WordPress

In this guide, we will show you how to make a WordPress website the right way. Whether you’re looking to launch a simple blog or a site for your online business, we will teach you everything you need to know.Don’t worry – you won’t need any technical skills or coding knowledge. Simply follow our simple instructions, and you’ll have your website up and running today.

Make a WordPress Website Ultimate Guide

Choosing a Website Platform: WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

Before we start building your website, let’s clear up something important. There are two types of WordPress: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Yes, this confuses many beginners, but don’t worry – we will make it simple.

WordPress.org is the popular open-source software that powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. It’s often called ‘self-hosted WordPress’ because you’ll need to get your own hosting and domain name to use it.

The key benefits of using WordPress.org are complete control over your website, the ability to install any plugins and themes you want, and full ownership of your content. However, you’re responsible for hosting, updates, and maintenance.

Meanwhile, WordPress.com is a hosting service that uses the WordPress.org software. Although it has a free plan, it offers limited functionality and doesn’t let you customize it the way you want. 

While WordPress.com might seem easier at first, we’ve noticed that most users quickly outgrow its limitations. With WordPress.org, you’ll have full control from day one.

That’s why this guide focuses on creating a website with WordPress.org. We will show you the exact process we’ve used to help thousands of beginners build successful websites.

  • WordPress.org (the open-source version of WordPress) requires you to have your own domain name and server space (such as shared hosting, VPS, or cloud server).
  • The WordPress software is installed on the server, not directly on your own computer.
  • It doesn't matter if you're using Windows or Mac, because you manage the WordPress site through a web browser (like Chrome or Safari).

This article recommends WordPress.org since it gives you full freedom.

Get WordPress.org

Preparation Before Installing WordPress

Before installing WordPress, you need to complete a few important preparations to ensure a smooth setup process.

Step 1. Get a Domain Name and Web Hosting Server

First, you need a domain name and a web hosting server.
We have prepared detailed tutorials on how to register a domain name and how to choose the right web hosting provider. Please refer to these guides if you are not yet familiar with the process.

If you have already completed the purchase of your domain name and web hosting server, let’s move on to the next step.

Step 2. Link Your Domain to the Server

Next, you need to bind your domain name to your server.
This means updating the DNS settings of your domain to point to the IP address of your web server.

If you are using a VPS (Virtual Private Server), you will first need to create a virtual host on your server, and then configure your domain to resolve to your server’s IP address.
Note that a single VPS can host multiple virtual hosts, allowing you to manage multiple websites on one server.

Step 3. Ready to Install WordPress

Once you have completed the purchase of your domain name and web hosting server, and successfully linked your domain to the server, you are now ready to install WordPress.

Getting Started with WordPress Installation

If your server is from providers like SiteGround, Hostinger, or Bluehost, which come with a built-in control panel, you can simply install WordPress directly through the control panel. The following method is the standard WordPress installation process and is suitable for VPS or hosting plans without a control panel.

Step 1: Download WordPress

Visit the official WordPress website at https://wordpress.org and download the latest version of WordPress as a ZIP file.

Step 2: Upload WordPress Files to Your Server

You can upload the WordPress files to your server using one of the following methods:

a) Using FTP:

  1. Install an FTP client like FileZilla.
  2. Connect to your server using the FTP credentials provided by your hosting provider.
  3. Upload all the extracted WordPress files into the public_html folder or your chosen directory.

b) Using Hosting Control Panel:

  1. Log in to your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel).
  2. Use the File Manager to upload and extract the WordPress ZIP file into the desired directory.
Step 3: Create a Database
  1. Log in to your hosting control panel.
  2. Go to MySQL Databases.
  3. Create a new database.
  4. Create a new MySQL user and assign it to the database with All Privileges.
  5. Make a note of the database name, username, and password.
Step 4: Configure wp-config.php (Optional)
  1. Locate the wp-config-sample. php file in your WordPress folder.
  2. Rename it to wp-config.php.
  3. Open it in a text editor and enter your database name, username, and password:
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name');

/** MySQL database username */
define('DB_USER', 'your_database_user');

/** MySQL database password */
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_database_password');

Alternatively, you can skip this step and let WordPress configure it automatically during the web installation.

Step 5: Run the Installation Script
  1. Open your browser and go to your domain (e.g., http://yourdomain.com).
  2. You will be redirected to the WordPress installation page.
  3. Choose your language and click Continue.
  4. Fill in the site information:
    • Site Title
    • Username
    • Password
    • Your Email Address
    • Search Engine Visibility (optional)
  5. Click Install WordPress.
Step 6: Log In to Your WordPress Site

Once the installation is complete, you will see a success message. Click the Log In button and enter the username and password you set during installation.
You will now be taken to the WordPress Dashboard, where you can start building your website.

With WordPress successfully installed, you’re now ready to design your site, install themes and plugins, and start publishing content!

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