Getting started --- finding a web hosting provider

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Finding a web hosting provider is the absolute first step for implementing your WordPress web site. You have two choices:

Hosted: you allow someone else or a company administer all of the administrative details in return for giving up control of capability and being subject to the host’s business conditions.
Self-hosted: you have a high degree of freedom (limited mostly by statute) to use your hosting account for whatever purpose you choose.

If you’re really serious about getting on the web, you’ve probably made the decision to use a self-hosted account. Since you’re here, you have also made the decision to use WordPress as your website technology.

Good choice.

Nearly all web site hosting providers now support WordPress, and most of these all have very easy-to-use installation scripts allowing to install your WordPress web site very quickly and easily.

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There are many hosting services, including Siteground, GoDaddy, Dreamhost and Bluehost, but I like Bluehost well enough to give it an unqualified, 100% recommendation and to become a sales affiliate. Bluehost’s terms of service will not allow affiliates to provide any financial incentive, otherwise I would – personally – provide a money-back guarantee for your satisfaction. I feel Bluehost is that reputable. Since I can’t provide such guarantee, here’s both affiliate and non-affiliate links:

Choose the link you feel most comfortable using.

You’re free to choose any other hosting service as well. If your choice of hosting services provides a cPanel administrative interface, that’s even better.

After you purchase hosting

Once you purchase hosting, you will get one or emails to:

Confirm your purchase.
Confirm your administrative username and password.
Provide details for FTP accounts and other necessary services.

Save all of these emails! Label or tag them so that you can find them in the future. Print them out if you must, and put them into a folder or a binder.

Ready?

Great, let’s get started installing WordPress.