We’ve mentioned several times in some of our posts like What is WordPress that you can download and install it, and you might be thinking, “Okay, that’s great! But I’m not a tech wizard!” 

You don’t have to be a tech wizard to install WordPress. It’s quite easy to do, and you’ll be doing it all on your own by the end of this guide. 

Let’s dive in! 

But First Things First, Get Your Pre-Installation Checklist Ready

Before you start installing WordPress, you need to have the following things: 

Your Domain Name

A domain name is the unique address of a website that people type into their browser to visit it. Think of it like a street address for your website on the internet.

Here’s how to choose a domain name: 

• Choose a name that’s easy to spell and pronounce. Avoid complicated words, numbers, or hyphens if possible.
  
• Ideally, your domain name should be your business name or something closely related to what you do. It should help you build your brand identity.
  
• Check availability with Truehost’s domain name searcher. Domain names are unique. If you want your domain to have a .co.ke extension but it’s taken, try an alternative business name or go with other extensions (.org, .net, .co, .com, etc.
  
• Buy it immediately. I don’t mean to be alarmist here, but domain names are hot, so grab yours before someone else does.

Web Hosting

Websites sit on servers connected to the internet, and this is how anyone, anywhere in the world, can access any live website at any time.

This is called hosting, and the host server is what stores all your website’s files (images, text, code). 

There are different types of web hosting. We won’t go into great detail about them here, but here’s what you should expect with each type of hosting: 

• Shared hosting: It’s called shared hosting because your website shares server resources with many other websites. And for this reason, it’s the most affordable option. It’s also best for websites with moderate traffic because of the shared aspect. 
  
• Managed WordPress hosting: The WordPress handles all technical hosting aspects for you  like updates, security, and support. But, you have to pay more for the peace of mind and better performance that come with this type of hosting.
  
• VPS (Virtual Private Server)/ Dedicated Hosting: You get your own server with this type of hosting. It’s ideal for larger, high-traffic websites. 

Host your website with Truehost to enjoy: 

• Reliable uptime so your website will never be offline
• 24/7 support via chat, phone, or email. We also have a detailed knowledge center to power your research and troubleshooting.
• Website loading speeds of just 2.4 seconds. Give your website visitors a great user experience, experience higher conversions, and better search engine rankings
• Budget-friendly but reliable hosting 
• One-Click WordPress Installation to simplify your process. 

FTP Client 

An FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client (like FileZilla) is software that allows you to transfer files between your computer and your web host’s server. 

It’s not necessary for the “one-click” installation, but it’s a very useful tool for manual installations or for managing your website files later.

Text Editor (Optional, for Advanced Tweaks)

You actually might not need this, unless you know your way around code and want to make advanced tweaks.

You could use a basic text editor like Notepad for Windows or TextEdit Mac users. More advanced tools like VS Code or Notepad++ offer more features, and they are completely free. 

Now with your checklist ready, let’s start installing WordPress. 

There Are Two Main Ways to Install WordPress

• The easy way: One-click WordPress installation. This is what we recommended for small business owners, freelancers, and non-techies. 
• The hard (hands-on) way: Manual WordPress installation. This needs more steps but offers more control. It might be out of your comfort level if you don’t have technical computer skills. 

This post will cover one-click WordPress installation. This is the most popular, and straightforward method.

You can manage it straight from your hosting control panel. 

Step 1: Sign Up for Web Hosting

After you sign up for hosting and your account is set up, Truehost will send you an email with your control panel login details.

This email is important, so keep it safe!

Step 2: Access Your Hosting Control Panel (cPanel)

In the email from your host, find a link to your cPanel login page (often something like yourdomain.com/cpanel or cpanel.yourhost.com), along with your username and password.

Enter these credentials to log in.

Step 3: Find the WordPress Auto-Installer

Once inside the control panel, you’ll see a variety of icons and sections.

Don’t be overwhelmed! Look for a section related to “Software” or “Auto Installers.” the icon you see will depend on the auto installer your host uses.

