WordPress powers more than 25% of the web. It’s no secret that WordPress is the most powerful blogging platform in the world right now. I’ve started working with WordPress almost 10 years ago in 2006.
Are you a fresh graduate? Wanted to start your first fresh new blog? Have very interesting Niche Topic to share with readers. Want to become a sensational entity in this world? Well, all of these starts with starting putting your thoughts in front of people. Without a right blog and audience it may be hard to sell your ideas.
WordPress platform was very basic during early days but have came across lots of tips and tricks on how to get started and customize your first WordPress blog.
How to get started then?
In this tutorial we are going to go over steps on how to start your first Self-Hosted WordPress site. To become a professional blogger from personal blogger is not tough but takes lots of dedication and thinking. Earning money shouldn’t be your primary goal, instead provide best reader experience is the key to success. Making Money Online comes next. This tutorial works for you if you have below questions:
First Steps With WordPress
- Creating and Publishing Your First WordPress Blog Post
- Start Blogging: Your First WordPress Blog Setup
- How to Launch a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog
- 10 Essential First Steps When Starting A WordPress Blog
- How to Start a WordPress Blog in 5 Minutes
- How to start a wordpress blog website
- How to start a wordpress blog with godaddy
- How to start a wordpress blog with hostgator
- How to start a wordpress blog from scratch
- Bootstrap with WordPress
Let’s get started:
Step-1 – Get Domain
First thing you need is to get Good Domain name. In initial days I was hosting all my domains at GoDaddy but now moved everything to Google Domains. Google Domains is pretty new but I’ve no complaint so far except no promo deals :).
Choosing a right domain name is very important. There are quite a few factors which you need to consider before choosing right name.
Some of the factors which I personally used for my number of blogs:
- As .com is a top tier domain extention – I would suggest to get .com if you get it. If it’s not available for you to register then better go for .net, .co, .io.
- Before choosing .net, .co or other extension checkout how your preferred but not available .com domain is popular? If the .com domain is very popular, I would suggest to go choose another name. It will be very competitive to survive with identify in that case.
- Keep your domain name Short and Simple
Step-2 – Get Hosting Plan
Once you have good domain name then you need nice and reliable hosting service. For your 1st WordPress blog I would say go for standard shared hosting service by HostGator or Bluehost.
Now let’s understand hosting plans
What is a hosting service?
Service which hosts your all files on Shared Server or Dedicated Server called hosting service. Below are few characteristics:
Web Hosting or server is much like the space that you rent out to have your business in
You pay like ~$5/month up-to ~$100/month as per your need
You will get shared IP/Dedicated IP as per your plan, so you can login and put your blog files there.
Nowadays almost all hosting service comes with cPanel. Which has 1-click setup for WordPress.
There is a very big competition between hosting providers now. Bluehost, Hostgator, GoDaddy, Squidix all provides very decent service plan. Choose one which suites you. We are hosted at Squidix web hosting.
There are multiple option you would have before choosing best plan. Here are few options and details:
Standard Shared Web Hosting Details
It comes with Flexible, Easy to Use Control Panel
Unmetered Bandwidth
Unlimited domains
Unlimited Databases
99% uptime
At Least ~30 days money back guarantee
You share hosting resources like CPU, Memory with other blogs hosted on same Server
Managed/Dedicated WordPress Hosting
It comes with all above features mentioned in Standard Hosting plan
+ Better speed, support and security just related to WordPress
+ Free migration service if you want to move your blog from other hosting service
+ More valuable tips and tricks just related to WordPress
VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting
We will discuss this on different tutorial in details
Dedicated Hosting
Same – We will discuss this on different tutorial in details
I would say – go for option 1 or 2 and it may not cost your more than ~$10/month for your first blog. Don’t worry about other costly hosting service as you can always move to next higher plan any time.
Step-3 – Change Name Server
Once you register for hosting plan, you have to point your Domain’s Name Server to hosting company
Step-4 – Add your Domain to cPanel
NOTE: sometime Bluehost or Hostgator gives your free domain during registration. In that case you may not need to perform this step. Domain might be added to your cPanel automatically.
But in other case – follow below steps:
- Login to cPanel
- Click on Addon Domain
- Add-on-domain
- Provide information and click Add Domain
Step-5 Install WordPress
WordPress comes with WordPress.com and WordPress.org option.
WordPress.com is mainly controlled by team Automattic, company behind WordPress only
WordPress.org is a self-hosted version and that’s what we need in our case
Search for WordPress in cPanel
Select your domain and follow steps to install WordPress
Install-WordPress-from-cPanel
Step-6 – Login and post your first post
Once you have installed WordPress successfully, follow below steps to post your first post.
Login to WordPress Admin Panel. In my case: http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/.
Click on Posts from Left Sidebar
Click on Add New
Write your first post and click on Publish button
And you are all set.
Enjoys!
