How to start a self-hosted WordPress blog

January 27, 2010

Please note: A self-hosted WordPress blog (sometimes referred to as WordPress.org) is different than a blog at WordPress.com. “Self-hosted” means you use the free WordPress platform on your own domain via hosting you pay for. A blog at WordPress.com is hosted by them and in exchange, you are limited in customization and monetization. A WordPress.com blog is not bad, but a self-hosted WordPress blog is much more preferred.

How to set up a self-hosted WordPress blog

Step One: Register your own domain
You simply need to choose a domain name (read how to choose a domain name) and then register it with a registrar. I personally use GoDaddy.com and have not had any problems. You have many options, though, so simply google “domain registration” or something similar. Domain registration will cost about $10 per year $20 per year when you choose Private Registration (I highly recommend it) and must be renewed annually (you can pay for several years at once).

Step Two: Purchase your own hosting
Once your domain is registered, purchase hosting from a different company (so as not to give one company complete power over your site). This is a simple process and costs as little as $8 per month for an average-sized site. I HIGHLY recommend purchasing hosting from a company that provides easy, auto-install for WordPress (most do, but check) — this will make life much easier in Step Four. I personally use Bluehost.com and would recommend it. (You might also check out the hosts recommended here.)

Step Three: Get your domain and your host to communicate
If your domain and hosting are set up at different companies, you will need to make sure the two “talk” to each other. This involves changing some settings. Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to your hosting account. (I will use Bluehost here.) Click on the “Domain Manager” tab at the top of the page.
2. Click on the “Nameservers” tab just above the Summary box.
3. Write down the two nameserver settings you see. Nameservers look something like this: ns1.bluehost.com and ns2.bluehost.com.
4. Now, log in to your domain account. (I will use GoDaddy here.)
5. Choose “Domain Manager” from the left column.
6. Click on your domain in the list.
7. Click “Manage Nameservers.”
8. Select “I host my domains with another provider.”
9. Input your new nameservers (from #3 above) under “Nameserver 1″ (ns1.bluehost.com) and “Nameserver 2″ (ns2.bluehost.com).
10. Click “OK.”
11. That’s it! Now you should see your site at your domain. (Note, it may take several hours for the changes to take effect.)

It all sounds very complicated but don’t worry, it’s really not. If you get stuck, just call support at each place (starting with your host) and ask them to walk you through.

Step Four: Install WordPress
Hopefully your host provides WordPress auto-install. Search your host’s faqs or contact support to find out how to install WordPress.

If you purchased hosting from Bluehost.com, here’s how to install WordPress:

1. Login to your Control Panel (cPanel).
2. Scroll down to “Software/Services” and click the “Simple Scripts” icon.
3. Under “Blogs” click “WordPress.”
4. Click “Install.”
5. Under “Where would you like WordPress installed?” leave the field blank. This will make your blog the main page of your site.
6. Check the “Legal Information” agreement box.
7. Click “Complete.”
8. Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of a self-hosted WordPress blog!

Step Four: Change your permalink structure

This is important and should be done right away before you post anything. A permalink is the address of a specific post. For example, the permalink of this post is “http://www.withpurpose.com/2010/01/27/how-to-start-a-self-hosted-wordpress-blog/”. If I had not changed my permalink structure the permalink would have been something like “http://www.withpurpose.com/2010/01/27/post-139″. The difference between the “post-139″ and the keyword-rich “how-to-start-a-self-hosted-wordpress-blog” is significant when it comes to being found and being ranked by search engines. It’s a bit techy for now, so just trust me on it.

To change your permalink structure:

1. Login to your WordPress Dashboard. (You should have received this login info in an email after completing Step Four above.)
2. Click “Settings” at the very bottom of the left column.
3. Click “Permalinks.”
4. Choose either “Day and name” or “Month and name.” (I prefer the former.)
5. Click “Save Changes.”

That’s it! You’re ready to blog!

I realize my geeky brain sometimes explains thing in a clear-as-mud sort of way. I did my best to make it clear, but if you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

For further reading:

• The Beginner’s Guide to Tricking out Your WordPress – This covers some good plugins you might want to install and some other helpful info.
• The WordPress Codex and Support Forums – These are great places to visit when you are stuck and need a little help figuring out how to get started, implement something new or troubleshoot.
• Free WordPress themes – I assume you’ll want to spice up your design a bit. There are tons of great-looking, free themes you can find online (like here, here and here). Or, simply go to your Dashboard –> Appearance –> Add New Themes –> Find Themes. When you see one you like, click “Install” and then “Activate Theme.” (Or…a shameless plug: I provide affordable blog design.)

Related posts:

1. How to choose a domain name
2. One effective way to increase your blog’s pageviews
3. How to resize your images for free online

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