats from wordpress.com I didn’t know how to do that at all, so I just asked the hosting service support and they told me how to do it an hour later ! Another “negative” for me would be having to learn css to do really advanced customisation. It’s challenging but since I like coding a bit it’s not really a bad thing ?
What plug-in do you use for your social share buttons (they are smart!), and did you notice a slowdown in webpage speed?
I use the ones that come with the jetpack plugin. I did not notice a slowdown, but I have fiber internet at home so not any website is slow for me. I wouldn’t be able to tell if it slowed down for my subscribers or not ! ?
Thank you for the like on my post! I loved this. I might have to use Lyrical Host when I self-host. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome Tyler ! ? Don’t hesitate, Lyrical Host is a great host ! Wish you the best for your own self hosting project ?
I think I am ready for this move. Can I ask- will your posts still appear on followers’ WP thread?
Yes they will appear in your followers reader from WordPress.com, even for new followers after that ?
Thank you!
Thanks for this!! This is very much appreciated!
You’re welcome Mary ! Don’t hesitate if you have further questions ?
I am so glad I read this post as I have been contemplating this for some time but although I am computer literate, I am totally unfamiliar with coding etc so will need someone to do the entire migration for me and I also need to be sure that I do not loose any existing work or WP or email followers. I will take another look at your links soon. Thanks for sharing. Love your new site.
Gгeat article. I am going through some of theѕe issuｅs as well..