If you have chosen a web host that provides WordPress friendly features, such as cPanel, then installing WordPress should be a very simple process. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process, step by step, and show you just how easy it is.
- Log into your cPanel
- Select the Software Section
Under Software, you will find a service which will install WordPress for you. On eUKhost cPanel packages, the service we use is called Softaculuous. On other hosts, you might find a different service such as Installatron, Fantastico or APS (Plesk). The installation process is similar for all of them.
- Select the WordPress option
If you cannot see it on the screen in front of you click on Blogs in the sidebar menu.
When you click on the Install WordPress Icon, you will be presented with a page with various boxes to fill in and options to choose from. Here we will explain how to complete these sections. - Complete the software setup section
- Choosing the protocol
There are four options to choose from; http://, http://www, https:// and https://www.
In order to use https, you must first obtain an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate for your website. If you don’t have an SSL certificate, then you have to choose one of the http options. If you do have the certificate, choose one of the https options.
The option between choosing a domain name with or without the www is more of a personal preference. In reality, it doesn’t matter which one you choose, as long as you stick to that name for SEO purposes. - Choosing the domain
In the drop down box will be a list of all the domains (websites) you have registered with your web host. Select the one which you want to install WordPress on. - Choose the directory
Leave this blank. For a new installation, a directory will be created automatically.
- Choosing the protocol
- Complete the Site Settings section
Here you are asked to fill in two boxes, one with the name of your website and the other with a short description of your website. Don’t worry too much about these as you can change them later in the settings section of your WordPress admin panel. Leave the multisite checkbox blank. You will not need this unless you want to run a network of WordPress sites from the same admin panel and the same domain. An example of a multisite is a membership blogging website where each member has their own WordPress blog which is controlled by a super admin. - Admin Account and Language settings
The admin account details you provide here are the ones you will need to log into your website. You must not lose them or you will be locked out of your own Website. Never use the word admin for the admin username as it is the first word hackers will use when trying to gain access to your website. Neither should you use the name of the website. Choose something only you know. Passwords to WordPress admin panels should be very secure and we suggest you read our article on how to choose a secure password before you complete this section of the process. For the admin email section, choose the email address that you would like any site information to be sent to: this can include details about new users, comments or cyber-attacks, etc. For the language settings, choose the language that you wish the WordPress admin panel to be displayed in.
- Select plugins
Here you will find the option to choose a plugin which will limit login attempts. Limiting login attempts is an excellent way to stall hackers who are trying to break into your website using repeated attempts to guess your password. However, there are many plugins to choose from which do this and more. Our advice would be to leave the checkbox blank and wait until WordPress is fully installed; you can then look at all the available plugins and read their reviews before deciding which one is best for you. - Advanced options
- Database name
This is simply the name you are going to give the database, you can call it anything. If you are going to have more than one website, it is best to have a database name which helps you remember which website it belongs too. If you have quite a lot of websites and databases, it can be confusing which one belongs to which. So, if your site is called bestbuilderUK.com, for example, then calling the database something like BBUK will make it much easier to remember which site it is connected to. - Table Prefix
Information in databases is stored in tables and each table has a name. Using a prefix for WordPress tables helps them to be easily identifiable. You need to keep your prefixes short, 2 to3 letters maximum, with an underscore at the end. Prefixes can also help with security when hackers are trying to guess the names of your database tables in what is called an SQL injection attack. By adding the prefix, it makes it more difficult for hackers to guess the right name. There is one exception to this which is the prefix wp_, the default prefix for WordPress. All hackers will know this and will add the wp_ prefix when trying to gain access to WordPress databases. - Upgrade options
All these upgrade options are things which are worthwhile having. When plugins and themes are updated, not only is their functionality improved but usually their security as well, so it is always recommended that you should update to the latest version as soon as possible. By choosing these options, you can save time and worry by having the updates done for you as soon as they are available. However, there are other plugins which will do this for you, such as WordPress.com’s Jetpack and so you may want to wait until the installation is complete before deciding which plugin to use. The other issue is that automatic updaters can usually only install themes and plugins from the WordPress - Repositories. If you purchase a 3rd Party theme or plugin, you may have to manually install updates yourself.
- Database name
- Theme options
In this section, Softaculous offers you a range of themes to choose from for your website. It is best, at this stage, not to choose any and go with the default theme. Once you have installed WordPress there are over 2,600 themes to choose from in the WordPress repository and thousands more third party themes on top of that.
- Install
Before clicking the install button at the bottom, check your details carefully. Make sure you have your username and password remembered as you will need it to log in to your WordPress admin once the installation takes place. If you are looking for first class, dedicated WordPress hosting that offers a comprehensive range of features, visit the eUKhost WordPress page to see our affordable hosting packages.