This document provides a 9 step tutorial for self-hosting a blog using WordPress. It outlines the requirements including a domain name, hosting provider, and FTP uploader. It then walks through choosing a domain, purchasing hosting, setting up the database, downloading WordPress, editing files, uploading WordPress files to the server, installing WordPress, choosing a theme, and adding plugins. Tips are provided for each step and additional resources are included for converting existing blogs or redirecting URLs.

1. Self-Hosting Your
Blog Made Easy
Tutorial for Wordpress
Download the Presentation at...
www.orlandowaterhole.com/forum2014
Ben Reed - OrlandoWaterHole.com
Subscribe on iTunes!

2. What You Will Need
• Patience
• Time (60 minutes “ish”)
• $15.00 for your domain name
• $66 - $179 for your storage space
• FTP Uploader - Filezilla, Dreamweaver

3. 9 Steps
1. Choose a Domain
5. Edit One File
2. Buy Your Domain
& Hosting Provider
6. Upload WordPress
to Your Server
3. Set-Up Your
Database
7. Install WordPress
4. Download
WordPress
9. Download Plugins
8. Install a Theme

4. 1. Choose a Domain
www.yourname.com
Your brand name is your most
valuable asset. Don’t
underestimate it’s
understandability, memorability
and searchability. Choose it wisely.

7. 2. Buy Your Domain
& Hosting Provider
It’s the best $15 you’ll ever spend!
Buying a domain claims that
address as yours, but you need to
pay a hosting provider to put
content on that domain!

13. 3. Set-up Your
Database
(Where all your blog’s content is stored)
You are going to do 3 things:
Create a database, create a
username & password and then
add that user to the database.

16. Write this down!

17. And this too!

18. Now, add the user you
created, to the database
you created!

19. And check all these...

20. 4. Download
WordPress
WordPress.org... not WordPress.com
WordPress is the standard for
blogging.

22. 5. Edit One File
DON’T TOUCH anything you’re not told to.
Seriously, only type what you are
told to type.

23. You can’t fail if you
follow the handy guide!

24. Ready... Fire... Aim
Actually, read this first, Ready... Aim... Fire!

25. You know how to
change a file name,
right?

26. Just in case you
were too shy to
raise your hand!
:-)

28. Don’t celebrate yet,
it’s about to get
harder...

29. You’re going to edit
the code!!!

30. You remembered to
write this
information down,
didn’t you?

36. Don’t miss this
step!

37. Copy and paste all of this

38. Before

39. After
Then save!

40. 6. Upload WordPress
to Your Server
The most complicated part.
FTP stands for File Transfer
Protocol. Content on your desktop,
is uploaded to your server.

42. Provided by your
hosting provider
Look! this is empty!
And this is empty too!

44. Your Computer
Your Server

45. Right-click the entire
folder & upload
See... this part is still
empty
Uploading puts files from your computer, to the
server.

46. But not
anymore.

47. 7. Install WordPress
Take it one step at a time.
Follow the handy-dandy guide
slowly, and you’ll be just fine.

48. Change “example.com”
to “yourdomain.com”

50. What you’ll use to
login to WordPress
moving forward.
Write it down.

51. Tada!

52. Save this address to login in
the future.

53. The control center
for your blog.

55. 8. Install a Theme
Make your blog look pretty.
Free themes provide basic features,
investing in a paid theme provides your
blog with some originality and flexibility.
Start with themeforest.net and
woothemes.com

65. 9. Download Plugins
They’re like bling for your blog.
It’s easy to go overboard installing
plugins. Keep them essential.
Every blogger has their favorites.
Ask around!

72. How Do I...
• Convert my wordpress.com to self-hosted?
•
http://en.support.wordpress.com/site-redirect/
•
http://www.labnol.org/internet/switch-from-bloggerto-wordpress/9707/
• Convert my blogger.com to self-hosted?
• Rebrand my blog and move it’s content?
•
http://www.howto301redirect.com

73. Self-Hosting Your
Blog Made Easy
Tutorial for Wordpress
Download the Presentation at...
www.orlandowaterhole.com/forum2014
Ben Reed - OrlandoWaterHole.com
Subscribe on iTunes!