Build Your Website in 5 Simple Steps
Here is the step by step guide to starting a website using WordPress as the building platform:
Step 1-Choose and Register a Domain Name
Your domain name or web address is the name of your
website and will look like this
www.mysite.com .
This is arguably the most important part of the entire process and there are three steps to getting a domain name:
- Think of the name.
- Check to see that it is available
- Register the name.
I recommend that you use the hosting provider as the domain registrar as it makes it easier to configure and in most cases the provider will provide a free domain name with the hosting package.
See Domain Names before going any further, unless you already have a domain name.
Step 2 -Choose a web Hosting Provider
There are many different hosting providers to choose from. As you are going to be using WordPress as the site building platform then you obviously need one that supports WordPress.
WordPress requires a Linux server, MySQL database and php support.
I use 1&1-UK for my UK sites and Blue Host for my other (international) sites.
I also use the Linux business package (now standard package) as I host several sites.
Please note that I don't believe the mybusiness package is suitable for use with WordPress and therefore I don't recommend it.
See Screenshot below:
For general information on web hosting then see the Web Hosting Guide
Step 3 -Setup Your Hosting Space
Before you can do the install you need to get acquainted with the hosting space as the install will then make more sense. It is vital that you do this if you will be doing a manual install.
See Understanding Hosting Space Web space on 1 and 1 or Understanding Hosting Space Web space on Bluehost
Step 4 -Install and Configure WordPress
WordPress was originally designed as a blogging platform. A blog is simply a website arranged in a particular way.
Because it as designed for non technical users it has become the number 1 platform for building all types of websites from simple information sites (like this one) to ecommerce sites, auction sites, realtor etc.
WordPress installs as a blog and so you will need to change a few settings to set it up as a standard website.
See Installing WordPress and WordPress Overview and Basic Control Panel Settings.
Step 5- Add Your Content
Now you are ready to add content to your website. Content takes the form of text, images and maybe even video. With WordPress you can use either pages or posts. Generally you will only be using pages and not posts
Need Help?
If you would like to jump start your website I offer an affordable website setup service. Let me do the technical work and all you need to do is to add content.
- Running and Maintaining Your Website
- Website Hosting and Domain Names
- Website Setup -7 Checks For Business Website Owners
- Website Promotion -overview of the main methods.