It’s very easy to install WordPress. You can perform all needed operations within minutes. It takes only few time to run the installation. Then, you can start customizing your website and do all the work the same day.
It’s that quick to setup and create a website.
Provided that you install WordPress correctly and without any errors.
That’s why we created this article, to help you follow the logic steps for installation of WordPress for your new website.
Prerequisites for WordPress installation
Before starting to install WordPress, you need:
- A domain name you’ve purchased for your website
- A hosting service you’ve purchased from the selected hosting provider
Here are the steps needed to install WordPress
Install WordPress from the hosting provider software
In case you’ve purchased hosting from Siteground or Bluehost, or another professional hosting provider, you’ll also have access to a tool that automatically installs WordPress for you. You only have to follow the instructions.
Take care to properly install WordPress in the /public_html/ root file, according to the indications of the hosting provider.
Install WordPress on your local machine:
It’s useful to install WordPress on a localhost in case you want to launch some tests for your website.
Also, it’s useful to create the design of the website before making it public and show the website to the world.
- First, create a folder on your local device. You should name it so as to recognize it easily when changes are to be made to your WordPress.
- Second, visit wordpress.org and download the latest version of WordPress from the official website. You will download it in .zip format, and you’ll later need to expand the archive, for proper installation of the software.
- Expand the archive, as you’ll have to copy and paste all elements in your WordPress version to the folder you created for your new website.
Here’s how the elements unarchived from the .zip format WordPress file will look like:
- Copy and paste the WordPress files elements from the downloads folder to the folder you destined to your new website.
- Before starting the installation of WordPress, you’ll also have to create a database and choose a name related to the title of the website, and add it in the localhost/phpMyAdmin databases list.
- You’ll have to access in browser localhost/name-of-the-site-folder and start the installation of WordPress for your website.
- Choose the language for your WordPress. It’s recommended that you choose English by default, you can change it later anyway.
Click “Continue”.
You’ll get a message like the one below:
Click on “Let’s go!”
- Fill in the blank spaces with the required information:
Database Name – fill in the space with the name you’ve chosen for your database
Username – choose a username
Password – choose a password
Database Host – fill in the space with the database host (localhost)
Table Prefix – fill in with “wp_”
Click “Submit”.
You’ll receive a message saying that you’ve successfully got to this point of the installation.
Press “Run the installation”.
- You’ll be taken to a form where you have to fill in the fields with information specific to your new website:
Site Title – you have to provide a title for your website. This will help users understand what the website is about, and will also serve for branding purposes.
Username – this is the username you’ll use to login to your WordPress Admin dashboard. Choose a username.
Password – this is the password you’ll use to login to your WordPress Admin dashboard. Choose a password and make sure that password is a strong one.
Confirm Password – you have to check the checkbox to “Confirm password”.
Your Email – you’ll need to provide the email address you’ll want to use to WordPress notifications.
Search Engine Visibility – here, you have 2 options: either you leave the checkbox unchecked, and the website will be visible to search engine bots from its very installation. Or you check the checkbox to “Discourage search engines from indexing the site”. Although not a solid guarantee that search engines will take this option int account, it’s safer to choose the best option for you and give a website the visibility you want it to have.
Here’s how we filled in the fields for our Test Website:
Once you’ve finished filling in the fields, click “Install WordPress”.
A message saying that you’ve successfully completed the installation of WordPress will display:
Click “Login”.
- Next, you’ll have to enter the username and password you selected for your WordPress.
Click “Login”.
You’ll be taken to the WordPress Admin Dashboard corresponding to your new website.
Get acquainted with the interface and you’ll learn all functionalities included in your WordPress Admin.
What’s most important to know about your WordPress Admin Dashboard:
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Where you’ll upload and activate your theme
Go to Appearance -> Themes -> Add New (theme), like shown in the screenshot below:
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How to manage plugins
Plugins are small modules that add extra functionalities to the website.
Go to Plugins -> Installed Plugins/Add New.
If you go to Installed Plugins, you’ll find a table with all plugins that you’ve already installed and activated for the website. You can manage them from that table (Activate, Deactivate or Delete plugin).
If you go to Add New, you have 2 options:
- Upload a plugin to your WordPress, from your local device:
2. Search for a plugin in the WordPress plugins database, select, install and activate it for your site:
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In which section to create a new page
From the left-hand menu of the WordPress Admin Dashboard, click on “Pages”.
You’ll open the list of pages you have created for the website. If you want to create and edit a new page, click “Add New”:
List of pages existing in site:
New page you’ll create:
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How to create a new post
In the left-hand menu of the WordPress Admin dashboard, click on “Posts”.
You’ll open the list of posts that your website/blog already has:
To create a new post for your website/blog, click on “Add New” next to posts, and start creating a new article:
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Settings
This section refers to settings that apply site-wide.
For instance, you can set your homepage to be a static page or display your latest posts (Reading Settings).
Set how many posts you’ll display on the homepage (Reading Settings).
Adjust some settings for comments display in blog posts (Discussion Settings).
Set the form of the permalinks, like in the screenshot below: (Permalinks Settings)
For an ample presentation of the WordPress Admin Dashboard, you can refer to this article on how to navigate WordPress Admin Dashboard like a PRO.
