Blog Migration: How To Transfer Blogger Blog To WordPress

Now, I remember what is it that I hate with Blogger.. I started with that blogging platform… tried WordPress and bought my very first domain there (lesson learned> cheaper to buy domain at GoDaddy or any other domain registrar, rather than buy it at WP or Blogger). During those times, WP is a headache, so I decided to transfer my domain to GoDaddy (expensive!!) and so I got my own domain while using Blogger as my platform.

The reason why I decided to transfer to WordPress was when I accidentally deleted 300+ blog posts.. the Blogger dashboard is not friendly to mistakes. I was trying to delete my drafts and didn’t realized that I was on the published post area… clicked delete.. and BOOM!!! Blogger did not even asked me if I am sure to delete those files…. argh!!!! It would have been easier if I have a Database access.. which sadly, Blogger does not offer 🙁

Before transferring to WordPress, my blog is already huge.. er not huge like it has a lot followers.. huge in terms of size.. imagine 300+ blog posts (not to mention photos). We tried importing the contents of my Blogger blog using the IMPORT tool available at the WordPress dashboard. It didn’t worked. So, my dear friend created a free hosted WP blog (WordPress.com..ah! I know what will be my next post.. WordPress.com VS WordPress.org) then import the contents from the Blogger blog. After that, using my new WP blog, she imported that content from the free hosted WP blog.. so this is what happened when I transferred my blogger blog to WordPress:

Blogger>> WordPress.com > WordPress.org

Enough blah blah, here’s How To Transfer Blogger Blog To WordPress:

First Step (I will make a detailed blog post on this one too.. complete with photos)

1. Log on to your Blogger dashboard and export your blog so you can have a back up, just in case everything went wrong. Dashboard>> Settings>> Other>> Blog Tools>> Export
2. Convert your Blogger Blog to its blogspot address. Dashboard>> Basic>> Blog Address ( revert back to blogspot domain)
3. Now log on to your domain registrar, to change the nameserver of your domain. Change it to the nameserver of your host.
4. Log on to your host and add domain in your cpanel.
5. Install a new wordpress on your cpanel, install it with a www prefix (since your blogger blog uses a www)
6. After the WordPress is installed, you can now see your blog on WP platform.

Step 2: Migration/ Transfer Process:

• After successfully installing a WordPress blog, log in to your dashboard (www.yourblog.com/wp-admin) 
• Look for Blogger Importer plug in and install.
• The Blogger importer is now located at tools:

• Click import and click BLOGGER. Make sure that your Blogger account is logged in. Authorize the transfer and if you have many blogs under your blogger account, choose the blog that you want to import (then wait):

• After importing your posts, comments and other contents, you might want to convert some of your tags into categories:  Import>> Categories and Tags Converter

• Change the Permalink Structure, since Blogger blogs uses .html on their permalink where as WP does not.. To maintain this permalink all you need to do is change the structure. Go to permalink then go to Custom and put this:   /%year%/%monthnum%/%postname%.html  

• Also install a PERMALINK PLUG IN for tying loose ends. as pointed out by Sam, WordPress automatically delete short words such as “the” “a” in the title name/ post name)

And you’re done! Now, explore WordPress and install plug ins, I will publish my TOP Must Install WordPress Plugins next week.

EDIT: While trying to import some of old posts (to come up with an updated import-export tutorial) I didn’t noticed that FB post plug in was on.. my friends’ news feed were flooded with posts from a long time ago, which includes Scott Kay jewelry designer blog post and other press release posts. I hope no one blocks for that 🙁