Wordpress Blog Setup with 1and1 Picture Tutorial
Blog popularity continues to grow. Most people are realizing that they too would like to start a blog. Blogs can range from professional, flagship, commercial, corporate, and personal blogs. They are a great way to connect with people and spread your message.
Recently I had a co-worker who asked me to help him with setting up his first blog TheSearchies. Like most people he wanted to use wordpress.com, but I do not recommend going that course if you are planing on having your blog for some time. The best thing to use because of flexibility, long term considerations, monetization, and online reputation is the Wordpress platform from wordpress.ORG. I decided to take screen shots and write down the step by step process by which you can set up the blog yourself. In this case we were using 1and1 hosting. Speaking of which I have been using 1 and 1 for some time with no down time, great prices, and responsive support.
Below you will find a full tutorial on how to set up a blog using the wordpress platform and 1 and 1 hosting.
Blog Setups 101 using Wordpress and 1and1
So, you finally decided to start a blog. If you did any kind of research you realized that using wordpress.com or blogger.com is a waste of effort due to lack of flexibility and customization. In the end you want to own your domain name and all the benefits that go along with it including ability to sell, adding ads, custom themes, and more.
In this tutorial we will use Wordpress.ORG. This platform is one of the most flexible, search engine friendly, most supported blogging tool out there. You can use any other platform including TypePad and LiveJournal.
We will also be using 1and1.com Hosting. I have been using them for over 5 years with never any down time, helpful customer service department, and great prices. You can shop around and see which host works best for your needs. The rest of this article will be based on 1and1, but the concepts for most hosts. Also, I would recommend buying the domain name through your host as it will make management much easier.
Download
Visit Wordpress.org click on download, and download the latest version. You should most likely download the .zip file on to your hard drive.
While you’re still visiting Wordpress download a theme that matches well with the topic of your blog. Go to the theme viewer and browse the various themes. Download the theme or themes.
Note: make sure to get a theme that is widget ready
Unzip both Wordpress and the theme. To save some time you will copy and past the theme that you downloaded and past it into wordpress folder (Wordpress : wp-content: themes)
Note: Wordpress and their themes often times “double nests things” after unzipping. Make sure folders and directories are not doing this. Double nesting refers to for example you click on “wordpress” and you get taken to another directory “wordpress” before you get to the actually content.
Hosting
I am assuming that you will be using 1and1 hosting. Pick a package that works for you, keep in mind you can always upgrade.
After you log in to your 1and1 hosting or any other host you will need to create a MySQL database. This will be used by Wordpress to run your blog.
Under you “Administration Tab” scroll down and click on MySQL administration under Web Spaces and Access.
Click on the button titled New Database. You will then have a form to fill in a nickname for the database. Also, I would recommend picking MySQL 5.0, but Wordpress is compatible with both.
You will be taken to a screen that has all your newly created database information. Leave this screen up while moving to the next step.
Configuration
First, change the name to “wp-config.php”
Second, open it up with your favorite text editor (wordpad, dreamweaver, etc)
Note: Do not use Word or OpenOffice
Using the database information from 1and1 that was left open in your browser, fill in the appropriate data.
Note: Although the file
Save the changes. You are almost there.
Create FTP
Now you have to transfer your Wordpress folder to your actual host. To do this you have to use an FTP program like FileZilla. It is free and easy to use.
Download and install FileZilla.
Go back to 1 and 1 administration tab and click on FTP.
Use the information presented on 1and 1 to access using FileZilla.
One the left is your computer and on the right is your host. All you have to do is drag and drop the contents of your “Wordpress Folder” into the directory on the right.
Get Ready to Blog
Go to your website using your favorite browser. If there is an error you will get an error message. If everything is fine you should get a screen where you simply input your Blog name and your email.
Hit install and make sure to write down the password and login name that will be given to you. These can be changed after.
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I can definitely concur with using wordpress.ORG as the choice for the long-term, but just be prepared that you have to be willing to learn or work with HTML, PHP, and maybe some CSS.