How to Set Up a WordPress Website

Installation of Your Wordpress Site
1. Choose the name for your website. Search for a domain hosting service which offers a control panel (CPanel), such as HostGator or GoDaddy.
2. Search for your chosen domain name at the hosting site of your choice. Pay the domain registration fee.

3. Choose from the hosting service's monthly plan options. Pay the first month's hosting fee. Note down your username and password in a safe place.
4. Log into your CPanel using your username and password.
5. Locate the Fantastico Suite Smiley Face icon near the bottom of the page. Find the WordPress download link on the top left of the next page. Click to start your new WordPress installation.Upload WordPress to your new website. Save all of the usernames and passwords as you upload the program.
6. Email a copy of the installation data to yourself. Check your Inbox to locate the installation data email. Save it in a safe place for future reference.
Customization of Your WordPress Site
7. Click on the domain name link in the email to log into your new website through the WordPress administration area. Enter your username and password.
8. View the Dashboard and click on 'Posts.' Click on the title of the post 'Hello World' to edit it. Change the title of the post in the small box at the top to the title you would wish for the introduction to your website. Type in or copy and paste the content for your page into the large box to customize the content of the post.
9. Click on the link 'Pages' on the left hand side. Edit the sample 'About' page that WordPress has provided to give more details about your company or yourself.
10. Click on the 'Dashboard' link. Click on the link that says 'Comments' and edit or delete the sample comment there.
11. Click on 'Categories' tab and start creating topics for your new website to help organize your posts.
12. Click on 'Appearance.' Click on the tab 'Install Themes.' Search for a name or keyword in the top box, or choose by color, number of columns, width and so on by checking all the boxes you wish. Click the 'Find themes' button at the bottom of the page.
13. View each theme that appears on the list by clicking 'Preview'. Click 'Install' for the theme you like. It should appear on the top of the 'Manage Themes' tab as the 'Current Theme.'
14. Click on the name of your blog in the top left corner of your dashboard. View your website in the new theme. Change the theme as needed until you are satisfied.
15. Click on 'Plug Ins' to search for items you would like to add to your site, such as a contact form, large shared calendar, and so on. Search for items by typing a keyword in the search box. Upload each plug in as needed and activate.
16. Start adding new posts to the website by clicking 'Posts, Add New.' Check all category boxes that apply to each post. Save the content as a draft by clicking 'Save Draft.' Publish the content immediately by clicking 'Publish,' or click the word 'Edit' to set the content to be published at a date in the future.
17. Add pages to the website by clicking 'Pages, Add New.' Type in or copy and paste the content and save or publish immediately, or in the future.