Before You Start
This is Lesson 11 of the MoneyOnliners Blogging Academy, in Module 2: Building Your Blog. Bring the domain and hosting decisions from Lessons 9 and 10.
This lesson covers a new self-hosted WordPress installation. If your website already runs WordPress, review its settings and recovery arrangements instead of reinstalling it. A fresh installation over an existing website can replace important content.
You need access to your hosting account, a domain or a host-provided temporary address, and an email account you control. If you have not purchased hosting, complete the checklist as a planning exercise.
Use your hosting provider's WordPress installer for a new site, confirm the correct domain and installation location, create a protected administrator account, and verify that both the website and dashboard open. Then complete General, Reading, Discussion and Permalink settings, check HTTPS, remove unused sample content, and establish a backup process. Installation creates the publishing system; it does not automatically make the blog ready for readers or guarantee search indexing.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize when WordPress is already installed.
- Choose the correct domain and installation directory.
- Protect administrator access and account recovery.
- Complete essential settings without changing a working site's URLs blindly.
- Check the public site, dashboard, HTTPS and backups.
- Prepare for Lesson 12: Choosing the Right WordPress Theme.
Understand What You Are Installing
WordPress is software for publishing and managing website content. In a typical self-hosted setup, your hosting service runs the software and stores the site's files and database. The dashboard lets you create posts, manage pages, install themes and adjust settings.
WordPress.org supplies the open-source software and documentation. WordPress.com is a hosted service with its own plans and features. This lesson follows the self-hosted route discussed in Lesson 10. If you use a hosted service, follow that service's setup instructions where they differ.
Public Website
The pages readers visit at your chosen address.
Dashboard
The management area used to publish and maintain the site.
Hosting Account
The separate account that manages the server and related services.
Your hosting login, WordPress administrator login and database credentials are different kinds of access. Do not assume one password applies everywhere. Keep account details in a password manager and keep private credentials out of workbooks, articles and screenshots.
Check for an Existing Installation
Open the website entry in your host's control panel. If it already lists WordPress and provides a dashboard link, use that link to inspect the existing site. A homepage using a default theme can still be a working installation. You do not need to install again because the design looks unfinished.
For a new installation, confirm that the selected location does not contain a website you need to preserve. When uncertain, ask hosting support to identify the destination before proceeding.
“A successful installation gives you a working website, protected access and a clear recovery path before you begin extensive customization.”
— MoneyOnliners Editorial TeamInstall WordPress on a New Website
The names and order of controls differ between hosting providers. Use the provider's current instructions for its installer. The following steps explain the decisions to check rather than promising identical buttons on every platform.
Select the Correct Website
Sign in to your hosting account and open the website you intend to create. Confirm the domain or temporary address. Do not select an existing live website as a shortcut for experimenting.
Choose WordPress and Its Location
Open the host's website setup or automatic installation tool and select WordPress. For a blog intended to open at the main domain, use the root location. Enter a subdirectory only when you deliberately want an address such as example.com/blog/. Confirm how the installer represents the root location.
Create Administrator Access
Use an account name that does not expose unnecessary personal information and a strong, unique password. Supply an email address you can access. Avoid sharing one administrator account with several people; additional users can receive roles appropriate to their tasks later.
Review Before Starting
Check the chosen domain, directory and any message about replacing files. Review optional plugins or bundled extras. Stop if the destination is unclear or contains content you need. Let the installer finish before starting another installation.
Open the Site and Dashboard
Use the completed installer's links to open the public website and management area. The usual dashboard route ends in /wp-admin/, although some sites use a different login route. Bookmark the verified address and store the login securely.
If Your Host Does Not Offer an Installer
The official manual-installation guide explains downloading WordPress, preparing a database and database user, placing files in the intended directory and running the setup process. Use a separate database for a new site where practical, and do not overwrite existing files or tables.
Manual installation is optional for this lesson. Ask hosting support for assistance if you are unsure about database permissions, server paths or configuration files. A supported installation process is more useful than rushing through unfamiliar steps.
