How To Install WordPress – Beginners Guide To WordPress Installation

This is one widely discussed topic in the blogging industry "how to install WordPress". If you are about to start your first blog you must have got so many questions and doubts to ask.

Which blogging platform to start with?

I would recommend you to start with self-hosted WordPress.org. It is one of the most popular and recommended blogging platform and content management system.

But just to make things easy for you I am sharing this step-by-step tutorial for beginners on how to install WordPress.

Another frequently asked question, which web hosting is best for WordPress?

At the start, one of the most difficult decisions to make is which web hosting to start with. There are so many cheap and reliable web hosting services available.

But, if you want to start your own blog for a long run don't just go with any random hosting service, I recommend self-hosted WordPress blog using SiteGround only.

There are few things you need to do before installing a WordPress.

• Select a Domain Name
• Select a Web Hosting Service

Step 1 - Select a Domain Name

Before you start installing WordPress, first you need to check the availability of your desired domain name. You can check domain availability here at NameCheap.

I always prefer NameCheap over other domain registrars like Godaddy. It may cost you a little more for the first year but the renewal cost is cheaper than other domain registrars.

Step 2 - Select a Hosting Plan

Next, you'll need to choose a web hosting service to host your blog that also will cost you on a monthly or yearly basis.

I highly recommend you to use SiteGround because of their great customer support, highly improved services and features at affordable price.

SiteGround starts at $3.95/mo (Use this link to get a special discount)

Why SiteGround?

You may have seen other bloggers promoting Bluehost to start your blog with, but Bluehost is no more what it used to be years ago. I have seen so many complaints regarding their services and support within my circle. If you ask any experienced blogger on a mass scale like social media or communities you'll get SiteGround is the most recommended yet affordable one.

I have seen many bloggers prefer price over performance so this would help them too. These prices are not countable for occasional discount offers.

Check out this survey done using Facebook poll taken by WordPress Hosting Facebook Group. More than 350 experienced users participated in this poll survey and SiteGroud is the most recommended hosting service according to them.

(This was 2017 WordPress hosting Poll results)

If just one poll is not enough for you, here is the WordPress hosting Poll survey results for 2016.

I have used and experienced SiteGround performance on my sites and totally satisfied with the results. They are doing great for so long and maintained their standard by providing awesomeness with their fast customer support, performance, fast load time and 99.99% uptime.

They’re the only hosting listed on all 3 CMS WordPress, Joomla, Drupal pages.

I hope it's enough for you to start your blog with SiteGround.

Next big question to answer is, how to install WordPress on SiteGround?

In this WordPress installation tutorial, I am going to use SiteGround hosting to start a blog.

Follow the easy step by step guide with screenshots to start your blog today.

Visit SiteGround, and select a hosting plan. There will be three hosting plans available "StartUp, GrowBig and GoGeek" all three will be at 60% off their regular pricing which is $3.95/mo.

If you are a new to blogging and want to host a single site only, I recommend you to select the StartUp plan. Or if you have multiple websites to host, GrowBig is the one you should start with.

Note: SiteGround offers you 60% off as the introductory hosting pricing, which can be used for upto 3 years of hosting plan.

After the expiry of your hosting plan, the prices will be increased to the regular prices. Their regular prices are visible in the above image.

When you are done selecting the right hosting plan for you. Next, you'll need to choose a domain name which is going to be your website name (e.g. Sitename.com).

Enter your desired domain name to register it (SG don't offer free a domain). It will cost you $14.95/year.

If you already have a domain name you can select "I already have a domain".

Note: To save some extra bucks you can buy a domain name using other domain registrars like NameCheap and Godaddy.

Click Proceed when you are done.

Next, You'll be directed to another page that is "Review & Complete".

Here you'll be asked to fill in your "Account & Client information" to create your new account with SiteGround and your "Payment & purchase information" to buy and confirm your hosting plan and services.

Note: Before you buy you should know that in your "purchase information".

• You can edit your plans such as StartUp, GrowBig and GoGeek.

