How to Host WordPress on Your Own Computer
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in use today, particularly amongst bloggers. It’s a fantastic choice for people looking to create a portfolio website, blog or personal website. If you’re looking to create your own WordPress-based website, whether for commercial or personal use, you’re going to need the help of a developer to set up the basic pages and functionalities you need to get started.
Step One: Find A Good Developer
A good developer will be able to walk you through the entire setup process, including installing WordPress on your own computer, installing and configuring the Jetpack plugin and generating a secure password for you to use.
If you’re looking to install WordPress on a Windows-based computer, you’re going to want to make sure the developer you choose is familiar with working with platforms like Windows, Ubuntu and macOS. You’ll also want to make sure they have the proper licenses to run Linux-based servers where WordPress is installed. If you’re looking for a hosted solution, make sure they offer hosting plans that meet your specific needs.
Step Two: Install WordPress
WordPress is officially recommended for all users, including those with limited technical knowledge. All you need to do is download and install the WordPress software from the official website and you’re good to go. To get started, simply visit install.wordpress.com and click on the big blue button that says “Install WordPress now!”.
The next step is to log in to your newly-installed WordPress dashboard and click on the “Install Jetpack” button. This will install Jetpack, the plugin which allows developers to integrate features like responsive design, SEO and more into their WordPress sites.
Step Three: Configure The Site With Some Basic Structure And Content
Once you’ve got WordPress installed on your machine and Jetpack installed, it’s time to put those technical skills to use and build out your personal website or blog. It’s a good idea to sit down with your developer and work through a list of content you want to include on your website. This could include things like:
- Blog posts
- Contact information
- Product or service information (e.g. BizEaze)
- Images
- Videos
- Audio clips (e.g. podcasts)
- Quotes
- Reviews (both positive and negative)
- Any other content you think would be valuable or interesting to your visitors
Once you’ve got an idea of what the site is going to look like, it’s time to start building out the content. If you’re a blogger looking to expand your audience, consider using tools like GAP to get thousands of extra blog readers to your site. Once you’ve gotten some content published, it’s always a good idea to reach out to those you’ve featured on your site and see how they’re doing. You can also use tools like Growthoid to gain more subscribers to your channel.
One of the most important things to do when launching a new WordPress site is to create a security passcode and hide it from view. You’ll also want to take the time to secure your WordPress site by changing the default password and setting up a two-factor authentication system (2FA).
Step Four: Use The Right Google Analytics
One of the first things you’ll want to do when you launch your site is to install Google Analytics. This free tool allows you to track the performance of your website and gain valuable insights into how you can make your site better.
The first thing you’ll want to do is create an account at analytics.google.com. If you already have a Google account, log in and create a new profile. Otherwise, click the “Create an account” button and fill out the information requested. Once you’re verified, you can install the Google Analytics addon for your WordPress website.
Once you’ve installed the Google Analytics addon, you’ll see a small square at the top of your WordPress dashboard. Click on that to view your analytics data. From here, you can see how many visitors you’ve got, how long they’re staying and which pages they’re most often visiting. This data is valuable when it comes to improving your site’s performance and ensuring your visitors have a good experience. For example, if you notice your site slows down during peak hours, you might want to consider hosting a WordPress instance on a cloud platform like AWS where you can use auto-scaling to ensure you always have plenty of resources when your site starts to get busy.
Step Five: Test Your Site In Different Browsers And Devices
Once you’ve got a version of WordPress installed and working on your own computer, it’s time to test it out in different browsers and devices. You’ll want to include at least two browsers in your test group (e.g. Chrome and Firefox) as well as a desktop computer, laptop or mobile device (e.g. iPhone®, iPad®, and Android™).
Once you’ve tested your WordPress site in these different platforms, it’s time to review the results and see how the site looks in different environments. One major advantage of having your own WordPress site is that you can always compare browser results and see which version of WordPress looks the best in each case.
Step Six: Use The Right Hosting
As we’ve discussed, WordPress is a content management system, which means it functions as a website platform and lets you build out your site with ease. When choosing a web host for your WordPress site, it’s important to pick one that’s reliable and has excellent support and customer service. Avoid hosts that automatically upgrade your account or place restrictions on the content you upload.
When choosing a web host for your WordPress site, it’s important to look at various factors such as price, features, security, support, and customization. The price is always a major consideration and something to avoid if you’re on a tight budget. It’s always a good idea to comparison shop before making a purchase and read up on reviews, as they can help provide valuable information about what features are important to you. For example, you might want to look into HostGator’s managed hosting plans if you’re on a tight budget and looking for a reliable hosting option. They offer some fantastic value propositions and come with a money-back guarantee if you meet the right criteria.
Step Seven: Install WordPress On A Cloud Platform
If you’re looking for the perfect place to house your WordPress site and want to make sure it’s always ready to go, a cloud platform is the perfect solution. As we’ve discussed, WordPress is a content management system and doesn’t require a lot of administrative overhead to use. This is why it’s such a popular choice amongst bloggers and website owners who want to keep their content freely accessible to all who want to view it.
When choosing a cloud platform for WordPress, it’s important to look at various factors such as security, reliability and cost. It’s also important to consider the support you’ll receive should you need it. Some of the most popular and cost-effective options for WordPress hosting are Bluehost, Flywheel and HostGator. If you’re on a tight budget, consider looking at the self-managed WordPress option where you can get hosting for as low as $2.95 per month.
Depending on what you want out of your WordPress-based website, you might want to consider a different solution. If you’re looking to monetize your site, you might want to consider the option of having a separate domain and using a tool like Google Adsense to display ads on your site.
Do you want to use WordPress to build out your personal blog? Do you want to use it to launch a business website? Whatever your needs, with WordPress you can easily accomplish anything you set your mind to.