What is WordPress
WordPress is a blogging platform, in fact it’s the number one blogging platform. What you are reading right now is a WordPress blog. A blog is a website where you can easily add content and it is displayed in chronological order (as default).
WordPress has evolved from being just a blogging platform, it is now a full blown content managment software with millions of users worldwide. Oh, and it’s free to use.
Why use WordPress
There are millions of reasons why we use wordpress, but here are the most important three: 1, It’s easy to set up. 2, It’s extremely flexible. 3, There are thousands of excellent designs and plug-ins already created for it.
To start we will be just using WordPress in it’s most basic form: to upload and display content.
Installing WordPress
Fortunately for all us bloggers, installing WordPress is fairly simple. At least in comparison to many alternatives. WordPress is the only blogging software that allows you to install it to most any server with a dead simple auto install (such as Hostgator’s “Fantastico”). If, however, you are using a web host that does not have a one click install, you might need a few basic steps articulated the first time around.
Installing WordPress with an auto install
If you have chosen a web host (such as Hostgator) with an auto install available, congratulations! You are almost done already.
Simply go into your control panel and click install WordPress. You will then need to name your database.
Yup, that’s pretty much it.
Installing WordPress manually
The first thing you will need to do when installing WordPress manually is download the software from WordPress.org. The WordPress software package contains all the needed files for installing the blogging platform to your server.
Once you have the software downloaded, you must use an FTP application to upload the files to your web host. Most people place their files in one of two places; either the root directory (this will make it the first thing people see when they come to your site) or a sub-directory, such as a folder marked, “blog.”
Next, you will need to create a database. Your web host should have a cpanel for you to locate (this is an easy to understand interface, allowing you to quickly gain access to the most important aspects of your website).
From within the cpanel you can easily add a database so that WordPress can run properly. To do this you must:
- Click “mySQL Databases” link or icon.
- Click “add new database.”
- Click “add new user.”
Add the user to the database, granting full permissions. This database is where WordPress stores all data, so it is imperative it is able to connect to the database. Using full permissions ensures this will happen.
When you have all the files uploaded, you will want to start installing WordPress. Head to the /wp-admin/install.php page. WordPress will then take the reigns, asking you to click on the first step before bringing you to a page requesting your blog title and current e-mail address. Pressing submit will then bring you to the final page in the process where you will receive a temporary password.
The final step, though not mandatory, is highly suggested. Login to your new WordPress dashboard and, under “settings” change the temporary password to a password that you are not likely to forget.
Once you are done installing WordPress, you can start to create the content that will help you build the bridge to passive income.