Complete the Essential First Settings
1. General Settings
In Settings → General, review the site title, tagline, administration email, site language and timezone. Set a timezone that matches your intended publishing schedule. For a Uganda-based schedule, Africa/Kampala represents local time; use a relevant city for other locations. Save changes and confirm any administration-email change when WordPress requests it.
Review the WordPress Address and Site Address, but do not edit them casually. These fields affect where WordPress runs and where readers reach the site. A wrong change can interrupt access. Use the host's documented domain or HTTPS process when a change is needed.
2. Reading Settings
In Settings → Reading, choose whether the homepage shows recent posts or a static page. A new blog can begin with recent posts. A static setup needs appropriate existing pages for Home and the posts listing. Avoid changing an established homepage simply to match a tutorial.
Review the search-engine visibility option. If the public site is ready for discovery, remove the setting that discourages search engines from indexing it. That setting is a request to search engines, not a way to make a private site. Use actual access controls for private staging work. Clearing the setting does not guarantee indexing.
3. Permalink Settings
In Settings → Permalinks, choose a structure suitable for a new site. Post name is a simple option for many blogs because it produces readable article addresses. Save and test a sample post link.
On an established website, changing permalink structure can break existing links. Plan redirects, review internal links and verify the change before proceeding. Do not change URLs merely because a new tutorial uses another structure.
4. Discussion Settings
In Settings → Discussion, decide whether readers can comment and how comments will be reviewed. Use moderation settings that fit your capacity. New posts inherit relevant defaults; existing posts can have their own comment settings.
5. Account and Recovery Checks
Review your profile and recovery email, protect the hosting account, and enable two-factor authentication where supported. WordPress installations may require a suitable plugin or provider feature for two-factor authentication. Keep recovery codes securely and confirm that important account emails arrive.
Check HTTPS Before Continuing
Open the site at its intended HTTPS address and inspect representative pages. If certificate setup or redirects fail, consult your host's instructions. Do not bypass a browser certificate warning or change several URL settings at once to guess a fix.
Clean Up and Back Up
On a new site, inspect sample posts, pages and comments before removing those you do not need. Keep at least one suitable installed theme available while working. Remove unused extras thoughtfully; do not delete plugins that your host or active design requires without checking their role.
A complete WordPress recovery plan needs both website files and the database. Confirm what the hosting backup covers, how long copies are retained and how restoration works. Keep an independent backup arrangement appropriate to your site and test recovery safely, such as on a staging copy.
Installation and Setup Checklist
| Check | What to Verify | Record in Your Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Destination | The intended domain and directory were used. | Public address and installation location. |
| Access | The public site and dashboard open. | Verified dashboard address; no password. |
| Identity | Title, language, email and timezone are appropriate. | The values you selected. |
| Publishing | Homepage, permalink and comment settings fit your plan. | Decisions and a tested sample link. |
| HTTPS | Representative pages open without a certificate warning. | Any unresolved issue and support reference. |
| Recovery | Files and database backups and restore instructions are available. | Backup location and restoration procedure. |
Separate a completed action from a verified result. Clicking Save is not enough if the resulting page cannot open. Keep unresolved items visible in your checklist before adding themes and plugins.
Common WordPress Installation Mistakes
Installing Over a Working Site
An unfinished design does not mean WordPress is missing. Check the existing installation before running setup again.
Choosing the Wrong Directory
An unintended subdirectory changes the site address. Review the destination before installation; moving it later needs a documented process.
Changing URLs Without a Plan
Site-address and permalink changes can affect login access and published links. Back up, plan redirects where needed and test carefully.
Adding Too Many Extras
Multiple themes, builders or overlapping plugins make the first setup harder to diagnose. Begin with a working foundation and add tools for a clear need.
Leaving a Public Site Discouraging Indexing
Review search visibility when moving from preparation to launch. Also check that the site is accessible and useful; the setting alone does not establish search eligibility or actual indexing.
Recording Passwords in the Workbook
Record that your credentials are stored securely, not the credentials themselves. A workbook may later be printed, emailed or shared.
