Migrating WordPress Site to Godaddy Hosting – The Ultimate Guide
You have decided to make the big move from shared hosting to VPS or dedicated hosting and you have decided to go with Godaddy. This article will provide you with everything you need to know about the move and setup process with the world’s most popular web host.
Sign Up For A Free Account
The first thing you will need to do is to sign up for a free account with Godaddy. You can do this by clicking the “Get Started” button below. This will bring you to the sign up form where you can enter your email address and create a password to access the site. Once you have created your account, you can click the “I Accept Terms and Conditions” button to continue to the next step.
Install WordPress
To continue to the next step, you will need to have WordPress installed on your system. You can download WordPress from wordpress.org or use a tool such as Auto Installer to easily install it on your server. Once WordPress is installed, log in to your account and click on the “Settings” icon. You will see the WordPress dashboard where you can access the control panel for your site.
Set Up The Database Structure
The next step is to create the database structure for your new WordPress site. This is a crucial step as it will determine how your site functions and behaves. To create the structure, click on the “Databases” icon under the WordPress dashboard. You will then see a list of your existing databases along with their identifiers. You will need to choose the one you wish to use for your new WordPress installation and click the “Create New Database” button. This will bring you to a form where you can specify the database’s name, username and password. Make sure to use a unique and complex password for this database as it will be the only one you have access to. Once the database is created you can click the “Test Connection” button to make sure it works okay.
Install WordPress Plugins
WordPress plugins are small programs that extend the capabilities of WordPress. They can be helpful when performing certain tasks such as speeding up the loading speed of your site, providing a better user experience or just adding more functionality to your site. To add plugins to your WordPress site, go to Plugins under the dashboard and click the “Install” button next to the plugin you wish to install. This will bring you to a form where you can specify the details of the plugin such as its name, version and activation. Once you have clicked “Install” the plugin will be added to your WordPress dashboard along with its supporting documentation. You can access the documentation by clicking the “Help” button near the plugin’s name.
Activate Your WordPress Plugins
Once you have installed all the necessary plugins for your WordPress site, it is time to activate them. To do this, click on the “Plugins” icon under the dashboard and click on the “Activate” button next to the plugins you have installed. This will bring you to a screen where you can select the plugins you would like to activate. Make sure to activate only necessary plugins as deactivating them may lead to problems. In case you are unsure whether or not to activate a plugin, you can click the “Disable” button to temporarily turn it off.
Set Up The Blog Settings
The settings for your blog determine how it will function and display. You can customize many aspects of your blog’s appearance including the background, fonts, colors, layout and more. When you first set up your blog you will be brought to a screen where you can choose a template that will be used to create the blog. You can choose from a selection of free WordPress templates that can be downloaded from template.wordpress.org. It is highly recommended that you download and install a theme for your blog as this will make your life much easier when updating or making changes to your site because they will be applied automatically.
Configure The General Settings
The general settings of your WordPress site determine the functioning and appearance of the entire site. These include the site’s name, theme, colors and more. You can configure these settings under the dashboard. Once you have done this you can click the “Save Configuration” button to lock in your settings.
Set Up The Login Page
The login page of a website is the first page the user sees when they visit the site. It is usually the first thing a user will try to do when they visit a site so it is important that this page functions well. The login page of your WordPress site will be accessible from my.wordpress.com or www.yourdomain.com (if you have installed a WordPress multisite). When setting up your login page you will need to decide what information you want to include on the page. Remember, this is the first thing your users will see so make sure that the information is relevant and easy to understand. Once you have set the information you want to include, you can click the “Save Changes” button to continue to the next step.
Create A Reading List
A reading list is a collection of links to articles, blog posts, reviews and more that you want to read or look at later. To create a reading list for your WordPress site, go to Reading under the dashboard and click the “Add To List” button. Give the list a name and add the items you want to include in the list. You can sort the list by clicking on the column heading. To read an item, simply click on it. You can select multiple items by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking.
Set Up The FAQ Page
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page is a place where you can put answers to commonly asked questions regarding your website. This may include anything from how to use a plugin to more general information about the website such as its design, functionality and loading speed. To create a FAQ page for your WordPress site, go to FAQ under the dashboard and click the “Add New FAQ” button. Give the FAQ page a name and click the “Save Changes” button to continue to the next step.
Configure The Site’s Header
To set the site’s header, go to Appearance under the dashboard and click on the “Site Header” icon. You will see the header settings form where you can configure the details of the header including its style, color, image and more. To apply the changes, click the “Save Header” button.
Configure Social Icons
Social icons are small images that can be used to connect with other websites and services. To add social icons to your WordPress site, go to Appearance under the dashboard and click on the “+” icon next to the “Site Header” option. You will then see a form where you can add the icons you wish to use. Make sure to include the icons for the blogging platform you use (if any) along with the icons for the major social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also add a LinkedIn icon for professional affiliations.
Add A Custom Logo
A custom logo is a very useful tool for branding your website. This will allow you to have a unique identity for your site that is not dictated by a template or design from a third party. To add a custom logo to your WordPress site, go to Appearance under the dashboard and click on the “+” icon next to the “Site Header” option. You will then see a form where you can add the logo you wish to use. Make sure to read the help documentation for the logo software you use because this can help you choose the correct dimensions and file type for your needs.
Configure The Footer
The footer of a website is its lower section which includes details such as the website’s copyright, privacy policy and other legal matters. The footer of your WordPress site will be located at the bottom of each page and is accessible from my.wordpress.com or www.yourdomain.com (if you have installed a WordPress multisite). To add a footer to your site, go to Appearance under the dashboard and click on the “Footer Text” option. You will see a form where you can enter the text you wish to use for the footer. Make sure to read the help documentation for the footer software you use because this can help you choose the correct dimensions and style for your needs.