Installing WordPress on your hosting

WordPress is the most common way to build a site on shared hosting, and cPanel includes an installer that will set it up for you.

Before you begin

• Your domain should already be pointing at your hosting. If it is not, the installer will still work but the site will not be reachable until the domain resolves.
• Decide whether WordPress should live at your main domain or in a subdirectory, since it is easiest to get this right at the start.

Install

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Open the installer under the Software section.
3. Choose WordPress and select the domain you want to install it on.
4. Enter a site name, a description, and an administrator username and password. Choose a username that is not simply admin, and use a strong password.
5. Enter an email address you can access, as this is where password resets go.
6. Run the installation.

The installer creates the database and the WordPress files, and gives you a link to your new site and to the administration area.

After installing

• Log in to your new site and check that the address is correct under Settings, particularly if you installed it in a subdirectory.
• Set your permalinks under Settings to a readable format rather than the default.
• Remove any plugins and themes you do not intend to use, as unused code still needs updating.
• Confirm your SSL certificate is active so the site loads over https.

Keeping it updated

WordPress, its themes and its plugins all release updates. Applying them promptly is the single most effective thing you can do to keep a WordPress site secure. Take a backup before running major updates, and check the site afterwards.