How to Set Up a WordPress Site Manually: A Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up a WordPress site manually involves several steps, from acquiring a domain and hosting to installing and configuring WordPress. Here’s a step-by-step guide with a real-life example:

Example: Let’s say you want to create a WordPress site for a small bakery called “SweetDelights.” You’ve already registered the domain “sweetdelightsbakery.com” with a domain registrar, and you’ve purchased hosting from a provider like Hostinger.

Step 1: Set Up Hosting

1. Log in to your hosting provider’s control panel (e.g., Hostinger).
2. Navigate to the hosting section and choose “Add a Website” or a similar option.
3. Enter your domain name “sweetdelightsbakery.com” and follow the prompts to complete the setup. Your hosting provider will guide you through this process, which may involve selecting a hosting plan, setting up an FTP account, and configuring DNS settings.

Step 2: Create a Database

1. After setting up hosting, access your hosting control panel, and look for the “Databases” section. Usually, there’s an option to create a new database.
2. Create a new MySQL database for your WordPress site. Take note of the database name, username, and password. You’ll need these details during the WordPress installation.

Step 3: Download WordPress

1. Visit the official WordPress website at wordpress.org and download the latest version of WordPress.
2. Extract the downloaded WordPress ZIP file to a folder on your computer.

Step 4: Configure WordPress

1. Open the folder where you extracted WordPress and locate the “wp-config-sample.php” file. Rename it to “wp-config.php.”
2. Open “wp-config.php” in a text editor and add your database information:define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘your_database_name’);
   define(‘DB_USER’, ‘your_database_username’);
   define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘your_database_password’);
   define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’); // Leave this as default in most cases
3. Save the changes and close the file.

Step 5: Upload WordPress Files

1. Using an FTP client like FileZilla, connect to your hosting server using the FTP credentials provided by your hosting provider.
2. Upload all the WordPress files and folders to the root directory of your hosting account (usually the “public_html” or “www” folder).

Step 6: Install WordPress

1. Open your web browser and visit your domain, e.g., “http://sweetdelightsbakery.com.” You should see the WordPress installation wizard.
2. Choose your language and click “Continue.”
3. Enter your site title, username, password, and email address. Make sure to use a strong password.
4. Click “Install WordPress.”

Step 7: Access Your WordPress Dashboard

1. Once the installation is complete, click the “Log In” button.
2. Enter your WordPress admin username and password to access the WordPress dashboard.

Step 8: Customize and Launch Your Website

1. You’re now in the WordPress dashboard. You can choose a theme, install plugins, and start customizing your website’s design and content.
2. Create pages, write blog posts, and configure settings to make your site unique.
3. Test your website to ensure everything is working correctly.

Congratulations! You’ve manually set up a WordPress website for “SweetDelights Bakery.” Remember to keep your WordPress installation, themes, and plugins updated for security and performance.