WordPress.org versus WordPress.com 99 Designs

curtischin8
(@curtischin8)

15 years, 10 months ago

Hello there,

I just set up a free blog over at wordpress.com and I am trying to figure out what is the difference between setting up something over there and over here at wordpress.org. If the sites created here are more powerful, then will I be able to migrate everything over if I want to expand six months down the line? How hard would that be? Or do you recommend I just start over here.

Also, I am not that happy with the free template choices over at wordpress.com. They have a service with 99 designs that charges about $1,000 to customize your own template, code it and install it. Any thoughts on that service? Or is that money better spent elsewhere?

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

Curtis

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

envex
(@envex)

15 years, 10 months ago

wordpress.org sites are self hosted, so you’ll need to purchase a hosting package and a domain.

Moderator James Huff
(@macmanx)

15 years, 10 months ago

See this article:

http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

Gabe Young
(@gabeyoung)

15 years, 10 months ago

If you plan on being on .org anyway, I would start on a .org. Not only will you lose all of your SEO ranking and PageRank when you migrate but it’d also be a lot of work to manually repost everything. Also, you won’t have any user comments and anyone who subscribes to your site would have to re-optin.

Besides, you’ll have much more control while giving your visitors a much better perception that you have a serious site.

Those are just a few reasons to just start on a .org.

Thread Starter curtischin8
(@curtischin8)

15 years, 10 months ago

Thanks, Gabe

So if I start off as a “com”, then I have “re-post” every entry and re-tag and categorize them as well? Jeesh!

I read the document that discussed com vs.org and it really seemed like they were pushing the .com more than the .org.

one big question, does the .com allow for paid advertisements? because I would really like to have that as a feature. I am planning on hiring a designer to create my own theme and I will have a space for a banner ad. Is that permissible with .com?

Moderator Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)
(@ipstenu)

🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist

15 years, 10 months ago

You don’t have to repost/tag etc. You can export and import. AND I think that brings over comments as well.

You should ask on .com if they’re okay with banners and ads.

Moderator James Huff
(@macmanx)

15 years, 10 months ago

Here’s their policy on advertising:

http://en.support.wordpress.com/advertising/

The short answer is that you can’t have ads unless you’ve paid for the VIP upgrade or you have “generally 25,000 pageviews/month or more” and are willing to split the revenue 50/50.