How to Use WordPress on GoDaddy?
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) available. Launched in 2001, it is now owned by Automattic and supports millions of websites around the world. It’s free, easy to use, and adaptable, which makes it a perfect fit for any website or blog.
The following tutorial will teach you how to install and use WordPress on your GoDaddy hosting account.
Step 1: Sign Up
The first step towards using WordPress is to sign up for an account on the WordPress website. This can be done by clicking the “Create an account” button located at the top of the website. You will need a secure password to login to this account. If you don’t want to use your email address to login, you can create an account using a different email address.
In addition to creating an account, you can also access useful resources on the WordPress website including documentation, FAQs, and videos to help you get started. In some instances, you may need to register for a free GitHub account in order to access certain files that are required for the installation of WordPress.
Step 2: Choose A Hosting Plan
When it comes to hosting, the options can seem endless but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. On the WordPress website, you’ll see a list of hosting plans offered by GoDaddy. You can choose the one that best suits your needs by clicking the “Get Started” button next to the host plan you’re interested in. Make sure to read their terms and conditions before making a decision.
Depending on your chosen plan, you will either be redirected to your dashboard or to a landing page with further instructions. Your WordPress installation will be accessible from any device, anywhere in the world, thanks to its mobile-friendly design.
As you can see above, the pricing for each hosting plan varies based on the size of the bucket you choose. For example, the Basic plan starts at $2.95 per month plus taxes where I live but it’ll cost you $5.45 per month plus taxes if you choose the biggest size option. This is because the pricing is computed on a sliding scale based on the size of your bucket.
In case you’re wondering, a “bucket” is a collection of storage spaces where your website content is kept. The larger the bucket, the more content you can store. The smallest bucket comes with 2GB of storage space, which is pretty decent. It’s also worth noting that the prices on the WordPress website are subject to change; however, the good news is that they are rarely ever discounted.
Step 3: Install WordPress
Once you’ve signed up for a hosting account with GoDaddy and chosen a hosting plan, it’s time to install WordPress. To do this, visit the WordPress website by clicking the “Get Started” button located at the top of their homepage. You will then be required to enter your email address and a password to create a free WordPress account. Once you’ve done this, you can then follow the onscreen instructions to install the WordPress application to your hosting account.
This process can take a few minutes, at which point you’ll be able to log in to your WordPress dashboard. From here, you can continue to set up your website as you normally would with any other application or software.
WordPress is open source software, which means that it can be freely downloaded from the website and there’s a large community of users who can help you get the most out of it. If you’re looking for a free and reliable CMS with a large community, then WordPress is the solution for you. It’s also worth noting that WordPress is continually being updated and improved, which makes it even more suitable for use.
Step 4: Activate WordPress
Once WordPress has been installed to your hosting account, it’s time to activate it. This will give you access to all of its features and allow you to begin using it to create your website or blog. To do this, visit the WordPress dashboard by logging in with the credentials you created above. Once you’ve logged in, you can click on the “Users” tab located along the top bar. Just scroll down until you see the name of your website or blog and click on it to activate the software.
You will then be redirected to a screen where you can enter a brief description of your website or blog. You can also choose a custom domain for your website or blog and enter it in the “Award-winning website name” field located under the “Website Name” heading. Make sure to note the difference between a “blog” and a “website” because they have different meanings in the WordPress universe. A website is an informational page on the Internet that usually contains content that is both unique to that site and useful or interesting to a wide audience. A blog is a personal website or a company website that contains often short, bite-sized pieces of content that are regularly published.
Once your website has been activated and you’re ready to begin using it, you can click on the “Tools” tab along the top bar to access several useful WordPress tools. These include a mobile-friendly dashboard designed for use on small screens, a tool for creating sidebars, a plugin installer, an SEO tool, among many others. Just remember, you can always access the WordPress backend from any device, anywhere in the world, via the URL of your website.
In case you’re wondering, you can also use the SEO tools to monitor and optimize the performance of your website or blog for organic search results in the major search engines like Google.
Step 5: Use WordPress
Now that your WordPress dashboard is set up and you have access to all of its features, it’s time to start using it to create your website or blog. To do this, click on the “Tools” tab along the top bar to access WordPress’s versatile toolset. From here, you can simply start typing and WordPress will present you with a number of relevant suggestions and shortcuts to help you build your website or blog exactly how you want it.
You can use this same tab to link to specific posts, pages, and media within your website. WordPress is very intuitive and easy to use and, above all, it’s free. All you need is a creative mind and a willingness to learn.