Advantage Hosting welcomes you to the exciting world of WordPress! If you’re a beginner looking to create your own website or blog, you’ve come to the right place. WordPress is a versatile and user-friendly platform that empowers millions of individuals and businesses to establish a strong online presence. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to get started with WordPress and set the foundation for your digital journey.
Step 1: Choose your Advantage Hosting package
Before diving into the WordPress setup, you need to set up a place on the web to host your WordPress site. Fortunately for you, Advantage Hosting offers you a few ways to inexpensively get a place to start building your WordPress site. The most popular are:
Either of our solutions will work great for WordPress. The main difference between the two options is that the managed WordPress hosting packages includes additional features:
- pre-installed WordPress
- automatic updates of security updates WordPress and plugins
- additional performance enhancements specifically geared to WordPress
Step 2: Install WordPress
Advantage Hosting offers a straightforward process to install WordPress. After signing up for one of our website hosting plans, access your control panel (cPanel), click the WordPress Manager by Softaculous in the left sidebar and then click “install”. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. Don’t worry; it’s usually a one-click process!
If you end up choosing one of our Managed WordPress Hosting packages, WordPress comes pre-installed. Although, we also include WP Toolkit (right sidebar in your included cPanel Control panel) to manage and install WordPress.
Step 3: Select a Theme
Themes determine the overall look and feel of your website. In your WordPress dashboard (your-domain.com/wp-admin), navigate to “Appearance” and then “Themes.” Explore the vast collection of free and premium themes, and choose one that suits your style and purpose. You can always customize it later to match your brand.
Step 4: Customize Your Site
Now that you have a theme, it’s time to customize your website. Navigate to “Customize” under the “Appearance” menu. Here, you can modify various elements such as site title, tagline, colors, fonts, and more. Experiment until you achieve the desired look.
Step 5: Install Essential Plugins
Plugins are like apps for your WordPress site, adding extra functionality. Some essential plugins include Yoast SEO for search engine optimization, Akismet for spam protection, and Jetpack for site performance and security. Install and activate the plugins you need through the “Plugins” section in your dashboard.
Step 6: Create Your First Pages and Posts
Start building your site’s content by creating pages (like Home, About Us, Contact) and posts (blog entries). Use the “Pages” and “Posts” sections in your dashboard to add and manage your content. Don’t forget to organize your content with categories and tags.
Step 7: Configure Settings
Fine-tune your site’s settings to optimize its performance, security, and user experience. Access the “Settings” menu in your dashboard and review options such as permalinks, reading, and discussion settings. Adjust these to suit your preferences and needs.
Under “Appearance”, you can build menus or add widgets.
Step 8: Explore Advanced Features
As you become more comfortable with WordPress, explore advanced features such as creating a navigation menu, setting up a contact form, and integrating social media. The WordPress community is vast, and there are numerous tutorials and forums to help you master these skills.
Congratulations! If you followed the steps above, you have successfully set up your WordPress website and taken the first steps toward establishing your online presence. If you have problem, reach out to Advantage Hosting via our contact page or create a support ticket. We are always happy to help.
Remember that WordPress is a dynamic platform, and there’s always more to learn and discover. Join the vibrant WordPress community, explore new features, and enjoy the process of building and growing your website. Best of luck on your digital journey!
