Transferring a Blog to WordPress.org

The past couple weeks I have been planning and prepping for the big switch.  For all my travel followers, this information may not be as useful as the content in the future will be.  This post is intended for my blogger friends that are thinking about making the same switch I did.

WordPress.com is a great way to start a blog.  They host it with awesome support.  There is a huge community that exposes you to other bloggers while getting your content in front of the eyes of others.  Unfortunately, there are also limitations.  See this infographic if you want to learn the difference.  I met with an SEO expert last week and he helped me realize that my current host was holding me back.

Switching from WordPress.com to a self-hosted WordPress.org site was not as painful as I imagined, but it was not perfectly smooth.  I ran across issues with figuring out where to download wordpress.org and connect it with my host.  Most of my images did not transfer even though I checked the button to include attachments.  I almost lost it yesterday when I tried to switch my WordPress.com domain to my new site.  But in the end, there will be a lot more potential with what I can do with my new and shiny blog.

If you are considering the switch, I recommend checking out these resources.  They got me through the process along with the help of my SEO expert.  You are always welcome to ask me for help (even though I can’t promise I have all the answers).

Resources

Source 1: Here is some basic, but important information from WordPress.com about switching over.

Source 2: This website shows you how to transfer your blog.  They will also transfer your site for you for free if you select a recommended host.

Source 3: Quick video tutorial that goes through how to export and import.

Source 4: If you’ve registered a domain with WordPress.com you’ll want to transfer it to a new registrar.

Source 5: I use HostGator  for my blog host.  This site helped me figure out how to apply my domain from GoDaddy to HosGator.

Source 6: After your domain has switched over, you’ll want to bring your followers along.

Source 7: There is a chance things won’t go smoothly.  I relied heavily on the forums for support.  They got me through it.

Source 8: Finally, if you are looking for some nice and easy themes, check out Elegant Themes.

Travel Journey of the Week: Cinque Terre

The switchover to my new blog is taking place.  There is still work to be done, but I’m getting there.  Today I’m dreaming of being in a different place after all the coding and other techie things I had to do.  Let’s take a trip to the Cinque Terre in Italy for a little escape.  Here is how you can contribute:

1. Each Sunday, a place will be set as the theme (it could be a city, landmark, national park, etc.)

2. If you are familiar with the place and would like to contribute, you will write a post and title it Travel Journey of the Week: Cinque Terre.  If you’ve already written a post about the Cinque Terre, feel free to share it in the comments section!

3. Your post can be any medium that works for you; videos, photos, descriptions, itineraries, personal memories, poems, ticket stubs, etc.

4. Finally, be sure to provide a link back here so everyone can connect and share their own take on the place: http://liberatedtraveler.com/travel-journey-week/ ‎

Travel Journey of the Week: Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre, Italy

Moving on Up

Good morning fans.  I’m currently in the process of switching from wordpress.com to a self-hosted blog.  I’m hoping the changes will be seamless and you will enjoy my updated site.  You can see a preview of the new site in the picture.

Please be sure to like my page on facebook and/or follow me on twitter to keep posted.  I look forward to seeing you in new places.

Travel Journey of the Week: Louvre

I am mixing things up this week by providing a museum as our travel journey of the week.  The Louvre is filled with an unimaginable number of masterpieces.  Let’s share what we have discovered in the former palace.  Here is how you can contribute:

1. Each Sunday, a place will be set as the theme (it could be a city, landmark, national park, etc.)

2. If you are familiar with the place and would like to contribute, you will write a post and title it Travel Journey of the Week: Louvre.  If you’ve already written a post about Louvre, feel free to share it in the comments section!

3. Your post can be any medium that works for you; videos, photos, descriptions, itineraries, personal memories, poems, ticket stubs, etc.

4. Finally, be sure to provide a link back here so everyone can connect and share their own take on the place: http://liberatedtraveler.com/2013/09/29/travel-journey-of-the-week–louvre/

Travel Journey of the Week: Louvre

It is empty! What a beautiful time to see the Louvre.

Louvre Paris

This was definitely my favorite shot of the day. I love visiting places when no one else is there :).

Weekly Photo Challenge: Eerie

Tree stumps that extend for miles left from the eruption of Mount St Helens.

The weekly photo challenge is a step outside of my usual style.  Living by myself, I tend to avoid anything that is “eerie.”  In my photos, you will see places I’ve visited that have left me feeling uncomfortable.  The images themselves may not look scary, but the events that took place in them were, or there is an unknown element.  Mouse over the photos to learn more about each location.

What is your perspective?

200,000 little lightbulbs represent the people deported from France during World War II.ing the

The mystery of Stonehenge. Why is it here? How did it get here?

These are the wheatfields that Van Gogh shot himself. I’ve never felt such a strong connection to someone I’ve never met.

The wall is filled with pictures of the children of the holocaust.

The postcard comes from the Anne Frank House. Otto Frank stands alone.

9th Ward, New Orleans

In the photo you can see the spray paint indicating number of deaths on the houses 5 years after the hurricane consumed the area.

This foundation once held a home and a family.

Tombstones that continue as far as the eye can see.

Entrance gate to Dachau concentration camp.

A sculpture showing people throwing themselves on the electric fence to escape.

Ashes seem to still remain on the furnaces in the crematorium.

Feet extended in pain.

A sign reading bath house misleads people to their death.