Starting on WordPress {self hosted} for your small business is very simple and easy to do. I really love how quickly you can get up and running within an hour or less. If you are going to use WordPress to start blogging you will have tremendously more options than Blogger and TypePad. The same goes for if you plan on using WordPress for your service company or eCommerce shop.
Purchase Domain & Hosting
This is the fairly easy part of starting on WordPress for your business. Your business name matters! Ashley’s Cupcakes is a very generic name that would be hard to find on Google or in Bing’s search engine. Be more specific, catchy, and do more with your name. You want to be memorable. Domain 101 For Small Business breaks down the information for your url. You can purchase your domain and hosting all with Host Gator.
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Install Hosting On WordPress
Host Gator has a quick install option for its users. First you will log into your domain name backslash cpanel. Next you will scroll down to the software/services section of the backend.
Click the quick install icon and under blog software click on WordPress. Insert all the information in the new box. Remember when making your username and password to make them secure. Use an email that goes with your business. Once you are done press install. It should take less than a minute. Then a prompt to “click here” will appear. Congrats! You now have a site.
Connect your Domain Name and Hosting
Host Gator should have sent you an email with your Name Servers or DNS for your site. Insert the given Name Servers info into your domain name registrar account. This is to ensure your domain name is associated with your hosting. If you purchased your domain with the hosting company then you can skip this step.
How to change the name servers for your domain:
- Login to your Name Server account and go to ‘Manage Domains’.
- Click on the ‘Domain’ you would like to edit.
- Click on ‘Transfer DNS to Webhost’ (or Domain Name Server Setup) to set up the name servers for your domain.
- Select ‘Specify Custom DNS Servers’ (Your own DNS Servers) option and enter the name servers.
- Click ‘Save changes’.
Log Into WordPress
Type your business URL into your web browser; make sure you attach backslash wp-admin. A screen like this should pop up. Insert your username and password. The importance of password protection is essential.
Designing your Website
You can purchase your themes from such sites as TemplateMonster or BluChic. Template Monster will be more for the service company or the eCommerce shop owner. If you are wanting to turn your blog into a business than BluChic is perfect for you. In addition, you can run service based companies off their designs too. Installation is fairly easy with their step by step guide. If you want your themes customized from either company you will need to hire a website designer/developer.
How to install the theme from WordPress Admin:
- Find Appearance and click Themes.
- Click the Add New button.
- Click the Upload Theme button.
- Click Choose File and select the theme zip file
- Click the Install Now button.
- Click the Activation Link.
Your website is up and running within a matter of hours with this simple guide. In the last couple years, I have realized that the only time you need a website designer or developer is when you are doing customization of on the theme or website itself. Otherwise you can do it yourself. Great skill to have.
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