How To Start a WordPress Blog with HostGator
If you are a beginner and want to start your first blog then you are at the right place. Here, we at Rankinfo have provided a complete guide (with screenshots) on How to Start a WordPress Blog with HostGator.
First of all, I want to let you know that we are also using HostGator hosting for some of our websites. It is one of the best web hosting providers. Even if you want to start a single website or unlimited websites, HostGator offers you affordable and quality web hosting services.
If you choose HostGator then you will get the following features with it:
- Free Domain Name for First Year (Available With Annual Hosting Plan)
- Free SSL Certificate
- 99.9% Uptime Guarantee
- 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee
- One-Click WordPress Installation
- Free HostGator Website Builder with 100+ Mobile-Friendly Templates
- Free Website Transfer (If you have already a website then it will be transferred to HostGator without any charge)
- $100 Google Adwords Offer
- $100 Bing Ads Credit
- 24/7/365 Phone, LiveChat, Email Support
–> 60% on Hostgator Hosting Plans with the Code: HSGTR60OFF
Now to create a website, you need to have a domain name and web hosting. HostGator offers a free domain name with the purchase of any web hosting plan with an annual subscription. If you don’t want to get a domain name from HostGator then you can also get it from other domain name providers.
Now here are the few steps to create a website on HostGator hosting with a free domain name from HostGator.
How To Start a WordPress Blog with HostGator
Step 1: Choose A Hosting Plan
First of all, Go to the HostGator website then click on the “Get Started!” button.
Here, you will see three web hosting plans: Hatchling, Baby, and Business.
If you want to create only one website then choose the Hatchling Plan and if you want to create two or more websites then choose the Baby plan. To choose a plan, click on the “Buy Now!” button.
Step 2: Choose a Domain Name
Now it’s time to choose your domain name. Your domain name must be unique. To find the best and unique domain name, you can get help from domain name generators.
After selecting a unique domain name for your website, enter it in the domain name field as shown in the following image. Also, select a domain extension like .com, .net, org, etc. The default domain extension (which is .com) is the best if available with your domain name.
Once you enter your domain name, then at the bottom of that section, you will find “Add Domain Privacy to”. If you want to keep your domain information private then check the box or else you can uncheck it. The domain privacy will cost you $14.95/year if you check the box.
If you already have a domain name then select the second tab “I Already Own This Domain Name” and enter your own domain name there.
If you have a domain from another provider then you only need to change the nameserver from their domain settings.
Step 3: Enter Hosting Information
Now select the billing cycle from 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, or 36 months. More months means more discount. So if you choose 36 months then you will get a 60.5% discount. I recommend you choose the hosting plan for 36 months because it will give you a huge discount compared to other billing cycles.
Now enter your hosting username and PIN number.
Step 4: Enter Billing Information
Here, enter all the required billing information like name, email, address, etc, and the Payment type. If you want to make a payment using a credit or debit card then enter your card details otherwise you can also use PayPal to make payment.
Step 5: Check/Uncheck Addition Services
With the Hatchling Plan, all the additional services are paid so check only those services that you want to buy. If you don’t want to buy any additional services then uncheck all the services.
These additional services are Positive SSL, SiteLock, Professional email with Outlook from Office 365, Site Backup, and SEO Tools.
Step 6: Enter our HostGator Coupon Code
To get the 60.5% discount, enter our coupon code “HSGTR60OFF” in the coupon code field then click on Validate.
Step 7: Review your Details and Checkout
You can review your hosting details and the total amount that you have to pay. The total price (Hosting + Domain) will be $105.35 including Tax.
Now check the box of HostGator Terms of Service then click on the “Checkout Now!” button.
Here, you have successfully created a HostGator account and become the owner of your first website.
Step 8: Install WordPress
After clicking on the checkout button, you will get your cPanel username and Password including the cPanel link in your email. cPanel is a portal where you can manage everything about your web hosting.
Now click on the cPanel link in your email then enter your cPanel username and password.
After login to the cPanel, navigate to the “SOFTACULOUS APPS INSTALLER” then click on WordPress.
In the next screen click on “Install”
After clicking on the Install button, enter your website name, website description, admin username, and admin password.
Must note down your admin username and password in a safe place. You can log in to your WordPress website with this username and password.
In the last step, click on the “Install” button.
Once the installation is finished, you can log in to your WordPress website.
To login to your website, you just need to enter /wp-admin after your website address.
Ex: http://yourdomainname.com/wp-admin
If you have used SSL certificate then enter the following URL,
Ex: https://yourdomainname.com/wp-admin
After login into your WordPress website, you can start posting articles and also install WordPress themes and plugins.
Now you have successfully created a WordPress website.
–> 60% on Hostgator Hosting Plans with the Code: HSGTR60OFF