Illustrative Setup Examples
These fictional examples explain decisions and checks. They are not reported student outcomes.
Example 1: A New Blog
A learner has an unused domain and suitable hosting. She selects the intended root location, uses the host's installer, confirms access and records her settings. She completes a backup check before experimenting with the design.
Example 2: WordPress Is Already Present
A beginner sees a plain default homepage and assumes the installation failed. The hosting dashboard shows an existing WordPress site. He opens its management area and reviews settings instead of reinstalling and risking the content.
Example 3: A Post Link Stops Working
A blogger changes the permalink structure on an established site. An old article address no longer opens. She records the change, consults the appropriate documentation and restores or redirects affected URLs instead of repeatedly changing unrelated settings.
Verify the Installation Before Choosing a Theme
Run a Small Publishing Test
Create a draft with a title, two short paragraphs and one properly licensed image. Preview it to check the editor and display. A draft preview tests your editing workflow but does not prove that a public permalink works. On a new test site, a temporary published test post can verify the public route; remove or replace it appropriately afterwards.
Inspect the homepage and a representative page in a signed-out browser. Confirm that the site does not require your administrator session to display public content. Check the page on a phone as well as a computer.
Check Email and Recovery
Confirm that account notifications reach the email address you control. If delivery fails, use the host's mail guidance rather than assuming that WordPress installation created a complete email service. Keep support and recovery details accessible without exposing your password.
If Something Fails
- Wrong website appears: confirm the domain's DNS destination and the selected installation location with the host.
- Login fails: verify the dashboard address and use the documented recovery process.
- Database error: ask the host to check database service and configuration; do not recreate or delete the database blindly.
- Post returns a 404: review permalink and server rewrite configuration using official guidance.
- HTTPS warning: resolve certificate or domain configuration before continuing.
Record the exact error and when it began. Change one relevant item at a time and recheck the result. A clear support report is more effective than a sequence of unrelated changes.
Internal Links and Recommended External Resources
Continue Learning on MoneyOnliners
https://moneyonliners.com/blogging-academy/Lesson 10: Choosing Web Hosting
https://moneyonliners.com/choosing-web-hosting/Lesson 12: Choosing the Right WordPress Theme
https://moneyonliners.com/choosing-the-right-wordpress-theme/Lesson 9: Choosing a Domain Name
https://moneyonliners.com/choosing-a-domain-name/Lesson 13: Essential WordPress Plugins
https://moneyonliners.com/essential-wordpress-plugins/Jobs & Opportunities
https://moneyonliners.com/jobs-opportunities/
Official WordPress Resources
https://developer.wordpress.org/advanced-administration/before-install/howto-install/General Settings
https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/settings-general-screen/Reading Settings and Search Visibility
https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/settings-reading-screen/Permalink Settings
https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/settings-permalinks-screen/Discussion and Comment Settings
https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/settings-discussion-screen/WordPress Backup Guidance
https://developer.wordpress.org/advanced-administration/security/backup/
Use your host's current instructions for its installer and the official documentation for WordPress settings. Interfaces can change; follow the purpose of each step rather than copying an old screen blindly.
Your Weekly Challenge
Complete These Three Actions
1. Write your installation checklist and identify whether you need a new installation or a review of an existing site.
2. Record your secure login-storage and recovery process without including passwords or recovery codes in the workbook.
3. Complete and verify five first settings: General, Reading, Permalinks, Discussion and account recovery. Add HTTPS and backup checks before moving on.
Reflection Questions
- Which domain and directory should your website use?
- How do your hosting account and WordPress dashboard differ?
- Which timezone fits your publishing schedule?
- Why should an established site's URL changes be planned?
- How would you recover access and restore the site if something failed?
Download the Lesson 11 Workbook
Use the existing Lesson 11 workbook for your installation checklist, secure-storage plan, first settings and reflection answers. Record verification results alongside the exercises. Do not include passwords or private recovery codes.
📘 Download Lesson 11 Workbook