Self Hosting a WordPress Site? Here’s How to Do It

For those of you who are looking to self host a WordPress site, you’re in luck because we’ve got you covered. Below you’ll find a detailed guide on how to get started with a self hosted WordPress site.

Sign Up For A Self-Hosted WordPress Account

The first step is to sign up for a self-hosted WordPress account. You’ll be prompted to choose a domain for your site. If you already have a.com,.net, or.org, go with what you’ve got. Otherwise, you can purchase a.com,.net, or.org through a company like Bluehost.

After you’ve picked a domain, simply click on the ‘Create Site’ button and you’ll be redirected to a page where you can start building your website.

Launch Your Website

When you first log in to your new WordPress account, you’ll see a welcoming message from WordPress. After you read that, it’ll probably be time to hit the refresh button to get to your actual site. You’ll see the default WordPress dashboard with a few useful shortcuts on the right side, like “About” and “Help.”

If you’re feeling confident, click on the “Settings” tab at the top. From there you can change the theme for your website and activate plugins to further enhance your experience. You can also create posts and pages, add media, and set up email notifications so you can stay in touch with your audience.

One of the things that makes a self-hosted WordPress site so special is that you have complete control over the look and feel of your site. You don’t have to rely on a host to provide you with a nicely branded and functional experience. Plus, you can purchase a SSL certificate to secure your site and protect your visitors’ privacy.

Choose A Hosting Service

Now that you’ve got your WordPress account set up and launched, it’s time to consider a hosting service. There are a few options to choose from when it comes to hosting services, and perhaps the cheapest and simplest is Bluehost. In fact, Bluehost is probably the best choice for those of you who are just getting started with a self-hosted WordPress site. Not only is Bluehost extremely affordable, but it also provides you with a free domain name and offers 24/7 support via email (if you need it).

Other hosting services like Hostgator or Blue Banana offer similar benefits. Remember, though, that the price can vary according to the plan you choose. For example, the lowest priced hosting plan at Hostgator is only $2.95 per month. Compare that to Bluehost, where the cheapest plan is $5.45 per month and you’ll see why Bluehost is the clear choice for those of you who are looking to build a basic site.

Make Your Site Live

Once you’ve decided on Bluehost as your hosting service, the next step is to make your site live. To do this, you’ll want to use your favorite FTP software to connect to your hosting account and upload the files into the right folder. To get started, click on the “File Manager” at the top of the WordPress dashboard.

Next, you’ll need to create a database for your site. This is a database where all of the site’s data will be stored. You can use the WordPress database or create your own using a MySQL tool. If you’re not sure what a database is, don’t worry. Simply put, a database is where all of the information for a given site is stored so that it can be accessed and modified easily. The WordPress database is already set up for you, so all you need to do is click on the “Use Database” button and select the appropriate database to use for your site.

Once your site is live and you’ve got a few posts published, it’s time to take a little break before you move on to the next step.

Install WordPress To Your Dedicated Server

The last step in the process is to install WordPress to your dedicated server. To do this, you’ll want to use the WordPress installer. Simply navigate to the location of the installer and click on “Install Now.” Once installed, you can log in to your account and activate the plugin that allows you to install WordPress on a subdomain for free (in case you haven’t yet activated your WordPress account).

Congratulations, you’ve just launched a self-hosted WordPress site! Keep in mind that this is a very basic guide to help you get started. There’s a lot more you can do with WordPress to fully optimize your site or convert it into a fully functioning eCommerce store. If you’ve been thinking about self hosting a WordPress site, now might be the right time to do it.