• You can choose your hosting data center. The closer to your target audience will be better and faster.

• You can confirm and edit your hosting period. All three periods will cost you for the same amount which is $3.95/mo.

You can also select extra services like domain privacy and SG site scanner.

At last, confirm their terms of services and click "Pay now".

Now you have become a proud owner of your self-hosted blog.

Your hosting purchase is completed and now you are just a few more clicks away to make your blog live.

Installing WordPress is even easier than purchasing the hosting plan. Once you are done signing up with SiteGround.

Login to your SiteGround account.

Click on the "Home" tab from the menu bar.

Now, on your right side window, you'll see an orange button with a text "Set up in 2 mins". Click on it. 

(Follow the screenshot below with steps mentioned)

Next, You'll be redirected to SiteGround Wizard page.

Select the first option "Start a new website at Sitename.com" and "Proceed".

(Follow the screenshot below with steps mentioned)

In Website Preferences Step, under "What type of website do you need?" select "Personal/Blog".

Next, under "Do you know which software you are going to use?" select "WordPress". 

And, click Proceed.

(Follow the screenshot below with steps mentioned)

Next step is Software installation, under "Choose Login details for WordPress" enter your login details which you want to set as your login username and password.

(Follow the screenshot below with steps mentioned)

Under "Choose a web design template to be installed along with your WordPress" choose a free WordPress theme with their hosting service or you can simply skip this step to install the default WordPress theme.

(Follow the screenshot below with steps mentioned)

At last, click SUBMIT.

Congratulations! You are done installing a WordPress.

SiteGround offer you few extra goodies with its hosting which are beneficial for your blog optimization and its performance.

Here are two services I recommend you to use on your WordPress website.

#1. Login to your SiteGround account, under "My Accounts" click "information & settings".

At the bottom of the page, you'll find "Cloudflare CDN", (Free plan included. Plus recommended for premium security and e-commerce websites)

Click "Access". On the prompt box check "Access cPanel Securely" and Proceed. A new window will be displayed.

At the bottom of the page, under "Domain Without Cloudflare". Click "Activate Free".

Confirm your email address to create your new Cloudflare account and Proceed. That's all your site is now has a CDN (content delivery network) activated.

#2. SG Optimizer is an exclusive WordPress cache solution by SiteGround for faster page load. (Available with GrowBig & GoGeek Plans only)

SiteGround is listed among top managed WordPress hosting and one of the reasons for that is its built-in SuperCache technology, which is one of the premium services by SiteGround for free.

You can also find this exclusive built-in caching technology with high end hosting services like Kinsta and WPEngine.

In your WordPress dashboard, on your sidebar menu, you'll find an option SG Optimizer.

First, you need to enable SuperCacher to activate "Dynamic Cache" and "AutoFlush Cache".

On the same page, you can also enable Memcache for your WordPress site from the cPanel for the faster site performance. Learn more about enabling Memcache on your WordPress hosting and how it can help you with better performance here.

Now that you have successfully installed WordPress on your blog. Wondering what next to do?

Just to make things easier for you I have created one easy to follow blogging guide to start a successful WordPress blog.

"Find your way to do Smart Blogging"

Let me help you with things you need to do next.

• Things to do After Installing WordPress
• Choosing a WordPress theme
• Installing a WordPress Plugin - List of Plugins I Use
• Complete WordPress SEO Guide: Optimize your blog for Better Results
• Write your first Blog Post - Learn how to write an SEO Friendly article
• Advanced Content Promotion Checklist
• Different ways to Make Money from your Blog

I hope this guide helped you with the successful installation of WordPress on your blog. Now you have your own blog up and running.

Just learn and implement. The first year of your blogging journey should be the productive one.

My personal advice for newbie bloggers; don't waste your time changing fonts, colors and checking out your website's analytics.

Prepare a list of things you have to do for the next one month and start working on it. Write content for your readers and not for the search engines.

Always make short-term goals because achieving them will help you reach your main goal one day.

Feel free to ask your questions in the comment box or you can contact me here. I'll do my best to help you out.