Holaa! I’m so excited to write this article, creating a WordPress blog step by step in 2020. I’m happy you have decided to take the action and set it up. Congratulation. Up to now, you should have read how blogs work and earn as well as getting your niche it is important you go through them before you continue. In this article, we’ll have a step-by-step guide to hosting a WordPress blog on a custom domain like ‘forevercreators.com’. It might be a little technical but trust me no prior knowledge of coding is required.
Before we go far let us understand these terms that we are already using.
Important Terms:
- Hosting( host ): Websites are just files that can run on a computer 24/7 and these files can be accessed from anywhere in the world by anyone as long as they have an internet connection. Now these computers that run 24/7 to allow our sites to be reached are called servers. Servers are usually very expensive to buy and to maintain. For instance, they need to be operated by highly skilled personnel, they consume a lot of power, they also require cooling. To save us from that some companies buy these servers, run and maintain them, they just rent us a space to keep our files while they are visible to the world. This way the cost is shared among the people. This is called hosting. The servers host our websites. When you here about hosting fee its the rental fee.
- Domain name: Domain name is an identifier to your website. It identifies the server computer hosting your computer and specific files that makes your website. That is enough of technical theories.
- WordPress: WordPress is a content management system. It handles all the backend and database interactivity all ready for you. you just install a theme and boom! you are up and running.
Why should we use WordPress and not other options?
As a professional software developer, I never liked WordPress before I got into content creation niche. But yes, I was very wrong. My first blog, not WordPress, I made it from scratch but 4 months later I migrated to WordPress. WordPress also has other alternatives like Weebly and blogger here are the reasons I chose WordPress.
- It is so easy to set up: You don’t need any special skills to install and manage one.
- It has a big community: Meaning if you ever get stuck anytime you will get a lot of materials to help you solve the issue.
- Plugins: They make it so easy to implement new features. All you do is install a plugin and activate it.
- WordPress is simply the best in this blogging field. Other platforms like Weebly are mainly focused on corporate sites or simply static pages.
- You can switch look and feel anytime without losing content.
- I moved my blog here mainly to take advantage of the SEO tools that you can easily install and use.
To proceed and host our blog we’ll need a domain name and hosting space. It means you buy if don’t already have. You can buy them from anywhere else but I will be demonstrating with Namecheap.
Quick reasons why we settled on Namecheap:
- Like the name, it is cheap to buy hosting and domain here. You can get .com domain name for $8.8/ yr and host at $17/ yr. With only $25 (Ksh.2 600) you get your site running. To know its better, you should understand that with this package you can host up to 3 different websites at the same time, isn’t that amazing?
- Fast Support: Namecheap offers first support and they are always there to help. In case you have any problem with the server, be rest assured of getting quick responses from their support team.
- You get professional emails: Professional email is something I consider whenever I’m deploying any website. They are something like; info@test.omborisymons.com
- Free SSL for a year. Your blog will be on secure mode for a year. Do you see the HTTPS and HTTP? https is more secure.
- You get free Softacours: Which makes it easy to install WordPress.
If you feel like buying a domain name and hosting from Namecheap here is my affiliate link.
Hosting steps
We are now in the interesting part, the real hosting. !We are going to follow just simple steps and we are done.
1. Buy a domain name and hosting space:
Head over to namecheap 
Choose US and yearly, monthly or 2 years billing circle. Yearly is prefered. Now click on get started Now once you are on this page click on one which is a new domain. Choose a new package and lastly put in the domain name you wish to use. Ensure its not a domain that someone has used. Once you see your domain appear and it is the price you want. ( some times you might tweak it a bit).You need to click on connect the domain. .com domains should go for $8.88/yr. Now add everything to the cart and proceed to checkout. It should be a straightforward thing from there.
Accessing Cpanel
Once you have purchased domain name and host go to the dashboard. See image below:
When you hover on that second icon you should see options like manage and go to Cpanel. Click on go to Cpanel. It will redirect you to a new page like shown:
Now you are on the Cpanel, you should be able to see Softaculous Apps Installer. This is the tool that will help us to quickly install our WordPress on the server. Let us click on it.
Lets now click on WordPress When you see this page bellow click on install. I will instal the default theme.
The next step is very important. Be keen on it. I’ll install my WordPress on a subdomain of my other blog. You should use your newly purchased domain name,
If you don’t see your domain name on the drop-down then there is a change you need to make on Namecheap I’ll show you at the end. Next important things are your admin name, email, password set them and keep them well. Also, check the box for the classic editor.
Scroll to the bottom and click on INSTALL Now wait few seconds as it installs. After successful installation, you should get the URL and the admin URL. The URL is what people will see but the admin URL is what you use when you want to make changes or to write a blog post.
From now when you visit your domain name you should see the default blog template:
And admin URL should take you to this:
That’s where you do all the admin work.
Conclusion
Now, this post is getting long. I’ll stop here and let you finish. if everything is working ok up to now let me know in the comments and if you have difficulties anywhere then feel free to contact us. Or comment below and We’ll get back to you. On part two of Creating a WordPress blog step by step, we’ll talk about how to install a plugin, activate, deactivate and uninstall. We will also talk about the essential plugins you need to install. Lastly, We’ll write our first post so stay tuned. Let me know if this Creating a WordPress blog step by step was useful to you by leaving a comment.
