I want to get a website started for a business I’m trying to stand up. I spent a good bit of time trying to research what I should use to build my website and finally got set on WordPress. I didn’t understand the .com was not the same thing as the .org. I bought the domain and got set up for the \~$100/year plan. I was looking at things this morning to get started building and that’s when I came across that not-so-tiny detail.
So, I’d like to transfer (currently looking at HostGator (please tell me if this is the right direction or if I’m about to make another mistake)). I really want to keep the domain I bought through WordPress but don’t really want to wait 60 days to be able to transfer because I’d really like to start designing now (I don’t particularly care about launching it within the 60 days). My vague plan would be to go with the HostGator Baby Plan to get 2 sites. I’d maybe make a .org version of my domain or something to that effect as a temp, start building on that with WordPress.org, and then after 60 days when I can transfer take my design work and put it on my original .com instead.
I don’t know if that makes sense or is a good plan or not. I feel like the more research I do the more confused I get and less confident I am. I’m just overwhelmed with it at the moment and want to talk my problem through with people instead of trying to google it or risk getting a hallucination from GPT. Any and all input and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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You cannot transfer the domain to another registrar within 60 days. That’s not their rule, no registrar can do that. It’s a safety thing. But, you have DNS control on wordpress.com so you can point it to anybody you want for the domain name. Then you can transfer it to another registrar after that time has expired.
I got lost in all that info.
You can request a transfer of that domain to the new hosting, cost additional money tho. Just make sure that you new hosting supports domain transfers.
Also, and probably better, you can build your site on the new hosting and just make that the domain on WP.com points into your new site on the new hosting. But you will be paying double.
generally speaking:
your domain is your address and the hosting is where your files reside.
many services offer both (like WordPress.com) to make it easier for the customer by having them both under one account.
WordPress is the technology used to build websites. it’s open source which means it’s free. you can learn more from WordPress.org
WordPress.com is a site that offers domains and hosting packages to customers. rather than hosting your custom code files, they “install” WordPress for you to use.
at this time, if you want to keep your domain, you can buy some other domain/hosting package and edit your current WordPress.com domain name records to point to your new site.
time is money. and right now you’re digging into a hole… if you feel like your invested time and effort into researching how to set up your site (which should only be once) is more valuable than having someone else with experience do it, then continue on….
my suggestion is focus on what you’re skilled at and hire someone to set up and design your site.