Step by Step Instructions for Setting Up Your Wordpress Blog.

My team members and affiliates have been asking me to put together an easy step by step guide for setting up a WordPress blog without having to pay for courses and memberships so here it is!

Take a few moments to listen to my special video message for you about the benefits of creating your own WordPress MLM Blog:

By the time you come to install your blog you should have given some serious thought to what type of information you want to put on your blog and who your audience will be. This is called your NICHE. If you try and talk to everyone you will probably end up talking to no one!

1) Choose Your Domain Name

a) Go to GoDaddy.com or other domain provider of your choice and brainstorm domain names that are available. I recommend starting with your name ie; yourname.com or if it’s not available, something connected with your name such Iamyourname.com unless you already have a very specific niche or brand that you want to develop online.

b) Purchase your domain name.

You get 1 free email with the GoDaddy service so you can have a business email to match your blog which you can go back into and set up later.

2) Purchase Your Hosting Plan

a) Go to HostGator.com and purchase your hosting. The ‘Baby Plan’ is a good plan because you get unlimited domains. You can use any other plan or hosting that you prefer but make sure it offers ‘c panel’ with Fantastico as this is the easiest way to install your WordPress blog.

b) With HostGator you key in your new domain name as an ‘add on’ when you purchase the hosting.

With others you add them on after you have purchased. Just follow their instructions in the email.

3) Forwarding Your Name Servers to Your Hosting Account

a) Locate the email from your hosting company and find the ‘Nameservers’ on it. There will be two.

b) Log into your GoDaddy account and go to ‘My Domains.’

c) Click on the icon that says Nameservers and delete the existing ones and copy and paste the two nameservers from your hosting account email to replace them.

It can take up to 48 hours for this to take effect and for you to be able to see your domain name parked at your new hosting service.

4) Installing Your WordPress Blog

a) Log into yourdomain.com/cpanel with your log in details for your hosting account.

b) Click on the ‘add on domains’ icon and key in your new domain name unless you are with hostgator and already did it.

c) Scroll down to the blue smiley face icon named ‘Fantastico’ and click on it.

d) Click on the ‘Wordpress’ icon which is usually under ‘Blogs.’

e) Click on ‘New Installation.’

f) Select the domain name you added on earlier (you may have several if this is not your first website)

g) Leave the install directory box blank so it installs in your root domain. (It will tell you this)

h) Create your username and password and write it down. Keep it in safe place where you will find it as you will need this each time you log into your blog! Complete the rest of the fields as directed. You cannot change the username so choose wisely.

i) Check information and click ‘Finish Installation.’ Copy the link for your log in admin area and keep it in a safe place.

Visit your domain name. Congratulations you are the proud new owner of a WordPress Blog!

5) Log in and optimise your WordPress Blog

a) Log in to yourdomain.com/wp-admin (This is the back office of your blog)

b) Go to Settings and fill in the name for your blog and the tagline. Choose a title with your main keywords in it as this is important for you to be found by the search engines. Save changes.

6) Select and install your WordPress Theme

a) Change your standard (boring!) theme by choosing a free theme here: WordPress Themes Or you can choose a paid theme as they have more options to customise them easily yourself without paying a ’super geek’ to do it for you.

It’s important to choose a theme that has a clean look and is easy to navigate and find your categories and pages. I love Woo Themes and am in the process of switching my blog over. This blog currently uses a free theme that has been heavily customised.

See Optimise Press for my favourite theme which is so much more than a blog: Optimise Press

b) Download whichever theme (blog design) you like to your desktop and go back into WordPress and click on ‘Appearance’ on the left. Then click on ‘Themes’ and ‘Add new themes.’ Then click ‘Upload’ and then ‘Browse’ and find the theme you just downloaded and click ‘Install’. Go back to the ‘Themes’ section and click ‘Activate.’ (Phew you’re done!)

You should now see your new theme on your blog domain!

Alternatively you can use FTP software which is a free download, if you have problems uploading the theme and plugins within your WordPress back office. You will need this to do more advanced updates on your blog or website so it’s a good idea to set it up before you need it! (Instructions to come soon about how to set up Filezilla but you can download it for now)

If you trip up along the way, take a short break and deep breath! Go back over the steps and see where you went off the path. If you still need help then call your hosting company (or Go Daddy; if it’s about the domain) because these companies are all happy to provide free online and telephone support.

If you are a complete technophobe or have no time and just prefer to pay someone to install your WordPress Blog and customise your theme for you then go to Super Geek Help

If you need marketing strategy and niche branding help then complete the form on the coaching page to apply for a free 15 minute consultation with Rachel on how to get started with your Internet Business

Check back soon for more step by step instructions for optimising your WordPress Blog with plugins and lots more!

Go here for wordpress plugin links and setting up your email marketing auto-responder: Blog Set Up

Ready to get started? Procrastinate no longer – go back up to the beginning of the steps and get started today. In as little as 30 minutes you can have your blog installed. All I ask in return for this free training is that you please leave a comment if this helps you.