Migrate Blogger to WordPress in 5 Easy Steps: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Blogging on Blogger for months or even years can start to feel limiting at some point. Design issues and missing features might lead you to consider switching to WordPress.

But moving can feel scary. What if you lose posts? What if readers can’t find you? What if it’s too complicated? These worries keep many stuck, even if they’ve outgrown Blogger.

Here’s the truth: Many successfully make the move to WordPress every month, retaining all their content. We’ve written extensively about WordPress migrations, and this guide is here to help make the process as easy as possible for you.

TL;DR: Moving from Blogger to WordPress is straightforward with the right steps. Mishaps can happen to the best of us, so once on WordPress, install tools like backup plugins to safeguard and easily restore your site if needed.

Why migrate from Blogger to WordPress

Switching from Blogger to WordPress is a decision you won’t regret. It offers tools to make your blog truly stand out and frees you from “I wish I could…” limitations. Here’s why it’s the perfect choice for your upgrade: 

Design that fits your vision: Your Blogger site might look okay, but WordPress lets you fully customize your blog’s design to reflect your style.

Add the features you want: With WordPress plugins, you can easily add security plugins, contact forms, better photo galleries, and email capture tools without limits.

Boost your visibility: WordPress helps improve your visibility in search results by handling the technical aspects that search engines love.

Connect everything easily: Integrating your blog with social media and other tools is seamless, making everything work together smoothly.

Get help when you’re stuck: The vast WordPress community offers quick solutions and support for any challenges you face.

Grow without starting over: As your blog evolves, WordPress adapts with you, allowing you to expand without rebuilding from scratch.Proving itself superior to most WordPress alternatives.

Pre-migration steps

Before you start moving your content, you need to set up your new CMS. These decisions will affect how smoothly your migration goes and how much control you’ll have afterward:

1) Choose your hosting provider

You need a web host for your WordPress site. Look for hosting providers that offer one-click WordPress installations. This saves you time and eliminates guesswork during setup. For this article, we will be using Cloudways as our hosting provider.

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org: Choosing between these two affects your site’s flexibility. Here’s what you need to know to make the right choice:

• With WordPress.com, hosting is included and setup is quick, as they handle most technical details. However, you may have less control over certain aspects of your site’s design and functionality compared to WordPress.org.

• WordPress.org gives you complete control but requires more work upfront. You’ll need to purchase hosting separately and handle the installation yourself. The reward is total freedom over every aspect of your site.

Consider your comfort level with technology and your long-term blogging goals. If you want maximum control and don’t mind learning some new skills, choose WordPress.org. If you prefer simplicity and are comfortable with some limitations, WordPress.com works well.

2) Compile a list 

Create a list of essentials for your new WordPress site. Include all your posts, pages, and images. Note any features you want to add, like contact forms or galleries, ensuring nothing important is left behind during the migration.

What the Blogger .xml file includes:

• Posts
• Comments
• Text content
• Photos
• Videos
• Other embedded files

What the Blogger .xml file excludes:

• Theme design
• Custom domain
• Personal settings
• Pages

How to migrate Blogger to WordPress

Now comes the actual move. This process transfers all your content from Blogger to WordPress safely. Follow each step carefully, and your posts will be up and running on the new platform in minutes.

3) Export content from Blogger:

• Log in to Blogger and navigate to Settings. Under Manage Blog, select Back up content.

• Download the .xml file containing your posts and comments and save this file on your computer.

4) Import into WordPress

• In WordPress, navigate to Tools and click Import.

• To import, choose the Blogger option and install the importer. Once done, run the importer.

• Upload the .xml file and select Upload file and import

If the upload fails due to file size, increase your upload limit via your hosting control panel or contact support for assistance.

5) Finish the setup

Assign authors to the imported content if prompted, and review your site to ensure everything transferred correctly.

Post-migration steps

Your content is now on WordPress, but you’re not quite finished yet. These final steps ensure your site works perfectly and your readers can find you without any problems:

Check everything transferred: Verify all posts and images are correctly imported. Also, look for any missing content or broken formatting.

Set up redirects: Use a plugin like Redirection on WordPress. This tool helps set up URL redirects. It ensures that when someone clicks an old Blogger link, they automatically land on the correct page of your new WordPress site without noticing the change.

Fix web addresses: To fix your web addresses, go to your WordPress dashboard and click on Settings, then Permalinks. Choose a structure that matches your Blogger URL format, such as Post Name. This change will help maintain your search engine rankings and ensure that saved links continue to function smoothly. Remember to save your changes for them to take effect.

Rebuild pages: Manually recreate static pages like about and contact on WordPress.

Connect your domain: To point your custom domain to WordPress, log into your domain registrar’s account and find the DNS settings. Update the name servers with those from your WordPress host and save the changes. It may take up to 48 hours for these updates to take effect, during which your site’s address might not work consistently.

Test everything: Check for broken links, test functionality, and ensure everything loads correctly. Add essential tools:

Maintain your WordPress site

Your migration is complete, but maintaining your WordPress site ensures it stays secure, fast, and successful long-term. These simple habits protect everything you’ve built:

Regular site backups: Backup your site regularly. Set up automatic backups to make things easier and so that you never lose your content. Most hosting providers offer this service, or you can use a backup plugin. Think of backups as insurance for all your hard work.

Keep everything updated: Update your WordPress site, this includes your themes and plugins when new versions become available. These updates fix security issues and add improvements. Outdated sites become targets for hackers.

Watch your site’s speed: Monitor how fast your pages load. Slow sites frustrate readers and hurt your search rankings. Most hosting providers offer speed monitoring tools.

Protect against security threats: Install a security plugin that blocks malicious attacks and monitors suspicious activity. This prevents most common security problems without any effort from you.

Improve your search visibility: Review your SEO settings periodically and optimize your content to help more people find your blog through search engines.

Wrapping up

Migrating from Blogger to WordPress gives you greater control and flexibility to grow your blog. Just follow the steps, then set up essential plugins and regular backups for smooth, secure operation. With WordPress, you’re perfectly positioned to reach a wider audience and achieve your blogging goals.

FAQs

How do I transfer my domain from Blogger to WordPress?

To transfer your domain from Blogger to WordPress, access your domain registrar’s settings and update the DNS records to point to your new WordPress hosting. Follow instructions from your hosting provider for specific details. This change may take up to 48 hours to fully take effect.

Can I transfer my domain to WordPress for free?

Transferring your domain typically incurs no fees, but check with your registrar for specific terms. The process involves updating DNS settings to point to WordPress. Ensure your hosting plan on WordPress is ready to receive the domain.

Is WordPress free if I have a domain?

WordPress.org software is free, but you’ll need to pay for hosting and possibly for a domain. WordPress.com offers free plans, but custom domains might require a paid subscription. Choose based on your needs and budget.

How do I export from Blogger?

To export from Blogger, log into the site, navigate to Settings, and select Back up content under Manage Blog. Download the .xml file of your posts and comments. This file will be used to import to WordPress.

How do I import a blog into WordPress?

In WordPress, navigate to Tools and click Import. Choose Blogger and install the importer plugin, then upload your .xml file. Follow the prompts to complete the import and ensure everything transfers correctly.