WordPress is by far the world’s most famous content management system. It is easy to install and use. Most of your favorite sites, including this one, use WordPress.
As we continue with the internet marketing challenge, which hopes to get most Africans earning online via their own sites, this is one of those topics that cannot be overlooked.
So, once you’ve registered your domain name and hosted your website, the next step is be to install WordPress. Note that we’re talking about the free self-hosted WordPress software and not the free WordPress blogging platform.
I am also part of this challenge and at the time of writing this, I have just installed WordPress on one of the sites that I’m developing for this challenge – internetmarketinginafrica.com. There is still no content there as I’m doing this together with all those who are following this challenge. If you see this later, then I will already have lots of content there that you can learn from.
With time, most who are following will be earning regular income from their websites, or “money sites” as I’d like to call them.
The screen shots below were taken in HostGator where I host my sites
Here is the step by step tutorial on how to install WordPress.
1. Log in to your web host and scroll down to “Quick Install”
As stated, this is where to find “Quick Install” in HostGator cPanel. It should be similar in most other web hosts. Click on “Quick Install”.
2. Click on WordPress
3. Fill in the form
Quickly fill in the form. You can leave the “install/path/here” part blank but fill in the rest. Of course those who are more advanced in WordPress can fill in their desired path. But if you’re a beginner, leave it blank.
Voila! Once you click on “Install WordPress” it will be installed in seconds. Congratulations, my friend, you now have a powerful content management system installed in your website.
4. Log in to WordPress
You can now proudly log in to WordPress. By default, your login link will be yoursite.com/wp-admin (replace “yoursite” with your website name).
You’ll get your log in details (link, username and password) on the same “Quick Install” page you’re in, see below:
If you want to, you can change the appearance of your site from the “Appearance” setting as shown below.
For those who are following this real time, I’ve not yet added content on my new site but will alert you when I do. Just make sure you’re part of my mailing list so that you don’t miss a thing.
In the new site, I’ll talk more about WordPress themes, plugins and how you can create content that sells.
Don’t worry, we’ll cover it all till you start earning. In fact, the new site will be all about internet marketing , so feel free to bookmark internetmarketinginafrica.com.
In the meantime, install WordPress with the directions above. You can also download my free blogging eBook for further tips.
Have you installed WordPress on your site? Are you experiencing any challenges? Do you have any questions, comments, compliments or suggestions on what has been covered on this post? Simply leave a comment and let’s continue this discussion.
I have used namecheap as a hoster but I don’t know how to install the wordpress in my site, please help
Here’s Namecheap’s guide https://www.namecheap.com/wordpress/how-to-install-wordpress/
My WordPress is now installed! Thank you Walter for your training.
I want to start monetizing now.
That’s great! Keep taking massive action!
Very educative. looking forward to owning a website
Thanks, Mary!
You can do it!
Thanks,
I finally installed WordPress. God bless
Great! God bless you too!
Hi… so I need to become a freelancer writer but unfortunately am a begginer so how will I get to start posting my pieces for public awareness so that I may be recognized.
Hi Ian,
You can start posting on sites like Medium and LinkedIn. If you have a budget, create your own site as well. If you don’t, you can create a free WordPress blog and start practicing there as well.
Here’s a guide that can help you get started right https://freelancerkenya.com/money-online/how-to-make-money-online-in-kenya-as-a-freelance-writer/
Very educative piece.
Thank Walter.
God bless you.
Hi, I have tried to install WordPress. I have received an email saying that the installation has been successful, the page shows that it’s still installing. What could be the problem? I cannot proceed from there. Thank you.
Hi Ruth,
We’ve communicated on email. All will be well.
hallo Walter? if i created my website with either wix, weebly or square space, can i host it in host gater?
Hi Mirriam,
No. HostGator is for self-hosted sites. For such, I recommend WordPress.
Hello,
Amazing post
Question what if i want an e commerce site?
Hi Prince,
You can go ahead and create it then market heavily.
Hi Walter, after creating, and hosting a site, and also installing WordPress how do you market the site?
Hi Terry,
You can market via many methods. I recommend you study out social media marketing, search engine optimization and email marketing. Start with those.
Hi Walter,
I like this post, very helpful.
A quick question, is it possible to migrate content from wordpress.com? If yes, how does one go about it?
Hi Betty,
Yes, it’s possible.
Here’s how http://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-properly-move-your-blog-from-wordpress-com-to-wordpress-org/
Hi Walter,
Kindly advise on installation of WordPress, do we have to wait for the account to be ready? so in my case i have to wait 48 hours?
Hi Risper,
As soon as you’re done with the domain and hosting, you can install WordPress immediately using the above tips.
thanks Walter i have followed your guide from domain registration to web hosting and now i want to install word press. I am having trouble logging in to my hostgator cPanel i am suspecting maybe my account is not yet live. Otherwise you are doing a good job and i hope to start earning very soon from my site.God bless you
Hi Jowal. Thanks for your comment. Good to see you’re setting up your blog. Yes, you’ll soon start earning. I hope your site is now functional. God bless you too.
This is excellent. I have already installed WordPress and my site is up and running from February 8th this year.
I am making rapid progress in this online thing.
Fantastic, Kegesa. Good to know that.
Hi Walter,
Thank you for your training.
I have installed Word Press. Now how to I go about customizing it or what else do I need to do to after installation.
Hi Janet. That’s great! After that you’ll need to install useful plugins and start adding content. You’ll gain a lot from my free eBook here https://freelancerkenya.com/go/list
Hi walter am a beginner how can i get help. Furthermore is about how to register wordpress dormain.
Hi Mmata
I’m glad you’re getting started.
The post above shows you how to install WordPress. Follow it.
About domain name and hosting, see the two posts below:
1. Registering a domain name https://freelancerkenya.com/money-online/register-a-domain-name/
2. Hosting https://freelancerkenya.com/money-online/host-website-blog-pictures/
Read them and implement.
i already have a free wp blog…is an upgrade to a premium version necessary for this process?
Hi Tim,
You can start with that, but for you to explore your full potential, it’s better to use a self-hosted blog.
hi Walter .please give the steps to create wordpress.com blog am stuck!!!
Hi Karanja,
You can download my free ebook here https://freelancerkenya.com/go/list
That will help you get started with WordPress.com.
Hi Walter. You said we install wordpress on an already existing site. What if you dont have any site where do you start? How do you get a site?
Hi Angie,
You start by registering a domain name then hosting the website. You can get all this information by downloading my free blogging ebook here https://freelancerkenya.com/go/list
Hi Walter, excited about the challenge.what if I used bluehost to register my domain, they already have wordpress installation as part of thier offer/package
Hi Priscah,
I’m glad you’re following the challenge. Sure, you can go ahead and use Bluehost. It’s awesome too.
Good work, guides like these helped me too a lot. I hope they will be more helpful to beginners
Thanks Julius.
WordPress is indeed powerful. Even microsoft has not been left behind… Will follow along. Thanks walter for the first initiative
Thanks Amba. Good to know that Microsoft also uses WP. Let’s do this!
Looking forward to seeing your list of favorite plugins, Walter
Sure, Felix. Very soon 🙂