In the past, I have performed many blog transfers where my customer's have moved from Blogger to Typepad (Michelle Laycock assists in those moving from Blogger to WordPress); however recently a few customers have wanted to move from Typepad or WordPress to Blogger! Why? Blogger is easy to use, but most of all it is free!  Due to the economy and people wanting to save money while still having a beautiful, functional blog, many are moving to Blogger.

So, with this news, I wanted to share it with you. Yes, you can move from Typepad or WordPress to Blogger. Here is how to do it!

From Typepad:

1. Login and go to Settings.
2. Then click on Import/Export.
3. Then at the bottom, click on Export.
4. Right-click on the Download link and Save Link As… (save the file to your computer).
5. Continue with Convert File instructions below.

From WordPress:

1. Login and go to your Dashboard.
2. Then under Tools, click on Export.
3. Leave the defaults to export you entire blog.
4. Click on Download Export File.
5. Continue with Convert File instructions below.

Convert File:

In this step, you need to convert the files created by Typepad and WordPress to a file format Blogger can use.

1. Go to this site: http://movabletype2blogger.appspot.com/.
2. Go to Step #4 and click Browse to select the export file you saved to your computer.
3. Then click on the Convert Button.
4. Save the file (Blogger-export.xml) to your computer.

Within Blogger:

Now it is time to go to Blogger and import the posts.

1. Login and from the Dashboard, click on Settings.
2. From the Basic tab, click on Import Blog.
3. Click on Browse.
4. Select the (Blogger-export.xml) file just converted and downloaded to your computer.
5. Enter the Word Verification characters.
6. Click on check box "Automatically publish all imported posts."
7. Click Import Blog.
8. The progress/status bar moves while the import is processing.
9. When finished, you will be at the Edit Posts screen in Blogger where you can then see all your posts.
10. View Blog.
11. You're done with the import, however you're not done yet with the complete Transfer!

IMPORTANT!!! Dealing with the Images in the Imported Posts:

At present all the images in your posts are being stored in Typepad or WordPress's file manager (whichever blog you are exporting from).  The problem is that once you cancel your subscription with Typepad or with your host of WordPress (if you are NOT using the free WordPress.com), then those images disappear, they are gone! Yes, that's right, they will be gone and you will have a bunch of empty image placeholders on your blog!

So, what you have to do is basically re-insert all the images! Yes, this does take a lot of time but can be done!

1. While viewing your Blogger blog, which currently has all the images displayed (however they are still stored on Typepad/Wordpress!!!!), right-click on the first image, and choose Save Image As…
2. Choose a location on your computer (I suggest creating a new folder to hold all the newly imported images).
3. Then give the image a name. Since you will be doing this a lot for all the import post images, I would use a naming convention such as the Date and then Image Number. So for example, Dec19-Image1.jpg.

Suggestions on Saving and Replacing Images:

1. Continue  the process above, with all the images in all posts. So if you had another image for the Dec. 19th post, it would be saved as Dec19-Image2.jpg, then Dec19-Image3 and so on.
2. I would suggest doing one post at a time. Save all the images from the post (which were imported from Typepad/WordPress) to your computer (new folder).  Then delete them one by one; and re-insert the images you saved on your computer until all the images in the post are replaced.  Then continue to the next post.

Regarding Your Feed:

If using Feedburner, you need to Edit the Feed. You do not have to export/import subscriber lists or deal with a Feed Transfer. You simply have to edit your feed details.

1. Login to Feedburner.
2. Click on your Feed.
3. Click on Edit Feed Details at the top under your Feed Title.
4. Then in the 2nd text box/line under Original Feed,
5. Replace what is there (your Typepad/WordPress feed URL) and replace it with your Blogger Feed URL: http://<your blogspot address >/feeds/posts/default is a the default Blogger feed address (such as http://heatherporto.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default).
6. Save changes.

Other Suggestions:

The replacing the images is very labor intensive, so many people choose not to do a transfer and instead simply start new on the Blogger blog. Then simply post one last time on their  Typepad/WordPress blog that they have moved!

If you have any questions or problems, feel free to ask! Email me at heather@blogsbyheather.com.

Additionally, I'd be happy to help you! 

Yes, I want you to perform my transfer!

Transfer Blog Design and Sidebars

Customers have asked me, in addition to transferring their posts, what if they want to transfer their "look" as well.  My answer is that it is considered a new Blog Setup and costs about $45 – $60 (at present) for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators, depending if the customer is a Blog Maintenance customer as well.  If you are not a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, that's okay and I'd be happy to help you as well. Just contact me with your blog address, any special requestions so I may give you a personalized quote!

• Feed Transfering / editing the feed (if using Feedburner) is included.
• Setting up a counter and setting the start count is included.
• Transfering posts as detailed above with simply transfering the posts only is included.
• Dealing with the photos is not included and the manual labor involved will need to be quoted separately. Contact me with your current blog address and current post count, and I will provide you with a personalized quote! Email me at heather@blogsbyheather.com.

Happy Holidays!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com