Step 1 – Find Your Host
If you have not already done so, then you need to decide on where you will be hosting your web site. Look round for a website host that offers the services that you need at a price you are happy to pay. To install WordPress, you will need basic hosting along with a MySQL database, so look at the cost of that. If you are creating more than 1 blog then possibly look at accounts that will host multiple web sites, even reseller accounts.

If you are lucky you may choose a host that has one click WordPress installation. If so, then do the next step and the one click installation and forget the rest of the steps!

Step 2 – Buy Your Domain Name
Regularly this is part of setting up your hosting. Think of a good domain name, check if it is available (your prospective hosts will have a tool for this) and go for it! Do not be tempted to stuff the domain name with keywords. Keep it short and snappy and good looking. If keywords fit into it, then fine. But a name that describes the website or is based around your name could attract more traffic long term.

Step 3 – Install A Database
This might be automatic with several hosting packages and with others you need to click a button to install the database and set-up an admin user id and password. Make a note of the access details your host gives to you.

Step 4 – Download WordPress
Go to WordPress.org, click download and get a copy of the most recent version. Save it to your computer then using Windows Explorer search for the folder that you have downloaded to. It arrives as a zip file, which you straightforward unzip by opening the zip file in Explorer then dragging the WordPress folder into an alternative folder. It will take a minute or two to unpack.

Step 5 – Customise the Installation
Look at the readme file in the unpacked folder, but principally you take a copy of the wp_config file and edit it with the user id, password and perhaps database location from step 3.

Step 6 – Upload WordPress
Now the difficult part, if you are not used to it! If you have an FTP package then only use that to upload the unzipped contents of the WordPress folder to your web site (the contents only).

If you do not have FTP software, the you might use Internet Explorer to do the trick. Type into the address bar the address your hosts have handed you for FTPing, sign on and then navigate to the folder on the website you need to upload to. (Certain versions of Internet Explorer require you to confirm you want to use FTP by going for an option under the tools menu on the top right.) Now, only drag the contents of the unzipped folder to the folder on the site.

Step 7 – Install
Type in your website address and follow the instructions on the screen, you are seconds away from having a new blog! Choose a password and (onWordPress 3.0 onwards) select a user id and you are running.

Now, you just need to start customising WordPress and change a few security settings. Simple when you know how.

Written by Keith Lunt of How To Start Blogging. Call in if you need any help or advice with starting a blog.

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