As we mentioned above, we are not going to discuss any content management systems other than WordPress. As far as we’re concerned, there are no other options in terms of a blogging CMS. So there.
Ok, at this point you have your domain registered and you have your hosting set up. Now, it’s time to install WordPress on your server, and then point your domain at said server.
These instructions should work for most shared web hosts, but be sure to consult your web host’s website to make sure there are no major differences.
Step 1: Do NOT Use “1 Click” Installation
Almost every web host offers “1 click” installation of WordPress. I admit, this sounds appealing, but it can cause all sorts of issues that will make you feel sad. Don’t do it.
Step 2: Download WordPress
Go to wordpress.org/download/ and download the latest version of WordPress. Save it to your desktop, or wherever you like to save things on your computer.
Step 3: Configure FTP Client
When you sign up with your web host they will normally send you an FTP login be email. In case that doesn’t happen, here is an example of how to create FTP credentials on BlueHost.
Go to your ‘Hosting’ tab once and then click “FTP”:

You can follow the prompt to create a new FTP user, or scroll down the page to update any current users. To ensure you have the correct access to your server make sure you have access to the /public_html directory (pictured in screenshot).

Now that you have your FTP credentials, you can upload your files. To do this you’ll need an FTP client. We suggest using Filezilla. Follow these instructions to install FileZilla.
Once FileZilla is installed on your computer you can login using your host (ftp.yourdomain.com or server IP), username (ex MattG@yourdomain.com) and the password you selected for the user. With these credentials you can log onto your server.
To log on using FileZilla create a new site by selecting the top left button (pictured below).

This will bring up a window prompt to add your new FTP to FileZilla. The settings below are a BlueHost example. These will differ potentially if using another webhost.

At this point you should be able to connect and see the files on your server. If this is a new installation, and you registered the domain with on the same account as your hosting, this will be the “root” of your website directory.
If you’re adding the domain to your account from another registrar, follow these additional steps.
Next, upload the WordPress Files that you downloaded in step 2.
Step 4: Create a Database
Before we can make WordPress live we need to configure a database where all your content and WordPress settings will live. From the hosting dashboard select ‘databases’:

First, create a new database, user and accompanied password. Make sure to save your username and password for later, as you’ll will need them to finish the process.
Next, add your user to the database you created. Make sure when you’re adding the user to mark them for full permissions.
Now that everything is prepped, let’s finish the WordPress installation.
Step 5: Finalizing your WordPress Settings
Once your files are in place for your site and you have created your database with user permissions you’re ready to finalize the installation. To do this go you your domain in your browser.
You should see a screen that looks like this:

Then, follow the WordPress prompts selecting your language and inputting your server settings. Make sure to create a unique table prefix, this will help to limit the vulnerability to hacking.

On the final screen it will ask you for user login information, make sure to remember this as you will need it to log into your new WordPress.
The last step is to login to your WordPress by going to youlawblog.com/wp-admin/.