Day 10: Installing WordPress in 10 Minutes or Less

Day 10 of the 60-Day Challenge. 

If you’ve made it this far, give yourself a high five (or a slice of cake).

You’ve picked your niche, claimed your domain, grabbed your hosting, now it’s time to bring your site to life by installing WordPress.

And don’t worry, this isn’t rocket science.

In fact, it’s barely microwave popcorn-level difficulty.

So buckle up and get ready to install WordPress faster than it takes to reheat last night’s pizza.

What is WordPress (and Why Do You Need It)?

Before we hit the install button, let’s make one thing clear: WordPress is your best friend in the blogging world.

It’s a free platform (yep, free!) that powers over 40% of websites on the internet.

That’s not just a lot, it’s practically world domination.

Here’s why WordPress rocks:

• It’s beginner-friendly. No coding degree required.
• It’s customizable. Themes, plugins, unicorn GIFs—whatever you want.
• It’s SEO-friendly. Google loves WordPress, and we love Google.
• It’s supported everywhere. Most web hosts include 1-click installation.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

To install WordPress, make sure you’ve got:

1. A domain name (check ✅)
2. A hosting account (check ✅)
3. Coffee (optional, but highly recommended)

Now let’s get to the main event.

The 10-Minute WordPress Installation Guide

We’re going to break this down based on the hosting provider you’re using.

Most beginner-friendly hosts (like Bluehost, SiteGround, Hostinger, or Namecheap) offer easy, no-fuss installation.

Step-by-Step Installation Using cPanel (aka the Easy Way)

Most web hosts use cPanel, which sounds techy, but it’s basically a dashboard with buttons.

Like a video game for your website.

1. Log into your hosting account

Go to your hosting provider’s website and log into your dashboard.

2. Find the “Website” or “WordPress” Installer

Look for icons that say:

• WordPress Installer
• Softaculous Apps Installer
• Website Builder

(They all lead to the same magical place.)

3. Click the WordPress icon

You’ll be taken to a screen that lets you install WordPress.

4. Fill in the setup details

You’ll see a form.

Don’t panic, it’s just asking basic stuff:

• Choose Domain: Pick your domain from the dropdown.
• Site Name & Description: You can enter something like “Healthy Eats Blog” and “Simple Recipes for Busy People.” You can change this later, so don’t overthink it.
• Admin Username: Use something secure—avoid “admin” (hackers love it).
• Admin Password: Choose a strong one (throw in a few @#$% for flair).
• Admin Email: Use one you check regularly.

5. Click Install

Yes.

That’s literally it.

Click the shiny blue Install button and give it a minute.

🎉 Congratulations, your website is now live with WordPress!

Don’t Forget This Step: Bookmark Your WordPress Login

Your login URL will be:

https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin

This is where you’ll go to log into your site and start writing, editing, designing, and probably breaking things you’ll later fix.

Bookmark it!

Alternative: One-Click WordPress Installation by Hosting Provider

Let’s say you’re using one of the most popular hosting services.

Here’s how easy it gets:

Bluehost

1. Log into Bluehost dashboard.
2. Go to My Sites > Add Site.
3. Choose WordPress.
4. Enter your site details.
5. Click Next.

Done.

WordPress installed faster than you can finish a TikTok scroll.

SiteGround

1. Log into SiteGround account.
2. Go to Websites > New Website.
3. Choose Start New Website and pick WordPress.
4. Add your site and login details.
5. Click Finish Setup.

You’re live!

Hostinger

1. Log into Hostinger hPanel.
2. Select your hosting account.
3. Click Auto Installer > WordPress.
4. Fill in your details.
5. Hit Install.

Easy.

Like Sunday morning.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (We’ve All Been There)

Let’s keep you from becoming the next “Oops, I crashed my blog” story:

• Mistake #1: Using “admin” as your username.
  • Hackers scan for it. Be creative—”BlogBoss2025″ is way cooler.
• Mistake #2: Forgetting your login URL.
  • Bookmark yourdomain.com/wp-admin!
• Mistake #3: Skipping the password manager.
  • Don’t trust your brain to remember 18-character passwords. Use LastPass, Bitwarden, or something similar.
• Mistake #4: Installing unnecessary plugins now.
  • Don’t go on a plugin shopping spree just yet. We’ll get there in a few days.

What’s Next? Your First Peek at Your New Blog

Once installed, you can visit:

• Frontend (your site): yourdomain.com
• Backend (admin dashboard): yourdomain.com/wp-admin

Your site will look very…blank.

Think of it like an empty apartment.

But hey, it’s YOUR apartment!

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You’ll see the default WordPress theme, a sample post, and probably a comment from “Mr. WordPress” (the internet’s version of a welcome mat).

FAQ – Let’s Clear Up Some WordPress Worries

Q: Is WordPress really free?

Yes! Hosting and domain cost money, but WordPress itself is free.

Q: Can I break my site while installing?

Not likely. If you follow the steps, you’re good. Even if you mess up, your host’s support team is one click away.

Q: Do I need a separate WordPress.com account?

Nope. You’re using self-hosted WordPress.org, which is the one that gives you full freedom.

What You Did Today

• Logged into your hosting
• Found the WordPress installer
• Entered your site info
• Clicked install
• Danced a little because your site is live 🎉

Homework (Yes, There’s Homework)

Take a deep breath.

Then:

1. Visit your new site and your admin dashboard.
2. Change the password if it’s something like “password123.”
3. Explore the WordPress dashboard. Click around. Break nothing.
4. Bookmark your login page!

Tomorrow, we dive into themes and making your site look like a million bucks (without actually spending a million bucks).

Until then, celebrate this small win.

You’ve officially joined the club of people with their own dot-com.

And remember: If Grandma can install WordPress, so can you.

(Hi Grandma!)