How to Install WordPress: KIJO’s Step-by-Step Guide

WordPress is one of the most popular platforms for building websites; we use it exclusively here at KIJO. Its user-friendly design, flexibility and powerful customisation options make it a favourite among the majority of website creators. WordPress powers 43.5% of all websites on the internet! If you’re new to WordPress and need to install it, this KIJO guide will walk you through the entire process — from choosing hosting to your first post!

Related Read: 6 Reasons Why WordPress is So Popular

Installation Instructions for WordPress

1. Choose a Web Hosting Provider and Domain Name

Before you can install WordPress, you’ll need to select a hosting provider that supports WordPress, and register a domain name. At KIJO, we’ve hosted over 100 WordPress sites, of all sizes and across all industries. We understand what it takes when it comes to effective and comprehensive WordPress hosting. Additionally, if you work with us, you won’t have to worry about any of the below as we would look after and manage all of the administrative stuff for you!

We’d obviously recommend you work with us, (because, well, we have to!), but there are many hosting providers out there. Most of the other WordPress hosts we’d suggest all allow you to install WordPress without downloading or configuring the below settings too. 

Remember that the type, quality and cost of web hosting varies hugely. Choosing the right hosting plan for your website is essential in order to keep your website performing reliably for visitors.

Check Out Our Packages: KIJO WordPress Hosting

Many hosts offer one-click WordPress installations, but for those interested in doing it manually, ensure your hosting meets these minimum requirements:

• PHP version 7.4 or higher
• MySQL version 5.7 or greater, or MariaDB version 10.3 or greater
• HTTPS support

Once you’ve purchased your hosting and domain, you’re ready to install WordPress.

Related Read: Choosing Hosting for Your Enterprise Website

2. Download WordPress

1. Go to WordPress.org and download the latest version of WordPress as a .zip file.
2. Unzip and extract the contents of the file to a folder on your computer.

3. Upload WordPress Files to Your Server

You need to upload the WordPress files to your web hosting server. There are two primary ways to do this:

• Option A: Using Your Hosting Provider’s File Manager
  Log in to your hosting control panel, access the file manager and upload the extracted WordPress files to the public_html folder.
• Option B: Using FTP
  For a manual upload, you can use your favourite FTP client. Ours here at KIJO include FileZilla, Cyberduck and Transmit.
  • Use your hosting provider’s FTP credentials to connect to the server.
  • Upload all the files from the WordPress folder to the public directory. This can sometimes be called public_html or just public. Alternatively, you may want to upload the files to a subdirectory you want the site to be available at, for example, “yourdomain.com/blog”).

4. Create a MySQL Database and User

WordPress requires a database to store your content. Here’s how you can create one:

1. Log in to your web hosting control panel.
2. Navigate to “MySQL Databases” or it may be called “Database Wizard”.
3. Create a new database and a new MySQL user with a strong password.
4. Assign the user to the database and make sure to give it ALL PRIVILEGES.

You will need to note the following information for the WordPress installation:

• Database name
• Database username
• Database password
• Database host (typically “localhost”)

KIJO Pro Tip: It’s important this database remains completely secure. Make sure that you don’t share these files publicly or with anyone you don’t absolutely trust. 

5. Configure “wp-config.php”

• Locate the “wp-config-sample.php” file in the WordPress folder.
• Rename the file to “wp-config.php”.
• Open the file using a text editor and replace the following lines with your database details:
  define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘database_name_here’);
  define(‘DB_USER’, ‘username_here’);
  define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘password_here’);
  define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);
• Then, save and close the file

6. Run the WordPress Installation Script

Now that the WordPress files are uploaded and the database is configured, it’s time to run the installation script.

1. Open your web browser and visit your website’s domain
2. WordPress will automatically detect the configuration file and guide you through the installation process. Select your preferred language and click ‘Continue’.
3. You’ll be asked to enter key details about your blog:
   Site Title: The name of your blog.
   Username: The admin username you’ll use to log into WordPress.
   Password: Choose a strong password.
   Email Address: Your contact email for the WordPress admin panel.
   You can also decide whether to allow search engines to index your website immediately.
   
4. After completing the form, click ‘Install WordPress’.

7. Log In to Your WordPress Dashboard

After completing these installation instructions, you’ll be redirected to the WordPress login page. You can access the admin area by going to: “http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin”

Enter the username and password you set up earlier, and you’ll be taken to the WordPress dashboard. This is where you (or your chosen website design agency) can start customising your website!

Installation Instructions for WordPress Complete! Now What?

Now that you’ve successfully installed WordPress, what are the first things you should be doing as a new WordPress website owner? Here’s a few ideas:

Set Up Your WordPress Website’s Permalinks

Permalinks control how your site’s URLs are structured. By default, WordPress uses a plain structure like yoursite.com/?p=123, which is not particularly SEO-friendly or user-friendly.

Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Permalinks’ and choose a more descriptive structure, such as “Post name” (yoursite.com/sample-post/). This is better for SEO and makes your URLs cleaner and easier to remember.

Install WordPress Themes

WordPress offers thousands of free and premium themes, so the design of your website can be fully customised to suit your brand or personal style.

Go to ‘Appearance’ > ‘Themes’, then click “Add New” to search and install a theme. Make sure you choose a theme that is responsive (mobile-friendly), lightweight and regularly updated. You can also purchase premium themes from marketplaces like ThemeForest for additional customisation options.

Install Essential WordPress Plugins

Plugins add more sophisticated functionality to your WordPress website. After installing WordPress, there are a few essential plugins that can enhance performance, security, SEO and usability.

• SEO: Install Yoast to optimise your website’s content for search engines.
• Security: Install Solid Suite and hide the WordPress backend. The default is ‘wp-admin’ but bots will use this to try to force themselves into the backend. This plugin allows you to change it to something unique so bots can’t easily find it.  This, in turn, protects your website from malware, brute-force attacks and other threats.
• Performance: Use WP Rocket to improve website speed and performance.

Go to ‘Plugins’ > ‘Add New’, then search for and install the plugins that meet your needs.

Secure Your Website

An SSL certificate is essential for encrypting data between your website and your visitors. It’s also a key ranking factor in Google’s search algorithm.

Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates, like us here at KIJO. Ensure that SSL is active by going to ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ and updating your WordPress and Site Address URLs to use “https” instead of “http.”

That’s It! You’ve Installed WordPress

By following these steps, you should have successfully installed WordPress and launched your website. From here, you can begin customising your website, adding content and growing your audience. 

WordPress’s versatility ensures that as your website evolves, so can your business. Its flexibility and scalability are key factors as to why we work with it at KIJO. If you want support with building or developing your WordPress website, contact us today. 

Related Read: Why Use a WordPress Website Design Agency