How to Host Your Site Using WordPress

WordPress is the world’s #1 content management system (CMS). It’s a free and open-source CMS that can be used to create your own website or blog. In this article, we’ll discuss the steps necessary to host your site using WordPress.

Step one: Find the right web host

Before you begin hosting your site with WordPress, you need to choose the right web host. Even though WordPress is a free and open-source CMS, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to pay for hosting. You have the option of using either a self-hosted WordPress or a hosted WordPress. A self-hosted WordPress is one that you install and manage yourself, whereas a hosted WordPress is one that you install and pay for. There are differences in the functionality and feature sets of each. Let’s take a closer look at each type of hosting.

Self-hosted WordPress (also known as WordPress.com)

With a self-hosted WordPress, you have complete control over the platform and how it functions. This can be a great choice for those who want to fully customize the appearance of their site. Keep in mind that a self-hosted WordPress is not as secure as a hosted WordPress, as you have full access to the file system. Further, if you have a dedicated IP address, you can take advantage of free SSL (secure socket layer) certificates to further protect your data.

Installing a self-hosted WordPress is a simple process. You’ll need to visit the WordPress website and download the installer. After completing the installation process, you can log in to your admin area and begin making any necessary adjustments to the platform. You can also choose to host multiple blogs on one page, as the plugin for self-hosted WordPress makes this task very easy. The only downside to a self-hosted WordPress is the learning curve involved in setting up the platform.

Hosted WordPress

A hosted WordPress is very similar to a self-hosted WordPress, with the exception that you don’t have complete control over the platform and how it functions. A hosted WordPress is installed and maintained by a web hosting company, which you pay for in advance. This type of hosting is very common and many large websites use hosted WordPress. Some of the biggest and most recognizable brands in the world use WordPress, including AirBNB, the New York Times, and the Associated Press. The benefits of a hosted WordPress are that you don’t have to worry about security or functionality issues, as the hosting company takes care of all of that for you. Further, as a customer of the hosting company, you’ll have access to numerous premium plugins and tools that can be useful for increasing the functionality of your site. The downside to using a hosted WordPress is that, as a customer, you have no control over the appearance or functionality of the platform, and any adjustments you make require technical know-how.

Deciding Which to choose

There are several factors to consider when choosing between a self-hosted or hosted WordPress for your site. First, decide whether you want a free or a premium version of WordPress. The free version of WordPress is an excellent choice for those who just want to create a simple blog or website. If you’re looking for more functionality, then you might want to opt for the premium version. Second, consider the type of content you’ll be posting on your site. If you’re just starting out and your content is mostly informative, then a free version of WordPress might be a better choice, as the premium version doesn’t come with many features that would make it suitable for use as a business or corporate website.

Step two: Install WordPress

After you’ve chosen which type of hosting to use for your site, you can move on to the next step and begin installing WordPress. To do this, visit the WordPress website and click the download button to begin the download. Once you’ve downloaded the WordPress installer, unzip it and move the contents of the folder to the root of your computer’s hard drive. Then, launch the installer by double-clicking on it and following the on-screen instructions. When the installation process is complete, you’ll have a fully-functioning WordPress on your computer.

Step three: Customize WordPress

One of the primary purposes of WordPress is to give you the freedom to fully customize the appearance of your site. This is done using a variety of tools located in your WordPress admin area. To begin customizing your site, click on the Customize WordPress button located in the upper right-hand corner of your WordPress dashboard. This will open up a menu of tools and widgets that can be used to quickly and easily change the appearance of your site. You can also choose from several different themes that can be downloaded from the WordPress site to use as a starting point for your customizations. As you edit the various settings in your CMS, you’ll notice that your site will automatically refresh, indicating that the changes you make are taking effect.

Step four: Activate WordPress

Once you’ve customized your WordPress to your liking, you can activate it and begin using it to create your site. To do this, log in to your admin area and click the Activate button next to the domain for your site. Once this is done, you can begin creating content and publishing it to your site.

Step five: Publish your site

Once your site is live and you’ve been testing it for a while, it’s time to publish it. To do this, log in to your admin area and click the Publish button next to the specific blog post that you want to make available to the world. When this is done, your blog post will be added to the list of blog posts located in the right-hand column of your WordPress dashboard. You can click the Preview button next to a blog post to read it in full, either online or on a mobile device. If you’re satisfied with the way your site is looking, click the Publish button again to make the content live on the web.

This is the basic process for hosting a site with WordPress. Remember to save your work frequently, as closing out of a program can cause you to lose all the information you’ve input. Ensure that you thoroughly test your site before publishing it, as any errors or glitches could cause major problems once your content goes live.

Step six: Care for your site

As a website owner, you have the option of maintaining the content that was published to your site or deleting it and starting over. To do this, log in to your admin area and click the Edit button next to the blog post that you want to edit. Once you’re in Edit mode, you can click the Publish button to change the status of a post from Draft to Published.

If you decide that you want to keep the content that was previously published, just click the Save button located in the upper-right corner of the screen. If you decide that you want to delete the post and start over, click the Delete button located next to the post’s title. WordPress saves all of the content that was published by default, including posts, pages, and customizations made to the platform, so you don’t have to worry about losing any of this content if you decide to delete your site or blog.

This is the end of the basic process of creating a site with WordPress. Now, you have a working knowledge of how to use this tool to build a site that you can customize to your liking. Be sure to remember the important steps listed above and keep them in mind as you use WordPress in the future.