Getting Started With WordPress - An Overview

If you are just getting started with WordPress you may be finding it all a bit overwhelming. Your first port of call for information will naturally be WordPress.org, but like a lot of people you may have trouble understanding the documentation. The information provided seems to be geared more towards technical people, and the average person will more than likely need to look elsewhere for guidance on how to proceed. This article will provide you with an overview of what is involved in getting started with WordPress and will start you off on the right track.

Essentially, WordPress is content management software (CMS) that you can use to create a static website, a blog or even a static website with an integral blog. It is available for free, and can either be downloaded from the WordPress site and manually installed on your own web server, or by simply using an auto-installer application provided by your web host.

Fortunately, getting started with WordPress is actually pretty simple and will not take you very long. Essentially, it involves the following steps:

Sign Up With A Web Host

You will need to find a web host, which you will have to pay for. However, you can get one for around $5 per month. A good place to search for a web host is TopHosts.com. Most web hosts support WordPress but it's advisable to check before signing up. You also want to check that any prospective host provides an auto-installer such as Fantastico.

Register A Domain Name

You can get a domain name either from a domain registration company or from your web host. It is obviously a lot easier to get one from your host, although if you shop around you may save some money. However, you can get a domain name for under $10 per year so it's probably not worth bothering.

Install WordPress

You can install WordPress using the auto-installer application provided by your host. This enables you to install WordPress with just a few clicks, and there is no software to download. If you installed it manually you would first have to download the software, configure a database, upload files and then perform the installation. The auto-installer can be accessed from the control panel provided by your web host, and regardless of the particular auto-installer you have it will be very straightforward to use.

Once you have WordPress installed you will be given a link to a login page, from where you will be able to access your WordPress administration area. This is where you will manage your site or blog, change the design and add your content.

For a complete step-by-step guide to getting started with WordPress, visit my site at http://gettingstartedwithwordpress.net/. You can go directly to the Guide section of the site at http://gettingstartedwithwordpress.net/guide/

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