How to Install WordPress: A Beginner’s Guide 2024

WordPress is one of the most popular website building platforms globally, and for good reason! It’s user friendly, flexible, and allows you to create just about any type of website you can imagine. If you’re a beginner looking to install WordPress in 2024, this guide will walk you through the steps, whether you’re installing it on a web hosting platform or locally on your computer for testing. Let’s dive in!

 

How to Install WordPress: A Beginner’s Guide 2024  

 1.   Choose a Web Hosting Provider and Domain Name  

Before you can install WordPress, you’ll need to set up hosting and choose a domain name for your website. Hosting is where your website files will live, and the domain is the URL people will use to access your site (e.g., www.mywebsite.com).

There are many hosting providers to choose from, including   Bluehost  ,   SiteGround  ,   HostGator  , and more. For beginners, it’s best to go with a hosting provider that offers   one click WordPress installation  .

Bluehost   is an official WordPress recommended hosting provider and offers easy setup options for beginners.

SiteGround   is another popular option that’s known for its performance and customer support.

When selecting a domain name, make sure it’s memorable and reflects your site’s purpose. Most hosting providers offer a   free domain   for the first year when you sign up for their hosting services.

Tip  : Keep your domain name short, easy to spell, and avoid using hyphens or numbers. It’s easier for people to remember and helps with SEO.

 2.   Install WordPress via Hosting Provider (One Click Method)  

Most hosting providers offer an easy, one click installation process for WordPress. If you’ve signed up for a web hosting plan, you can usually find a   WordPress Installer   in your hosting dashboard (also known as cPanel).

Here’s how to install WordPress using the one click method:

1. Log in to your Hosting Account  : Go to your hosting provider’s website and log in to your account.
2. Find the WordPress Installer  : Once in the control panel (cPanel), look for a section like  Website   or   Script Installers  . Under this, you should see   WordPress  .
3. Click Install Now  : Select the WordPress icon and click   Install Now  . You’ll be prompted to choose your domain name and fill in some basic site information.

•        Domain  : Choose the domain where you want WordPress installed.
•        Site Name  : Enter your website’s name (this can be changed later).

Admin Username and Password  : Set your admin username and password for logging into the WordPress dashboard.

Complete the Installation  : Click   Install  , and the installer will set up WordPress for you. It should only take a few minutes.

Access Your Site  : Once installed, you can log in to your new WordPress site by going to   yourdomain.com/wp admin  . Use the admin username and password you just created to log in.

Tip  : Write down your login information somewhere safe! You’ll need it to access your WordPress dashboard.

 3.   Manual WordPress Installation (Using FTP)  

If your hosting provider doesn’t offer a one click installation option, or you just prefer doing things manually, you can still install WordPress using   FTP (File Transfer Protocol)  . This method might seem a little more technical, but don’t worry it’s pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.

Here’s a step by step breakdown of the manual installation process:

Step 1:   Download WordPress  

Head over to [WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/) and download the latest version of WordPress. You’ll receive a   .zip file   that contains all the necessary WordPress files.

Step 2:   Upload WordPress Files to Your Hosting  

To upload WordPress to your web server, you’ll need an   FTP client   like   FileZilla   (free and easy to use).

1. Install FileZilla  : Download and install FileZilla from their website.
2. Connect to Your Hosting Account  : Use the FTP credentials provided by your web host to connect to your server. You’ll need:
3. Host  : This is typically your domain name (e.g., mywebsite.com).
4. Username and Password  : Your FTP login details, which can be found in your hosting control panel or in the email from your hosting provider.
5. Port  : Usually port 21 for FTP connections.

3.   Upload the WordPress Files  : Once connected, navigate to the folder where you want to install WordPress (usually the   public_html   directory). Unzip the WordPress file you downloaded and upload the contents to this folder

Step 3:   Create a MySQL Database  

WordPress needs a database to store all your site’s content. You’ll need to create one in your hosting account.

1. Log in to cPanel  : Go to your hosting account’s control panel and look for   MySQL Databases  .
2. Create a New Database  : Enter a name for your database (e.g., mywebsite_db).
3. Create a Database User  : Create a new user for the database, and make sure to note the  username   and   password  . Then assign this user full privileges for the database.
4. Save the Information  : You’ll need the database name, username, and password for the next step.

  Step 4:   Configure WordPress  

1.   Access Your Website  : Go to your domain (e.g., www.mywebsite.com), and the WordPress setup page should automatically appear.

2.   Enter Database Information  : You’ll be asked to provide the database details you just created:

•        Database Name  : The name of the database you created.
•        Username  : The database username.
•        Password  : The database password.
•        Database Host  : Usually   localhost  , unless your hosting provider says otherwise.

3.   Run the Installation  : Once you’ve entered everything, click   Submit  . If all the details are correct, WordPress will connect to your database and complete the installation.

Step 5:   Complete the Installation  

The final step is to enter some basic site information, such as your   site title  ,   admin username  ,  password  , and   email address  . Once you’ve filled in the details, click   Install WordPress  , and you’re done!

You can now log in to your WordPress dashboard at   yourdomain.com/wp admin  .

4.   Configuring Your WordPress Website  

Once WordPress is installed, you’ll want to configure a few basic settings to get your site up and running smoothly.

Permalinks  : Go to   Settings > Permalinks   and select   Post Name  . This will make your URLs cleaner and better for SEO (e.g., mywebsite.com/blog post title instead of mywebsite.com/?p=123).

Themes  : Go to   Appearance > Themes   to select and customize a theme for your site. There are thousands of free and premium themes available. Choose one that fits your style and niche.

Install Plugins  : Plugins extend WordPress functionality. To start, install essential plugins like:

• Yoast SEO   for optimizing your site’s SEO.
• Jetpack   for security, backups, and performance.
• WPForms   for adding contact forms.

General Settings  : In   Settings > General  , you can configure your   site title  ,   tagline  ,   timezone  , and other basic details.

Tip  : Don’t install too many plugins! They can slow down your site and create conflicts. Stick to what you need.

 5.   Launching Your WordPress Site  

Once you’ve customized your theme, added some content, and configured your settings, it’s time to launch your website! Before you make it live, here are a few things to double check:

Mobile Responsiveness  : Use the   Customize   feature in WordPress to preview how your site looks on mobile devices. Most themes are responsive, but you’ll want to make sure everything displays correctly.

SEO Settings  : Make sure to set your site to   visible to search engines   by going to   Settings > Reading   and unchecking the “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” box.

Backup  : Install a   backup plugin   (like   UpdraftPlus  ) and create regular backups of your site to prevent data loss.

Once you’re ready, simply publish your posts or pages, and your WordPress site will be live for the world to see!

 Final Thoughts

Installing WordPress in 2024 is easier than ever, thanks to the availability of one click installation options and intuitive hosting platforms. Whether you’re building a blog, business site, or portfolio, WordPress offers the flexibility to create something truly unique without needing advanced technical skills.

Just remember to take your time, get comfortable with the platform, and most importantly have fun creating your website!

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