You may also see WordPress Toolkit if your host has their own dedicated WordPress management tools. 

Click on the icon that represents the WordPress auto-installer. It’s usually clearly labeled “WordPress.”

Step 4: Run the Installer

After clicking the WordPress installer icon, you’ll be taken to an installation screen. Here’s what you’ll typically need to fill out:

Choose Installation URL:

• Choose Domain: Select the domain name you registered. Or, choose the domain name you want to host.
  
• In Directory: This is crucial. If you want WordPress installed directly on your main domain (e.g., yourdomain.com), leave this field blank.
  
  If you want it installed in a subfolder (e.g., yourdomain.com/blog or yourdomain.com/wordpress), type the folder name in this field.
  
  For most small business owners, installing in the root directory is ideal.

Site Settings:

• Site Name: The title of your website. For example, “Health Hive”. You can change this later.
• Site Description: A short tagline. For example, “Expert advice for Healthy Eating and Living”. You can also change this later

Admin account: 

This is for your WordPress dashboard login, not your cPanel login.

• Admin Username: Choose a unique username (please don’t choose “admin” for security reasons.
• Admin Password: Create a strong password. Use the password generator if available.
• Admin Email: Enter your email address. Choose a reliable email because this is where WordPress will send important notifications and password reset links.

Language: Select your preferred language for the WordPress dashboard.

Other options (Optional): This might include options like themes, plugins, or backup settings. For now, you can leave these as default or unselected.

Once done, click the “install” button at the bottom of the page. The installer will then download WordPress and set it up on your server. This takes just a few minutes.

Step 5: Log into Your New WordPress Site

After a successful installation, you will see two links:

• Your Website URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com), which is what visitors will see
• Your WordPress Admin URL: (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin or https://yourdomain.com/wp-login.php).
  
  You’ll use this url to log in to WordPress to manage your website.

Click on the WordPress Admin URL. You’ll be prompted to enter your admin username and password. Once you log in, you’ll see the WordPress dashboard.

This is where you’ll build and manage your website. 

Troubleshooting common one-click  installation issues:

You might encounter these three common issues during installation. 

Installation Failed

Double-check that you filled in all required fields correctly. This could also be caused by a temporary server issue. Try again in a few minutes.

Site not showing

It can take a few minutes (or up to an hour) for your domain name to fully propagate across the internet. Clear your browser cache or try accessing your site from a different device.

Forgot password

On the WordPress login screen, there’s a “Lost your password?” link. Use the Admin Email you provided to reset it.

What to Do Next After Installation

Now that you’ve installed WordPress, you need to take these important steps to get your website ready to launch:

1) Change permalinks

Go to settings > permalinks in your WordPress dashboard. Choose a “Post name” structure (e.g., yourdomain.com/sample-post/). This makes your URLs clean and SEO-friendly. Click “Save Changes.”

2) Install a theme

Your theme dictates the visual design of your website. Go to appearance > themes. You can browse thousands of free themes from the WordPress.org directory or upload a premium theme you’ve purchased.

3) Install essential plugins

Plugins add functionality to your site. Go to plugins > add new, and install the following plugins:

• Security: Wordfence or Sucuri Security
• Backup: UpdraftPlus or Duplicator
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Yoast SEO or Rank Math
• Spam Protection: Akismet (usually pre-installed)

4) Set up user profiles

Go to users > your profile to update your display name and add a bio.

5) Create your first pages and posts

Go to pages > add new for static content (e.g, pages like About Us, Contact), and for articles, posts > add new.

6) Review general settings

Go to settings > general to confirm your site title, tagline, and time zone.

7) Regular Updates

Keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated. This is important for security and performance.

Congratulations! You have Successfully Installed WordPress 

You’ve successfully learned how to install WordPress and are now the proud owner of your very own business website. 

It’s now time to start building your brand, sharing your expertise, and connecting with your audience on your terms. Write and post blogs and other content regularly to gain trust and rank on search engines organically. 

And as always, if you need help, contact our support team. We are always a phone call or chat away!