How To Install WordPress
WordPress, which originally started out as a blogging platform, quickly evolved to become one of the most popular website builders in the world. Apparently accounting for a third of all websites that are currently live on the internet. It’s a major appeal to the public is that it is user-friendly, it avoids the steep learning curve when it comes to programming and coding and allows for users to use drag and drop builders in order to tailor their website to how they want. However, before you get started with the design you’re going to need to install WordPress first and foremost and that’s what we’re going to be looking at today.
Now, it’s important to note there are 3 main ways to install WordPress.
- Most of the main hosting companies now allow you to install WordPress simply through a single click. For example, you would need to go into your CPanel or Control Panel, find the website section and simply click on WordPress and then ‘Install’.
- Now, if for any reason your hosting provider doesn’t offer the above, there is still a way to install WordPress however it’s slightly longer and more complicated, but not if you follow these steps:-
To manually install WordPress, we’re going to need to use what is called an FTP client. FTP standing for File Transfer Protocol such as Filezilla.
However, before we get into that, ensure that you have downloaded the latest version of WordPress before we go any further. Please note that when you download it, it will come in a zipped folder, you’ll have to unzip it using a program such as WinRar or 7Zip.
Once downloaded, go ahead and transfer the unzipped files you downloaded to the main root of your website server. Once the file transfer is completed, go into your Control Panel. This is where we’re going to create a database.
On your Control Panel, click the MYSQL Database option. Create a new database and give a username and password keeping in mind that for security reasons make sure they are not easy to find out and then keep a note of them safe as you will need them next.
Now everything is set up, go ahead and type in your website name and you should see the first step in the WordPress installation which is to select the language. Now you can proceed through the installer entering a name for the site, a username and password for the admin and enter the username and password for the database that you took a note of earlier.
- Get a professional company such as Freecom.net to install and set up your WordPress website for you to your specification. In addition to setting up your website, Freecom.net are a leed generation company able to set up your website in such a way as to drive traffic to it. This help to save you money with time setting up the site and advertising to get traffic.
Once this is completed you will have installed WordPress successfully and be greeted with the default theme for your website.
After Installation Please Follow These Steps
Delete no longer required files:
Delete wp-config-sample.php
wp-config-sample.php is found in the root of your WordPress installation. If your hosting company offers a one-click installation, you will see both wp-config.php AND wp-config-sample.php in the root folder. Just go ahead & delete wp-config-sample.php. Your hosting company has already setup & created wp-config.php, and the sample file is not needed.
If you are installing WordPress on your own, you will only have a wp-config-sample.php file. You need to rename this file to just wp-config.php. If you rename it, then the sample file will not be there anymore, which is what you want. No need to delete anything.
Surprisingly, even managed WordPress hosts like WP Engine, who install & configure WordPress for you, still leave the wp-config-sample.php on the server.
Delete readme.html
The readme.html file is also located in the root of your site. It provides basic information about installation, upgrading, system requirements & resources. It also displays the WordPress version you are running, which can be used by hackers to exploit vulnerabilities. You should delete this file.
This file gets added back every time you update WordPress (ex: from 3.7 to 3.7.1). To be on the safe side, you can delete it each time you perform an update.
Delete /wp-admin/install.php
This file is used when first installing WordPress. It contains the form where you enter your blog title, create a username & password, etc. If your web host has a one-click WordPress install, they have already taken care of all this for you. This file is not needed after the initial install, so you should delete it.
That’s it you are all done, now start creating your new WordPress website with new themes plugins and more.
Don’t forget if you ever need any help installing or creating a WordPress website then Freecom.net is happy to assist.
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