A couple of weeks ago I did a post on Why I Don’t Comment On Blogger Blogs and it turned out to be quite popular. I know that sooner or later a blogger may decide to make the wise move of hosting their 0wn blog, and I thought that perhaps one of the reasons holding them back is the assumption that it’s pretty difficult to do so. This post, a step by step guide of setting up your own WordPress blog is for those bloggers.
Once you’ve downloaded the the latest WordPress files and you have unzipped the files. you will need to a FTP client to upload those files to your new domain and I recommend FileZilla. The next step explains how to configure FileZilla so that it will connect to your host in readiness for the upload to your domain.
Open Filezilla and Click File (top left hand corner of page), and then Site Manger. Now Click on ‘New Site’ and it will have opened up a set of tabs, the current one being the ‘General Tab’.
Hostname: Enter yourdomain.com If your domain is myblogrocks.com then that is what you would enter. Leave Port blank.
In Server Type choose FTP File Transfer Protocal which should be default.
Logon Type is normal
Username: Enter your cpanel username here.
Password: Enter your cpanel password here. Your host should have sent you this information via email.
Now click on the ‘Transfer Settings’ tab and in transfer mode select active.
That should be it, now click connect, and if all is OK you should have logged into your account. It should like something like this image
OK, now just before we upload the WordPress files we need to start up a database for your new blog.
1: Log into your Host’s CPanel
2. Click on the MySQL® Databases icon
3. Find the area where it asks for New Database: and enter your database name, I suggest the name of your blog, and then click Create Database. Then click ‘Go back’
4. Now you need to create a Username for your database so place your username in the box and next add your password then click create user. Then click back. Make a note of your password.
5. Now to add that user to your database. You do this in the Add Users To Your Databases: section by pointing the user you have just created to your new database. Remember to click ‘All’ for privileges and then click the ‘Add user to database’ tab. Ok, That should be it.
If you haven’t already done so, unzip your WordPress files and then open the wp-config-sample.php and fill in the following details.
define(’DB_NAME’, ‘putyourdbnamehere’); // The name of the database you just created
define(’DB_USER’, ‘usernamehere’); // The username you just created
define(’DB_PASSWORD’, ‘yourpasswordhere’); // …and password
define(’DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’); // You won’t need to change this
Once you have done this save the file as wp-config.php and then you are ready to upload the files.
If your blog has the same name as your domain simply upload everything inside the wordpress directory (not the directory itself) to the public_html of your domain. This may take awhile depending on your transfer speed. Once completed start your browser and point it to yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php and the self install will start. Everything being OK, you will have your new blog up in minutes.
I hope I got everything. If I missed anything out I’m sure that someone will point it out.
If you haven’t picked a host yet, I’ve only just moved this blog to BlueHost and I am more than impressed with their service and a little something else I’ve discovered that I think deserves a post of it’s own
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Tagged with: bluehost • CPanel • filezilla • setting up a blog
Filed under: Blogging Tips
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It really is very easy to set up wordpress, especially with a lot of hosts doing the one click installs, so you don’t even have to manually set it up. However, I still think it is a good idea to do it on your own, especially if it means learning how to work with the Linux Command Line, which is a very powerful tool, although I see you went with the FTP route over SSH ;)
.-= robert@Wheelchair Guide´s last blog ..Increasing Accessibility With Wheelchair Ramps and Vertical Platform Lifts =-.
Hey Robert, yep, FTP is the only way I know how, and I agree it’s best to do it yourself as you learn a heck of a lot more that way.
Well, I certainly hope you haven’t scared off the less technically proficient, Sire. lol
.-= Mitch´s last blog ..President Obama Calls Limbaugh A Racist! =-.
Why Mitch, you reckon it was too hard to follow? Heck I managed without all this instruction so I reckon they may be a little better off than I was.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..The Woes OF Childbirth At 65 =-.
I’m betting you lost people with FTP client. lol
.-= Mitch´s last blog ..TalkBiz News =-.
True, but the link to it should provide the info they need. Oh, OK. I’ll edit the post
Well, I wasn’t saying all that. I don’t think there’s ever an easy way to tell someone without certain knowledge already things like this. Sometimes even those of us with knowledge need to think about it before we do it.
.-= Mitch´s last blog ..The Secret Is There’s No Secrets =-.
Very good post!
The best thing is that if someone does get ‘lost’ they can always post a comment with their question.
If they try to do a new blog install from most ebooks, videos, or other ‘training’, they are left all alone & may never know who to ask for more help.
Learning to use an FTP is a must, you can learn it now, or pay someone else to do it.
.-= Sheryl Loch´s last blog ..Claiming Your Blog on Technorati =-.
Thanks Sheryl, and of course they can always ask for help, it’s not like I charge much
Twitter: HotBlogTips
I’ve switched severs several times and I have to re-learn this stuff every time. It’s nice to see a step by step.
I would add that everything should be completely backed up including all files FTP’ed back to the hard drive before moves.
It’s also important to be sure the blogs being moved are using the most recent version available if using something like Fantastico to initially install the basic script. I messed up big time with that when I moved to this latest server. I was up all night trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. Nice post Sire.
.-= Brian D. Hawkins@Internet Marketer’s Newsletter´s last blog ..Chasing The Guru Ghost =-.
Thanks Brian, and naturally you are right in that you should always back up your files before changing hosts, especially your databases, but this post is all about an initial WordPress install.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..September Contest Update =-.
Posts like this always take a little extra to write because of the detail they require, I have to give you props for staying with it on this one Sire, nice work.
I have yet to ever set up my own WordPress Blog but this gets saved as a bookmark in the event I ever need to, thank you.
.-= Extreme John@Extreme John Blogs and Business´s last blog ..Sunday Smash-Alexa Ranking, Constructive Criticism, Twitter Marketing =-.
No worries John, I’m always glad to help those in need, and I’m sure you will do the same for me if something ever came up.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Nigerian Scam Contacting FedEx Diplomatic Courier Company BS Phishing Email =-.
I have learnt a lot moving from server to server.One most important think is to back up you files and database before you do anything.Even when you are 100% sure that you know what you are going.You never know what might go wrong.
Wow, look at that comment above mine that I didn’t write. Weasels; people just trying to steal my name.
Anyway, what I was going to say is that, for some people, check with your ISP in setting up your blog because you might be able to use their programming in setting up your blog automatically, and then you won’t have to do any of the stuff Sire teaches you above.
That would work out just fine.
Yes you could Mitch, but where is the fun in that?
Just kidding. I know how daunting it can be for some and so there is nothing wrong with taking the easy way out when one presents itself.
hi thanks very much for your post, but i was mislead, i thought this was an article about hosting your own site – as in how to host it yourself on your own computer. ta. maybe you should change the title on guide to setup our a hosted wordpress blog. great article regardless.
Hey Jake, sorry if the title mislead you mate but I won’t be changing it as that would only confuse the search engines.