Purchase a Domain Name

You will need a domain name for your blog. If you already have a domain name, you can move to step two. If you do not have a domain name you need to register one.

Open a new window and go to Bust a Name and do a search for a domain name you would like to use. Once you have found one, follow the checkout process to register the domain name.

GoDaddy will make lots of appealing offers, however,you do not need any of the other products or services. You DO NOT want to set up your hosting with GoDaddy. They are by far the best for domain names but I have my own preferences for hosting.

Once your domain name order has been processed you will get a confirmation email from GoDaddy.

Setting Up Your Host

This step will guide you through setting up your web hosting account.

1. You can select one of our recommended hosts here. You will want to go with the most basic plan starting out which is around $7.95 a month.
2. Click Order Hosting Now
3. On the next page you will be asked if you want to Register New Domain or will use My Existing Domain and update My Nameservers only. You will want to select I will use My Existing Domain and update My Nameservers only.
4. Click Next
5. Click calculate totals
6. You will then be shown a page that shows your order. Click Continue and Enter in your billing info and process with your checkout.

When you are done you will get an email from your selected host confirming your order, along with your login info and dns server info/name servers. Generally you will have your welcome email within 15 minutes.

Step One and Step Two Must Be Completed Before Going To The Next Step.

Updating Your Nameservers on GoDaddy

Once you have got your hosting welcome email, locate the name server information and proceed as follows:

Go to http://www.godaddy.com

1. Login to your account
2. Located the bar at the top of the page with links. Click on Domains and then select My Domains.
3. This will take you to your domain control panel. Select the domain you just registered by checking the box and then click on nameservers at the top.
4. Click the Custom nameservers options.
5. Clear out the nameservers in the two slots and enter in the nameservers you received in your hosting welcome email.
6. Once you’ve entered both nameservers, click the OK button.

Your domain name will now be pointed to your new hosting account and will be visible within 24 hours. Sometimes you will see the change in a few hours, but do allow at least 24 hours for the domain to update to the new server.

Setting Up Your Blog

Now for the part you’ve been waiting for. Open a new browser and go to yourdomainname.com/cpanel replace yourdomainname.com with the new domain name you registered on GoDaddy.

Example:

• if your domain is milliondollarblog.com enter in milliondollarblog.com/cpanel

You will be prompted to enter in your user name and password. If you do not remember what user name you selected, refer to your hosting welcome email.

Once you are able to login you will several rows of icons. Locate the blue smiley that says fantastico (look toward the right near the bottom) and click on it.

On the new page there is a column on the left – find the link under Blogs that says WordPress.

Click On WordPress

You will see some info and a blue link that says New Installation click it.

You will now be asked a series of questions as follows:

• Install on domain- Select your domain name
• Install in directory- Leave Blank
• Administrator-username- Select a username you want to use to login to your blog (I use admin)
• Password- Select the password you want to use to login to your blog
• Admin nickname- The name you want people to see (I use my first name)
• Admin e-mail- Your contact email (the one you use most)
• Site Name- Name of the blog (what you want the blog to be known as)
• Description- Short description of the blog (sort of a tagline or slogan)

After your enter in all of the details click on Install WordPress

In the following screen click Finish Installation

You want to retain a copy of the next page that will contain the admin login page and login information for future reference.

Congratulations! You are the proud owner of a domain and a WordPress blog!

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My Comment Commitment: If you leave an approved comment on any of my posts, I will visit your blog and “share it” in some way whether on StumbleUpon, Twitter or Facebook depending on if I can find a nice fit.

Originally posted 2009-08-14 16:50:52.

In my earliest days of blogging, I had several blogs on Blogger. That was fine for the time I spent discovering myself as a blogger; finding my voice and getting up to speed on what it takes to make money from this feverish trend.

When I realized I had a real knack for blogging, I didn’t like the thought of placing all my hard work in the hands of another service where I felt my ownership was at risk. Of course being the tightwad that I am, I didn’t want to spend a bundle hosting multiple sites either. That’s when a close friend and fellow blogger turned me on to the Reseller option at Hostgator.

I signed up as a reseller – moved all my blogs under one package and haven’t looked back.

With the reseller account, I have been able to host MANY website for myself, a few friends, family and clients.

I still prefer having my domains through GoDaddy but all my blogs are organized neatly in one central location.

Hostgator makes it super easy to add a new account and with the Fantastico option through the control panel, I can have a blog up and running in a very short time.

If you have or are looking to host several websites you may want to sign up for your own reseller account. You can easily sell space and help offset your own expense. It’s a win/win deal!

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My Comment Commitment: If you leave an approved comment on any of my posts, I will visit your blog and “share it” in some way whether on StumbleUpon, Twitter or Facebook depending on if I can find a nice fit.

I’ve had a few people email me asking about my hosting preferences. So I thought I’d offer up the same answer here – as the one I’ve been offering in private email exchanges for those who may be questioning the difference.

I use both, and they are nearly identical honestly.

I actually started out using Bluehost with MomGadget.com and that site is still hosted there.

When I began looking at developing a few other blogs, I was introduced to Hostgator by a friend and went with them because of their reseller account which comes in real handy if you have multiple sites you wish to develop or that you may eventually sell. I’ve also used my reseller package to host blogs for friends and family members too – to let them explore their own level of interest in blogging.

Aside from the fact that you can host multiple sites, you’re not gaining one thing from the next, and the pricing itself is almost the same.

Disclosure: I do receive a small commission if you sign up through my links for both Hostgator and Bluehost.

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My Comment Commitment: If you leave an approved comment on any of my posts, I will visit your blog and “share it” in some way whether on StumbleUpon, Twitter or Facebook depending on if I can find a nice fit.