Wordpress is one of the simplest, fastest and easiest tools for blogging. It is open source software developed originally by a god, I mean guy named Matt Mullenweg. With the advent of Wordpress, Mullenweg single-handedly changed the face of the web. Ok, so he didn’t do it alone, he had lots of talented coders working with him, but the concept was his.
He developed what they call “…a state-of-the-art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.”
So you’ve heard about Wordpress. You’ve heard about weblogs (now simply called “blogs”). And you want your own blog! That is where Wordpress can help. Here are the most common ways to install Wordpress and get your own blog up and running in just a few minutes. This list begins with the simplest installation of Wordpress all the way to the most difficult.
Option 1: Wordpress.com
The easiest way to install Wordpress is to let someone else do it! Wordpress.com (not to be confused with Wordpress.org) is built on Wordpres Mu (multi-user). By signing up, you will instantly get a blog located at yourname.wordpress.com.
For the casual user, this is probably the best option. When you want to share family news, your personal experiences, or don’t want to bother with the hassle of web hosting or domain names, head on over to Wordpress.com for a free blog.
Option 2: Fantastico (via your web host)
The second easiest way to install Wordpress is to sign up for web hosting with a provider that offers Fantastico! (the exclamation point is part of the name). Most web hosting accounts offer Fantastico as a standard feature, and almost all accounts that use software called Cpanel as your backend dashboard include Fantastico.
So what is Fantastico? It is software that automates and simplifies the installation of a long list of other programs. These include most blog software, content management systems (CMS) and other community building software. With just a couple clicks, you can install Wordpress with this handy tool. How? Keep reading.
Step 1: Log in to Cpanel or your web hosting dashboard.
Step 2: Navigate to Fantastico. If using Cpanel, simply type “fan” into the left hand filter box and the link to Fantastico will be brought into view. Click Fantastico.
Step 3: Under the “blogs” header on the left, click “Wordpress”
Step 4: Click “New Installation”
Step 5: Fill out the required fields like domain, directory, etc. If you want Wordpress to be in the root directory of that domain, leave the directory field empty.
Step 6: Click “install” and you’re done!
The downside: you will have a little less control over how things are set up. The database and db username and passwords are all set up for you (which is also a time saver). Also, it is a little tricky to assign a domain name to your Wordpress install using Fantastico which is also a Cpanel issue.
Option 3: Self hosted installation
The option that offers you the most control and customization options is a self-hosted install. Even this, the most complicated, is still very very easy. Even beginners can handle this one.
Step 1: Download and unzip the latest release of Wordpress. You can find the latest release here.
Step 2: Upload the unzipped directory using your favorite FTP client. *
Step 3: Navigate to the directory of your Wordpress install. You will automatically be taken to an installation screen.**
Step 4: Fill out the required bits of information like database, username and password. Click Finish and voila! You’re done! ***
*Alternately, you can upload the zipped file and unzip it once on your web server.
**You will need to have a way to navigate to the Wordpress directory using a domain, subdomain or temporary domain. Most hosts will allow you to assign a domain to a directory. Temporarily, you can create a subdomain which is free (usually) and takes less time to propogate across the web.
***You will need to have set up a MySQL database prior to installing Wordpress. Do this a bit ahead of time as it takes a little while to be set up usually by your host.
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Additional Resources:
Gail from Business Blogging
We love WordPress too and use WP, the Thesis Theme and many great plugins including CommentLuv and KeywordLuv on all of them. (I found my way here through your KeywordLuv post.) All comments in all our blogs are dofollow.
I’m going to review this post at StumbleUpon which will then feed it out to Twitter, FriendFeed, Facebook and Delicious.
I hope you’ll drop by and visit. If you would like to find our other blogs they are listed in the post I linked to this comment. That post also includes tons of resources about Wordpress.
One thing I will mention is that if you read this tutorial and it doesn’t make sense to you I highly recommend having someone who knows how install it for you. I am grateful to have a great technical person who handles it for me – and I’ve been working in computers for over three decades and have been building sites online since 1996.
Even with my background I would much rather have someone else handle the technical details so I can focus on writing and driving traffic. Collaborating with others is a great way to get more done faster.
R Kumar from Earn Money Online
A very well explained tutorial.
These days most of the Linux hosting plan come with a fantastico type installation tool which makes installing wordpress absolutely easy. It is just a matter of a few clicks and wordpress is installed. Even GoDaddy whose linux hosting, is also not a good option for Wordpress, offers a tool which makes installing Wordpress easy. But do not attempt to go for a hosting from GoDaddy if you want to install Wordpress because there are quite a few issue with them.
My recommendation, here is that you only go for a hosting company that offers linux hosting with a fantastico installation, if you want to run a blog on Wordpress.
chakkravarthi from seo your blog
I always prefer to install my wordpress blogs through fantastico as its a real fast option available manual installation can be quite tedious but not that hard.
Ankit from Calculatem Pro Download
Word press is a great thing in the field of SEO.Thanks for sharing the tips for Installing these plugins.
Kai from portable washing machine
I still stick to Blogger. I am too used to it so I won’t even bother switching to Wordpress even though everyone is telling me to use Wordpress.
-Kai
Max from Walnut Floors
Ha, I am in the last boat as the last commenter. I am super used to Blogger as well but have been hearing awesome things about Wordpress….this blog is only tempting me more….Thanks for the advice.
Jay from Lure Fishing
I use blogger a lot too, however the problem with blogger blogs is that you never actually own the url behind the blog and can never sell it.
If you want to own the site and actually be able to sell it one day, wordpress can provide the answer.
Forjados
Wordpress is very easy to install. I like this CMS. I think its better from blogger, or other cms. Good blog. (Greetings from Spain)
Don from Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
If you’re doing the self hosted installation, make sure you know what the hostname is. Wordpress says that most of the time “localhost” will work, but for me, I always have to change it. You should be able to get the hostname from your hosting service or under your SQL settings.
Just a tip, because the first few times I installed Wordpress, I got stuck on this step for a long time!
priya from Tunnel Project Manager Jobs
well i think wordpress is the very important thing in the field of seo. and always install wordpress for my all seo related work since it is very easy to install. keep it up
jon from nintendo ds games download
wordpress installation has always been the best choice in terms of control and fast ranking, but blogger comes first when you want free and easy.
faisal from shiroi neko
yeh Wordpress is very easy to install and it is always been the best choice for the seo. I am too used to it . Thanks for sharing the tips for this plugin and also for the installation for the word press.
olly from Component Compare
This is a good tutorial.
I would suggest that if you are serious about blogging it is well worth investing the time to get your own hosted site. This way you have complete control over it.
tatvasoft from Software Development
You have shared nice steps to install Wordpress. I have used Wordpress for my blog website. Wordpress is a best choice for SEO Perpose.
Tim from pest control prices
The one thing to caution about letting Fantastico install wordpress is using default values. User names or passwords that aren’t randomly generated (i.e. using the domain name or “admin” for a user name) is a huge security risk because of wordpress’s standardizations. Basically, don’t use simple passwords when installing wordpress on your own.
Bryan from insomnia depression
I personally feel that instead if going through such a big headache,I would anytime prefer blogger.There is not much to do with this in installing procedure.It is anytime easier than wordpress.But wordpress in its own has got the awesome features as well.
Fernando from mesa bilhar
Hey man! Wow, thanks for explained all this, i ways traing to install but always happened something wrong! gonna try like you say now. Thanks