WordPress Wednesday – Installing WordPress
We answer lots of questions about WordPress. Lots and lots. So I finally got the brilliant idea to publish a weekly WordPress tip to answer some of your most frequently asked questions.
Today’s tip answers the very first question many potential clients ask:
“How do I install WordPress?”
While there is a somewhat complicated method involving creating a database and uploading files via FTP, most of the people who ask how to install WordPress (WP) are lost at the first mention of database or FTP. The good news is that many hosts have an easier method for installing WP.
If you use our preferred host (Hostgator), Bluehost, Hostmonster, or another host that uses cpanel…
you can have WordPress installed in a matter of moments simply by making a few clicks and entering some information. Here are the steps:
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- Login to your cpanel.
- Scroll down until you see a section titled Software/Services.
- Click on Fantastico Deluxe or Quick Install. Most cpanels that I have seen offer Fantastico Deluxe.
The following steps are for Fantastico Deluxe.
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- In the left column, click on WordPress.
- On the right, click on New Installation.
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- In step 1 of the installation pictured above, the red arrows point to three items that are critical: the installation domain, the administrator’s username, and the password.
- Select the desired domain from the drop down.
- Enter something other than “admin” as your username. (Admin is the default username and using it can be a security risk for your blog.)
- Choose a strong password, preferably using a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- In the base configuration section, enter as much information as you know. This is not critical since this information can be changed later in your blog admin area.
- Click the Install WordPress button at the bottom. If there are no problems, the next screen will show that WordPress was successfully installed. Access info will be shown, and you will be given the opportunity to email installation details to yourself. I’d highly recommend doing so.
Important: Quick Install follows a similar process but does not give you the opportunity to select your administrator username and password. Because of this, I’d recommend using Fantastico Deluxe instead.
If you have hosting through GoDaddy…
they offer easy WordPress installation through their apps center. Here is a link to their Help section instructions. http://help.godaddy.com/article/834
If you can’t figure it out or don’t want to bother…
you can have us install WordPress for you. Go to our Services page and look for WordPress Installation.
What do you think? Please feel free to leave a comment or contact us with your feedback or questions. We love hearing how we have helped people and how we can improve to help you better.
6 Comments
Category: Blogging, Tips and Tricks, WordPress Wednesday
I wish I had gone with Hostgator years ago. I’m way more satisfied with my blog load speed than I thought possible.
Now Revka, you know me. I am blog addicted. I purchased a new domain over the weekend and I want to learn to point my domain to HG, load WP for it and set it up from square one. I love giving birth…to a blog that is.
I suppose my only question is, when you own more than one domain, is there anything a crazed blogger like myself should know to keep the files in the directory from becoming mixed? I HATED how all of my blogs were in one main directory on GoDaddy. I lost all the content to AttentionTargetShoppers because I was SOOOOOOO lost about how it was all forming the tree.
I’ll be talking to you soon.
G.
I’m so glad you’re loving Hostgator, Ginger. It’s amazing what a difference it can make for your site when you have a good host!
I was going to write out step-by-step directions for pointing a GoDaddy domain to your Hostgator account, but I found a great video tutorial instead.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dThbui9qriw
Here’s Hostgator’s tutorial for setting up and removing add-on domains. http://support.hostgator.com/articles/cpanel/how-do-i-create-and-remove-an-addon-domain.
You will still have all the directories mixed together in public_html. The trick is to name each directory so that it’s very clear what is contained in it. I like to name the directory the same as the domain name I associate with it.
So I have a berriesandcreamblogdesign directory that has my files for B&C, I have a solopreneurwebdesign directory that has the files for SWD, I have a ussgrady directory for those files, etc.
I hope that helps.
I may have to get in touch with you soon. This is bringing up questions about my sunny island.
Ask away, Nancy.
I’m always happy to help.
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