My girlfriend and I have a website and we are trying to switch Web hosting platforms so that we own the rights and are able to monetize our site. We have been getting a good amount of traffic and we have a loyal following but we now want to rent advertising space. Do you have any solutions?
–D. Colvin
Via E-mail
If you’re using WordPress, you’ll need to determine which platform you’re using. WordPress is available in two different hosting platforms: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. WordPress.org is an open-source, customizable platform that offers numerous options for advanced users. Most likely, your site is built on WordPress.com which is hosted free, upgraded and backed up regularly, and simple to set up.
The disadvantage? You’ll need WordPress.org if you want to install custom themes and plug-ins, modify the source code, edit the database, and even run advertisements. Advertisements are restricted on WordPress.com until the blog exceeds 25,000 unique visitors per month. Once you reach that milestone, you can apply for a revenue sharing partnership where WordPress.com receives 50% of your ad revenues.
To upgrade to the self-hosted option, you can use WordPress-integrated Web hosting services such as GoDaddy.com, DreamHost, Bluehost, or MediaTemple and should also transfer your domain names to these hosts prior to transferring your content. Look for a service that offers you one-click, automatic installation, like the sites above. Next, go to Tools -> Export in your old WordPress.com dashboard to download an XML file with your blog’s content. In the new WordPress.org blog, go to Tools -> Import and upload the XML file you downloaded before.
Oh, and rest assured that you don’t have to leave WordPress to own the rights to your content. If it’s your intellectual property then it’s yours no matter which platform you use. For more information follow the instructions at: http://en.support.wordpress.com/export/.