Do It Yourself WordPress Installation

Filed under: Tips & Tricks - Sites, Software, Shortcuts, WordPress - Blog Tips, Plugins & How-To 

WordPress installation is a do-it-yourself project if you follow these simple steps. I find myself repeating this information a lot, so I thought I’d make this process easier on you and me both.

Purchase WordPress for Dummies by Lisa Sabin-Wilson

Explore WordPress design themes.

  1. I recommend looking at the Most Popular first. Some of the differences (apart from colors) are the navigation menus, number of columns, and how different page elements are designed (bullets, numbered lists, quotes, etc.)
  2. Look for a theme that has the general layout and color scheme most like what you want to achieve.
  3. Make sure the theme was updated fairly recently.
  4. Do NOT Google for free WordPress themes. Too often these are hacked with malicious code. Here is another site I trust.
  5. Download the zip file. Do not unzip.

Select Web Hosting Provider

  1. Choose a web hosting service provider that offers SQL5, cPanel, and one-click installation. I highly recommend InMotion Hosting. Their customer service is extraordinary. (Note: This link buys lunch for me and a friend. You are free to go directly to InMotionHosting.com or another provider.)
  2. Once you receive the Welcome email from InMotion, install WordPress.
    • login using temporary xxx/cpanel
    • scroll down to Software & Services >Fantastico
    • click ‘WordPress’ in left sidebar >New Installation
    • first box should default to your domain
    • second box, leave blank if installing into the root directory
    • next 2 boxes are login information for WordPress
    • admin nickname – first name
    • email address is required
    • leave site name and description blank; it’s easier to edit in WordPress
    • install WordPress
    • Logout of cPanel

Change Domain Name System (DNS)

  1. Change DNS from current nameservers to NS.inmotionhosting.com   NS2.inmotionhosting.com (or, as instructed by your web host)
  2. The change can take 24-36 hours to propagate, yet generally happens in less than 8 hours.
  3. Using a ftp manager, edit the index.htm file located in the root directory. Rename it to index2.htm for now. You can delete when you’re sure you edited the right file.

Add New Theme to Your Site

  1. Login to your WordPress Site.
  2. Click Appearance>Add New Themes in left menu.
  3. Choose Upload and select the zipped theme file of your choice.
  4. Install. Preview. Activate.

Refer to WordPress for Dummies

  1. Read the chapter on settings. In the Permalinks setting, use /%category%/%postname%/  You want your category names to be short and keyword specific.
  2. Learn to create new posts, pages, categories and links.
  3. Create your first post.
  4. Edit the About page.
  5. Delete the Hello World post.

Have fun!

WordPress is a great program, and yet to maximize the benefits and potential of your new site, you need the plugins, and extra features that are offered:

  • Upgrade to a Premium Theme
  • Redesign the header to Embed your Logo
  • Customize the theme Colors and Layout
  • Optimize your Site for Search Engines
  • Make Your Site Hacker/Spam proof
  • Automate Backups for safety
  • Setup a Professional Email
  • Setup Feedburner account to handle your RSS Subscribers
  • Setup Email Subscription Option and Embed it in your Blog
  • Add Analytic Tracking
  • Monitor Backups, Security and Version Updates

Let me know if you need my services.

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