How to install WordPress: a complete guide

WordPress is one of the most popular platforms for building websites and blogs, used by millions of people worldwide. Thanks to its simplicity, flexibility and the wide range of plugins and themes available, it suits not only beginners but experienced developers too. Whether you want to create a personal blog, a company website or an online shop, WordPress will let you manage content simply without needing programming knowledge.

In this guide we will show how to install WordPress simply, step by step, so that you can quickly start building your site.

Choose hosting and a domain

Before installing WordPress you need:

• A domain (e.g. www.mysite.co.uk)
• Web hosting (a service where the site's files will be stored)

It is recommended to use hosts supporting PHP and MySQL/MariaDB, e.g. Websupport, BlueHost, SiteGround or Hostinger.

Download and upload WordPress

1. Download WordPress from the official site: https://wordpress.org/download/
2. Unpack the ZIP file and upload its contents through an FTP client (e.g. FileZilla) to your domain in the public_html, web or www folder. The public_html folder is the standard name of the main directory for websites on most hosts, but some hosts may use other names, for instance www or web.

Create a database

WordPress needs a database to store content. In your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk or another) carry out the following steps:

1. Create a new database.
2. Create a database user and assign them rights.
3. Note down the database name, username and password.

Run the WordPress installation

1. Open your domain's web address in a browser.
2. Choose the installation language.
3. Enter the database information (name, user, password, host - usually localhost).
4. Continue and fill in the site name, administrator name and password.
5. Complete the installation by clicking Install WordPress.

Log in to WordPress

After a successful installation, log in to the WordPress administration at www.mysite.co.uk/wp-admin/ and start editing your site.

Installing WordPress is simple and takes only a few minutes. Once installed, you can choose a template, install plugins and start creating content. If you use a host with a one-click WordPress installation, this process is simpler still – you only have to follow the host's instructions.

After installation it is a good idea to carry out a few basic steps:

• Change the default theme – choose a design you like that suits your site's purpose.
• Install basic plugins – e.g. an SEO plugin (Yoast SEO), a security plugin (Wordfence), a cache plugin (WP Super Cache) to speed the site up. Take a look at other popular plugins.
• Create basic pages – such as About us, Contact, Services or Blog.
• Adapt the WordPress settings – check the settings for permalinks, comments and the site's visibility to search engines.
• Secure the site – use strong passwords, set up two-factor authentication and always keep WordPress, plugins and themes up to date.

We believe our guide on how to install WordPress has helped you and that the installation will be a doddle for you! If you want to optimise your Facebook campaigns more effectively, find out how to set up Facebook CAPI for WordPress.