Here is the complete beginner’s guide to help you start your blog and see the bottom section to learn how to use WordPress.
All this information is free, feel free to take action and start building something new.
- Part 1: WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org: Which Should You Choose?
- Part 2: << You are here >>
- Part 3: How to Install WordPress on Bluehost
- Part 4: Basic Setup After Installing WordPress
- Part 5: How to Install WordPress Plugins
- Part 6: How to Choose a WordPress Theme
- Part 7: How to Install a WordPress Theme
- Part 8: 14 Tips to Secure Your WordPress Site
- Part 9: [Pro Tips to Speed Up WordPress and Reduce Loading Times
Many new bloggers make the mistake of buying hosting from unreliable companies and they regret it later. In this step-by-step guide, I will share everything you need to know about buying reliable web hosting and domain names.
For the purposes of this tutorial, I will be purchasing hosting from Bluehost , the officially recommended WordPress hosting service. As a bonus, with Bluehost, you get a free domain name.
Not only will this help you save money, but it will also allow you to manage everything in one place.
Bluehost offers a free SSL certificate , which is a must, and you can also choose to upgrade to PHP 7.0x
I recommend you follow this guide and purchase a hosting plan and domain name as outlined here. NOTE: This guide is very detailed, so grab a cup of coffee and follow this guide carefully and meticulously!
Before we get started, there are a few things you’ll need:
1. Domain name
A domain name is like your online address. It is where your blog/website is located.
You’ll get a Bluehost free domain name, or you can use any existing domain name if you’ve already purchased a domain. (Even if you don’t need the free domain name right now, you can always use it later.)
If you haven’t decided on your domain name yet, this guide will help you. You can also use free services like BustAName , LeanDomainSearch , or NameStation to find a good domain name.
2. Payment Methods
When purchasing web hosting and domain names, you can pay by credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Please make sure you have your payment method ready.
I recommend you to read the following guide first. It will give you some basic information about web hosting, and you will understand how to save money on your web hosting purchase.
Now let's buy a console...
Step-by-step guide to purchasing a web hosting plan:
First, go to the Bluehost homepage and click “Get Started Now.”
This will take you to a page where you will see three different packages to choose from. I will quickly explain the various packages, but you should also read this guide for a more in-depth look at what these packages offer.
Here are my suggestions:
- Running just one site: Basic
- Running Multiple Websites: Plus
- Who.is Guardian required: Choice Plus
Since the price difference between the Plus and Choice Plus plans is not that big, you should go for Choice Plus. Even if you only host one website now, with the Choice PLus plan, you can host unlimited websites in the future as needed.
NOTE: The links I provide here will give you a huge discount on all of these plans. But this discount is only for the first bill, so it’s better to buy a 2-3 year plan to save money.
Click Select next to the plan of your choice .
Note: For this tutorial, I purchased the 12-month Starter plan. The process is the same regardless of which plan you choose.
Step 1: Choose a new (free) domain name, or use an existing one.
Once you’ve chosen a plan, you can choose to get a free domain name from Bluehost or use any existing domain name.
Remember, if you don’t need your free domain right now, you can always use it later.
You can also claim your free domain later. Just email Bluehost's customer service team and they will help you.
If you are using an existing domain name, you will need to change the name servers at your domain registrar to:
- NS1.Bluehost.com
- NS2.Bluehost.com
If you want to keep it simple, enter the domain name you want to purchase in the “New Domain” field and your free domain will be activated with your web hosting plan.
Click "Next" and from here on, the rest of the steps are pretty straightforward.
Step 2: Enter your account details.
In this section, you need to enter your details (name, email address, address, etc.).
Make sure to verify every detail, especially your email address. Your login and hosting information will be sent to your email address.
Step 3: Select the correct package.
This part is crucial and you should pay extra attention to ensure that you don’t overpay for add-ons that you don’t need.
Choose a hosting plan with a 12-month or 36-month term. You'll find that the price goes down as the term increases.
Be sure to deselect the Codeguard Basic, Yoast SEO Premium, Single Domain SSL, and Sitelock Security options as you don’t actually need them.
Step 4: Complete your console purchase.
Before you make any payment, I recommend you scroll up and verify all the information again.
By default, you will only see the option to pay via credit card, but if you want to pay via PayPal, click on "More payment options" and it will show the option to pay via PayPal as well.
After payment, you will see another sales page like the one below.
Ignore this.
Click "No thanks" at the end of the page.
On the next page, you will see the confirmation of your hosting package purchase and you will see a screen like shown below.
Click on "Create your password".
Step 5: Choose a password.
This is the final stage of your web hosting purchase.
You can choose a password or use the password generator to create a complex password* (I recommend this). * Copy and paste the password to a safe place and click Paste.
Click Create, and you're done!
The process of purchasing web hosting for your blog is now 98% complete.
Step 6: Log in to your web hosting cPanel.
Check your email inbox and you will see a confirmation email with all the login information for your web hosting account. The only thing that will not be included in the email is the password you created in the previous step - this is for your security.
Head to Bluehost.com and click “Sign In” at the top.
In the Login fields, enter your domain name or username and the password you chose or generated.
Click Submit.
You will now be in the Bluehost dashboard optimized for WordPress:
That’s it! Congratulations! You’ve just purchased your web hosting package and domain name.
Here are some tutorials you should follow in order to properly set up your WordPress blog:
If you followed the steps mentioned in this article and the two articles above, then you have successfully purchased a domain name and hosting.
Get a Bluehost Hosting Plan (Free Domain)
Did you purchase a hosting plan using this guide? Did you have any trouble with the purchase process? Let me know about your purchase in the comments below!
If you found this guide useful, be sure to share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you click through to visit us, at no extra cost to you. See how SidelinePlay is funded, why it’s important, and how you can support us.
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