Want to know how to start a BlueHost website?
Here’s a quick tutorial on how to set up a website using Bluehost and WordPress.
Creating a website is the first thing you need to do to start a successful blog, offer your services, or sell products.
Your website is important because it’s the one place that you can communicate with your customers or clients, build an audience, and establish your brand and digital presence.
It’s the foundation of your online business and your home on the internet, and you need to build your home on your own land, rather than on somebody else’s.
That’s why you should never set up your website on a free platform like Weebly or WordPress free plans.
It might sound daunting to create your website, but I’ll simplify the steps in this guide.
Article Guide
Step #1. Choose a Domain Name
A domain name is the name that people use to identify your website and the name they type whenever they need to go to visit your page.
To put it simply, domain name = your web address.
Hopefully, you already chose the perfect domain name before you set up a website.
If not, you’ll need one, so check out my blog about How to Choose a Killer Domain Name in 7 Simple Steps to help you get started. We’ll use those instructions to set up your website and register your domain.
You have a couple of options when it comes to registering your domain. You could either:
- Register with your host (easier).
- Register with a domain provider and change your nameservers over to your host.
I would recommend #1 because it’s far simpler.
This is what we’ll go over in this guide. Registering with a domain provider just adds an extra step, and you’d have to maintain two separate accounts: your domain provider and your website host. Not to mention, it’s more expensive.
Step #2. Choose a Hosting Platform
A hosting website is where all the files of your website live. It’s like the actual house to your domain name’s address.
There are tons of hosting websites online but I started on Bluehost and that’s what I’ll use to walk you through this guide. Bluehost:
- Is user-friendly
- 24/7 technical support
- Fast web hosting server
- Has good uptime
- Is easy to sign up.
If you sign up with Bluehost, my recommended hosting provider, you can get a free domain name. Sign up for Bluehost here.
(Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. If you choose to buy through my link I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for the support if you choose to).
BONUS
I have another offer if you take action and actually start your website.
When you use my referral link to get your free domain with Bluehost, email the receipt to me (sarah @ unsettle.org) and I will send you a free 52-page training tutorial to help you turbo-charge your website (even if you’re not a techie).
After you sign up for your host, it’s pretty simple to get your website up and running, and you can do it in just a few minutes.
Here’s how.
Step #3: 5 Minutes to a Fully Functional Website
Go to Bluehost and press “Get Started”:
Select your plan:
If you’re just starting out, you only need the basic plan. In fact, I still have the basic plan and I run several websites. You can always upgrade later on if you need the extra features.
If you already bought your domain (thereby taking option #2 above), type it in on the right. If you’re taking advantage of the free Bluehost domain type in the domain you chose to the left.
Next, fill out your account information:
On the next section, the package information will auto-fill like this:
Here’s what that I would have checked off if I were just starting:
- There are WordPress plugins you can install to backup your site, so you don’t need Codeguard Basic. This is just an unnecessary cost.
- You also don’t need Bluehost SEO tools. This is an upsell.
- You may want Sitelock Security. I don’t have it, but I have multiple plugins to help protect my site.
Single Domain SSL vs. Dedicated IP
You might consider having a Single Domain SSL. SSL protects your shoppers sensitive information from being obtained by malicious third-parties. This makes your site more secure which will make your customers trust your website.
Meanwhile, a dedicated IP enables you to secure your IP address from being accessed by different people. Having a dedicated IP gives you stability and access to your website any time you need. You can't install an SSL certificate without a dedicated IP.
If the main purpose of your website is to sell, it's good to have a dedicated IP and SSL certificate. Having these two also maximizes your trustworthiness and Google search ranking.
After you’ve decided what plan you want, go ahead and include your billing information and press next. Once you get your login information, log in to Bluehost.
When you log in, it should automatically take you to a screen that looks like this:
Install WordPress
Sure, there are various other types of platforms you could use, like Squarespace, Blogger, Wix, and website builders like GoDaddy and Yahoo!.
But WordPress is by far the best platform and it’s what I use for every single one of my sites. Almost everyone who asks me whether they should use WordPress should be using WordPress.
Here are some of the reasons why you should use WordPress for your website:
- It’s beginner and user-friendly.
- It has multiple plugins that can improve your site.
- It’s mobile responsive.
- The site has a built-in blog.
- And it’s flexible to use.
Now, this is where you need to install WordPress:
Under “Website Builders”, click “Install WordPress”. This will open a new tab or window, where you will press “install”.
Don’t worry about the portion below where you can pay for somebody to install WordPress. It’s super easy, so just stick with the “Do It Yourself (FREE)” portion.
Choose your domain with the dropdown list. Bluehost will check the domain, and then ask you to check off the terms and conditions box. Do that, then press: Install Now.
This button will take you to a screen with a bunch of paid WordPress themes. Don’t buy any of them yet. There are many free ones you can start out with.
When the install is complete, press the “View Credentials” button.
Press “view”, and click on the “Admin URL”.
This is the URL you will use to log in to your new website. Bookmark it. It’s usually: http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin
Type in your username and password when you’re at the Admin URL screen, and you’re officially in! You’re looking at your WordPress Dashboard. At this point, you can type in your domain (without the wp-admin portion) and it will have a standard “Coming Soon” page:
Congratulations! You’ve Finally Set Up Your Website
Congratulations!
See? Learning how to set up a website isn’t hard.
After this, you can start writing a blog, post your products, customize your website using free or paid themes (I suggest you try the free ones, first), and control your website.
Again, don’t forget your bonus!
When you use my referral link above to get your free domain with Bluehost and email me your receipt (sarah @ unsettle.org), I will send you a free 52-page training tutorial to help you turbo-charge your website (even if you’re not a techie).