Step-by-Step guide to Installing a Host on your website
Quick, Easy, Host Installation!
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Welcome new blogger! If you are reading this, chances are you are beginning on your blogging journey and you are asking the question that SO many (including myself) have at the beginning of their blogging journey, which is:
How do I set up hosting on my blog?
To begin, it’s best to be clear on what hosting vs self-hosting is.
What is a host? Think of hosting as the brains to your website operation. It holds EVERYTHING. It’s the giant database filled with your website’s information, from everything from how fast it runs to storing the pictures that you use. It’s the gears to everything and you need it to run correctly or else your website crashes. Every single website that you’ve ever been to has a host of some kind. The only big decision you need to make is whether you want to own your own site or not. Host vs Self host.
I break down the difference between the two thoroughly in my blog post, The Difference between Host VS. Self host, which you can read more about here.
But as an overall statement, the difference is that hosting your site through a platform such as Wix, Weebly, WordPress, Squarespace and other hosting platforms is that you are left with your site being OWNED by them. It is not YOUR site, meaning yes, you can create it but ultimately, all the benefits to owning your own site are limited.
Especially the most important benefit of all, such as eventually monetizing your website.
Pro tip: WordPress is the most popular blogging platform in the world - but it is not one that you want to host your blog through. Most sites that use WordPress run their site through WordPress - not directly. Not only is it expensive to sign up with WordPress but its benefits are extremely limited compared to other hosting platforms.
BUT you can find hosts that link to WordPress so that you can still self-host your blog while running your site through WordPress.
I show you how you can do this below.
Long story short, when choosing between a host vs self-host you need to decide whether or not you want to run your blog for personal or business reasons. If it is for business ie. to one day make an income – self-hosting is for you.
I will take you through all the steps that I did to get my blog started successfully. If you follow along with my guide, you will have a blog up and running in 30 minutes or less!
Let's get Started!
In this post, I will be taking you through HostGator. Personally, I found that this host really worked for me, it was easy to install, customer service was fast and easy to get a hold of, and I honestly have no complaints. Very happy that it checked all my boxes. I go over what’s the most important factors to choosing a host in my post here, but this is a list of all the points I needed to get checked.
Why I chose HostGator:
- Cost Effective
- 24/7 live chat support
- Free domain included
1. Go to HostGator.com
Here is the link : www.hostgator.com or you can click on the button below.
2. Click on 'Web Hosting'
At the top of the page, you will see the words ‘Web Hosting’. Choose this option.
You will see the option for ‘Wordpress Hosting’ which you do not need. Web Hosting does the trick minus extra unnecessary steps.
3. Choose the 'Hatchling' Plan
You will then see three different options for web hosting plans. You will see, ‘Hatchling’, ‘Baby’, or ‘Business Plan’.
I personally used the Hatchling plan. When you are just starting out with your first site, you do not need any more than what the Hatchling Plan has to offer. If you do find that you will need more domains (more websites), over time – there will always be the option to upgrade later.
But for now, Hatchling will do the trick! Plus it’s cheaper! Yay!
4. Pick your domain
If you previously have bought your domain (I know someone would’ve bought it from a site like Go Daddy etc) than you can pick the option : I already own this domain.
Otherwise, if you are purchasing a new website and you do not already have a domain, pick the option : Register a new domain
Enter it in and choose your extension type. I highly encourage you to use “.com”. It is the most well known extension and honestly, I feel as though it gives off that professional, clean look. You want your readers to trust you so “.com” is usually what I would lean towards.
It might suggest buying more domain names which in that case, my advice would be for you not to. It’s not something you really need and it costs more money.
5. Domain Privacy Protection
Moving on, you will see the option for protecting your domain.
Here you can choose whether you want your name, email, and address to be seen by others. You can pick either or here – whatever you are comfortable with. Personally, I marked it as Private as I wouldn’t want others to see my address. If you trust people, you can leave it publicly.
6. Choosing your host plan
So, as we previously mentioned, we will be picking ‘The Hatchling’ Plan today.
7. Billing
This part may be the most important, so I took note of the information I plugged in when I did it.
I’ll do a little breakdown of this option.
The longer you sign up for = the bigger the discount = the higher you pay upfront
Obviously you can go the opposite route and pay for a short period of time, with less of a discount but you won’t have to pay as much up front.
For mine, I picked the 12 month option!
The choice is ultimately yours!
Pro Tip: It’s important to note that with hosting, the majority of companies will advertise the per month breakdown but you will have to pay the total amount up front.
8. Plug in your billing information
When it comes to these features – you don’t necessarily need these here on HostGator. I will be 100% honest and say that I was able to get all of these features FOR FREE as plug-ins later on.
I would just go ahead and uncheck these boxes.
9. Any additional services
At the top of the page, you will see the words ‘Web Hosting’. Choose this option.
You will see the option for ‘Wordpress Hosting’ which you do not need. Web Hosting does the trick minus extra unnecessary steps.
10. Complete Transaction
Now, you have made it to the final stage! If you have been following with me this whole time – you would see the price at the bottom.
For me, the price for the Hatchling: 12 months comes to $114.49
But after I put in my promo code: PAM2020
It jumps down to : $68.70
*I appreciate you using this code SO much as this helps me out and supports me on my journey and allows me to produce more information for you. I really appreciate you – thank you*
11. Review & Agree to Terms and Conditions
Check out and you’ve made it! You have now officially made your own site and can venture off to WordPress!
*Bonus* WordPress Install Setup
As you complete the final hosting step, you’re going to want to add WordPress so you can link your site correctly.
1. To do this, click on “Hosting” at the top of your Control Panel dashboard.
2. Scroll down until you see “Launch Quick Install”.
3. Here, you will see three options. You will want to click on “Wordpress”.
4. It will bring you to the page where you will need to type in your domain name you want installed. Make sure you do not type in anything in the section “Directory”.
5. Click Next.
6. Fill in all your Install Settings.
For example, mine would be :
Blog Title : Adulting With Pam
Admin User : Pam
First Name : Pam
Last name : Bartholomew
Admin Email : pamelab@adultingwithpam.com
7. Once finished, check off both boxes to correctly install wordpress and click install.
Now you will have to wait for it to finish. Mine took around 5-10 minutes. Some have said it can take up to 24 hours.
Pro Tip: Take this time to write down your installation username and password. You want to keep track of these just in case!
Whatever the case may be, once it is done – you will have a website up and running that YOU own and YOU can start customizing!
