What All Do I Need for a WordPress Hosting Account?
WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that is loved by bloggers, writers, and business owners alike. The platform holds a significant place in the world of online publishing; currently, there are over 2.7 million sites on the network, and that figure is growing every day. If you’re looking to dive into the world of web design with WordPress, then you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll discuss what all you need to get started with a WordPress hosting account.
Domain Name
First things first, you’ll need to pick a domain name for your site. To do this, enter the keyword “wordpress” into the “Domain Name” field in your account’s dashboard. This will bring up a list of available domain names. If you are stuck at this point, you can choose a suggested name at random or use a tool like NEXTGEN to find the perfect domain for your site. Once you have found it, click Create Domain to proceed to the next step.
Web Hosting
For websites that you intend to publish content to, you’ll need to invest in web hosting. When hosting a website, you’ll generally have two options: shared hosting or dedicated hosting. With shared hosting, your site content is stored on a large server that is shared with other sites. This type of hosting is extremely affordable and widely accessible; in fact, most web hosts offer this type of service for free. The downside to shared hosting is that your site will be on the same server as other sites, which means that your content could be at risk of being hacked by a third party. With dedicated hosting, your content is stored on a server that’s dedicated to you alone. This type of hosting is a little more expensive than shared hosting, but it provides you with better security because there’s no other site on the server. In addition, you have full control of the server’s settings, making it easier to configure for the type of site you are creating.
Site Installer
One of the more recent updates to WordPress is the inclusion of a tool called “Site Installer.” With this tool, you can quickly and easily upload and configure your WordPress site directly from your dashboard. To use Site Installer, click on Settings in your dashboard and then click on Site Setup. From here, you can click on Install New Site to upload a WordPress installation package that can be stored on your server. Once the installation is complete, you’ll see a confirmation message on your dashboard.
Login Details
With your site now up and running on a web host, you’ll need to log in and begin adding content to it. To do this, click on Settings in your dashboard and then click on Login Details. Here, you can add your login information for when you want to access your site. If you are using a tool like Site Installer to deploy your site, then this information will be automatically populated for you.
Database Details
Back to the login details tab, you’ll see a Database section. This is where you can add details about the database that WordPress is going to use to store your site’s data. When picking your database, make sure that it is capable of storing large amounts of data and that it supports the functionality that you need for your site. For example, if you are planning on using WordPress as a platform for a business, then you’ll want to consider an enterprise level database that provides additional features like custom security, business email, and VPN support.
Theme
One of the first things that you’ll need to do after logging in is to select a theme for your site. The theme is the look and feel of your site; it is what you’ll see when you visit the address bar and enter your site’s URL. There are dozens of free and premium themes available at WordPress.org, but to keep things simple, we’ll use Twenty Two, one of the most popular free themes. Once you have chosen a theme, click on Appearance in your dashboard and then click on Themes. Here, you can download the theme and install it on your site.
Configure
Now that you have your theme installed, it’s time to configure it. To do this, click on Appearance in your dashboard and then click on Theme Options. Here, you can adjust the look and feel of your theme by changing the colors, text sizes, and more. When you are satisfied with how the theme looks, click on Save Options to save your settings.
Content
The last step to getting your WordPress site set up is to add some content to it. To do this, click on Settings in your dashboard and then click on Content. Here, you can add content to your site in any format; you can add text, images, or video content to your posts, pages, or feeds. Make sure that the content that you add will be helpful to readers of your site and that it will engage them in some way. Adding an image with text written alongside it is a great way to draw in visitors and establish credibility.
Now that you have your web host, an available domain name, a login, and a way to add content to your site, it’s time to start writing. Make sure to come back and visit this article frequently as you begin creating your site because we’ll be keeping you updated on the latest news and tips regarding web design and development.