How to Migrate from WordPress.com to SiteGround: Step-by-Step Guide

A dynamic and user-friendly website is essential for success in today’s digital landscape. WordPress.com has long been a popular platform for bloggers and website owners, but if you want to take your online presence to the next level, migrating to SiteGround can be a smart move.

SiteGround offers superior hosting services and the flexibility to customize your website to your heart’s content. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of migrating from WordPress.com to SiteGround, ensuring a smooth transition and improved performance.

Why Migrate to SiteGround?

Before we delve into the migration process, let’s explore why SiteGround is a preferred choice for many website owners. SiteGround offers a myriad of benefits, including:

  • Blazing Fast Loading Speeds – SiteGround guarantees blazing-fast website loading speeds for an improved user experience and better SEO rankings.
  • Top-Notch Customer Support – SiteGround provides 24/7 customer support to keep your website running smoothly.
  • Enhanced Security – SiteGround prioritizes website security and offers free SSL certificates for enhanced protection.
  • Easy Scalability – SiteGround offers easy scalability to accommodate growing website traffic and content without disruptions.

Preparing for the Migration

Before making any changes, it’s crucial to back up your existing WordPress.com content. This ensures that you don’t lose any data during the migration process. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Sign in to Your WordPress.com Account
WordPress.com Login Page
  1. Within the WordPress dashboard, navigate to “Plugins” and click “Upload.”
Upload Button
  1. Next, upload your WP Staging | Pro.
Upload Plugin
  1. After you’ve installed and activated it, go to the “Backup & Migration” section, typically found in the WordPress dashboard under “WP Staging | Pro.”
Backup and Migration Option
  1. If you already have an existing backup, that’s great. If not, click the “Create Backup” button to generate a new backup.
Create New Backup
  1. Enter a name for your backup, and then click the “Start Backup” button.
Enter Backup Name and Starrt Backup
  1. The backup has been completed successfully.
Backup Complete
  1. Once the backup process is finished, you’ll generally discover a “Download” option under the “Action” button. Be sure to save this backup file to a secure location on your computer.
Download Backup

The Process of Migration

  1. Log in to your SiteGround WordPress website by using your username and password or by accessing the SiteGround admin panel.
Access SiteGround Website Dashboard
  1. On the menu to the left, navigate to “Plugins” and click “Add New.”
Add New Plugin
  1. Select the “Upload Plugin” button, then click “Choose File” to upload the  WP Staging Pro plugin.
Upload and Choose Plugin
  1. Now, click the ‘Install Now’ button.
Install Plugin
  1. After the plugin is installed, activate it.
Activate Plugin
  1. Navigate to the left-hand menu, locate ‘WP Staging Pro,’ and select the ‘Backup & Migration’ option.
Backup and Migration Option
  1. Subsequently, click the ‘Upload Backup’ button.
Upload Backup
  1. Now, upload the backup file that you exported from your WordPress.com website.
Select Backup
  1. The backup has been successfully uploaded.
Backup Successfully Uploaded
  1. Next, select the ‘Action’ button, and then click the ‘Restore’ option.
Restore Button
  1. Press the ‘Next’ button.
Next Button
  1. Following that, click the ‘Restore’ button.
Start Restoring Backup
  1. The backup has been successfully restored.
  2. Click on the “OK” button.
Backup Successfully Restored
  1. Log in to your WordPress website once more.
Login to your wordpress website

Perform a thorough website test on SiteGround to confirm that all components function as intended and review all content for accuracy and formatting.

Conclusion

Migrating from WordPress.com to SiteGround might seem daunting, but with this step-by-step guide, you can make the transition smoothly and efficiently. SiteGround’s powerful hosting services and excellent support will give you the foundation for a successful website. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to improving your website’s performance and user experience.