Migrating a Blogger.com Site to a Self‑Hosted WordPress Blog
Updated 2026-07-05 · Hosting Reviews
If you started your writing journey on Blogger.com, you likely enjoyed the free, easy setup. However, as your audience grows, you will hit a ceiling. You cannot fully monetize the platform, design options are limited, and you do not truly own your site. For those serious about building a business, migrating Blogger.com to self hosted WordPress blog is the most critical step you will take. It moves you from a hobbyist platform to a professional asset that can generate real revenue through ads, affiliates, and sponsorships.
Why Move to a Self-Hosted Blog Website?
A self-hosted WordPress site gives you total ownership. Unlike Blogger, where Google can technically shut down your blog without notice, self-hosting means you rent your own space on the web. You control the code, the design, and the data. This is essential for a "Blog Website" focused on growth. You gain access to thousands of plugins for SEO, security, and speed—tools that simply do not exist on the free platform. If your goal is to make money, you need the flexibility that only WordPress provides.
Step 1: Selecting Hosting and Your Domain
Before you move a single file, you need a foundation. "Self-hosted" means you pay a third-party provider to store your website files on their servers. For most beginners starting a blog, shared hosting is the perfect entry point. It is affordable and easy to manage. As your traffic explodes, you can upgrade to VPS or cloud hosting, but that is usually unnecessary at the start.
Expect to pay between $3 and $15 per month for quality shared hosting. Renewal rates will likely be higher than intro offers, so read the fine print. You also need a domain name (your .com address). This usually costs around $10 to $15 per year.
For a balance of speed and price, Hostinger is a solid choice. They offer fast servers optimized specifically for WordPress, which keeps your load times low. They also simplify the onboarding process, which is a huge relief when you are already stressed about moving content.
Step 2: Installing WordPress and Preparing for Import
Once you have purchased your hosting plan and domain, you need to install the WordPress software. If you choose a provider like Hostinger, this is often a one-click process via their dashboard. You do not need to download files manually or configure databases yourself.
After installation, log in to your new WordPress dashboard. Go to the "Permalinks" settings and select "Post name." This ensures your URL structure is clean and search-engine friendly. Before touching your Blogger content, it is wise to select a basic theme. You can change the design later, but having a theme active prevents errors during the import process.
Step 3: The Migration Process
Migrating Blogger.com to self hosted WordPress blog involves moving your text, images, and comments. The safest way to do this without losing data is by using a specific plugin.
- Export from Blogger: Log in to your Blogger dashboard, go to Settings, and click "Manage blog." Back up your content by downloading the full XML file to your computer.
- Install the Importer: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Tools > Import. Select "Blogger." You may need to install the "Blogger Importer" plugin first if it is not active.
- Upload the File: Click "Choose File," select the XML file from your computer, and click "Upload and Import." WordPress will process the file and pull in your posts, comments, and categories.
- Set Up Redirects: This is a technical but vital step. You want people clicking old links on Google or social media to land on your new site, not a broken page. Install a plugin like "Redirection" or check if your host offers a migration tool that handles this automatically.
Step 4: Launching and Securing Your New Site
Once the content is moved, take a moment to check internal links. Images might sometimes need re-attaching if they were hotlinked, but the importer usually handles this well. Now, focus on security. A free SSL certificate (which encrypts data between your server and visitors) is mandatory. Most modern hosts, including Hostinger, provide this for free. It forces the "https" lock icon in the browser, which builds trust with your readers and helps your SEO rankings.
Finally, clean up your design. Choose a lightweight, mobile-responsive theme. Heavy themes with too many animations will slow you down. Speed is a ranking factor, so keep it simple. Now you are ready to publish your first new post on your own platform.
FAQ
How much does it cost to move to self-hosted WordPress?
The actual migration process is free if you do it yourself using plugins. The cost comes from the hosting and domain. Expect to budget around $3 to $15 per month for reliable shared hosting, plus about $10 to $15 annually for the domain name.
Will I lose my Google ranking during the move?
You might see a temporary fluctuation, but if you set up 301 redirects correctly, Google will transfer the authority from your old Blogger URLs to your new WordPress URLs. This preserves your SEO efforts over the long term.
Is self-hosted WordPress hard to maintain?
It requires a bit more learning than Blogger, but it is manageable. You are responsible for small updates and backups. However, using a user-friendly host like Hostinger simplifies this significantly with tools that handle updates and security for you.