How to Install WordPress with SiteGround

Last updated on December 2nd, 2018 at 10:17 am

Ready to get your blog up and running in 5 minutes? If so, this tutorial will show you how to install WordPress with Siteground in a matter of minutes. Once you’ve completed the techie part (which isn’t that challenging) you’ll be able to focus on writing great content and telling the world about it.

Starting a new online venture is exciting, especially, if you have goals of turning it into a full-time business. Many people just like you have started from scratch and built up their blog business bit by bit.

Even if you don’t know what you’re doing right now, just know that it’s possible to earn money from home. As long as you don’t start your blog with the expectation that you’re going to earn thousands by next month.

I want to help you by making the installation process as smoothly as possible.

How to Install WordPress with Siteground

There are several different ways to install a WordPress site, but today, we are going to be doing a one-click WordPress SiteGround install using the one click install method.

Step #1 Login to Siteground

Once you’ve checked out the SiteGround Comparison page and have chosen the plan you want to start with, it’s time to log into your new account so you can get your WordPress site set up.

Step #2 Manage My Accounts on Siteground and go to CPanel

Head on over to “My Accounts” and click on “Go to Cpanel.” This is going to take you to the CPanel dashboard. If this is your first time using a web host, it’s going to look extremely confusing. Don’t leave yet, I am going to walk you through the whole process.

If you didn’t purchase your domain from SiteGround, you’ll need to add it via the add on Domains and point your domain to SiteGround. (tutorial coming soon)

If you’ve never done this before, don’t hesitate to reach out to Siteground support, they’ll be happy to assist you with the process.

Step #3 Select the WordPress Icon

Next you’ll want to look for the WordPress installation script that is going to do all the heavy lifting for you. With the click of a button you’ll be able to use the WordPress wizard to set all your WordPress files for you.

Yes, you can install WordPress manually if you wanted to. (this is how I do all my installations) However, for most new bloggers the quick one click-install is the best way because you don’t have to worry about messing with your wp config.php file or downloading an ftp client.

This is where you will be setting up the WordPress installation using Softaculous. Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as you might think. If I can do it, I have no doubt that you can do it.

Video Walk Through

If you’re the visual type learner who prefers to learn via video, then watch over my shoulder as I walk you through on how to install a Siteground blog. If you’d rather continue with the step-by-step screenshots, then skip the video section and keep reading.

Step #4 Hit Install Button

Choose your domain protocol in the drop down menu and make sure that uploading WordPress to the correct domain. If this is your first hosting account, then you don’t have to worry about choosing the right domain.

Step #5 Customize Your Settings

Don’t forget to change your blog settings on this page. Don’t worry if you don’t get everything correct the first time around. You can always make these changes once the installation process has completed.

I recommend changing the password to something that you can remember. Remember to always use a strong password that people can’t guess very easily. I always using Roboform to help me with mine. But there are free password generators online that you can use, here’s one that comes to mind.

Don’t forget to use a valid email address that you check on a regular basis. Siteground will send you a copy of your login details to the one that you use on this page.

Step #6 Complete Installation and Go to Admin Page

Once you’ve made all the changes it’s time to hit the “install” button at the very bottom of the page. Don’t worry about which WordPress plugins or themes you’re going to be using. I personally never check the box for any of the recommended plugins that Siteground recommends.

Just click install and you can sit back and relax. Your hosting account is hard at work configuring your blog on the web server.

The hard part is done and once everything is completely set up, you will see this page.

Step #7 Enable HTTPS Let’s Encrypt

Before you log into your WordPress blog and start playing around with your new installation, you need to take the time to turn on the Let’s Encrypt https feature inside of your cPanel dashboard.

Unfortunately, it isn’t enabled automatically. The good thing is that it’s not that hard to do it yourself and you’ll see how easy it is to use the Siteground enable HTTPS feature without having to contact support.

Go back to cPanel after you get the successful installation page for your new blog. Scroll down to the Security section of the cPanel admin page.

Click on the Let’s Encrypt button and you’ll see your domain that you just set up.

Click on the “install button” and the Let’s Encrypt button and sit back and relax. After the process completes, you should see the success page.

You need to test your Let’s Encrypt script to make sure that everything was set up correctly and you don’t have mixed content. Go to Why No Padlock and enter your domain with the https protocol.

If everything was good, you will should see this SSL Connection pass page. You want to make sure that you do not have any type of errors, otherwise your site is not fully protected with HTTPS.

It’s important to make sure that you are using the HTTPS protocol otherwise it may hurt your rankings and people will see the warning sign on Chrome.

The last thing you want is to lose your visitors because you’re getting mixed content or not forcing HTTPS.

Step #8 Sign Into WordPress

You’ve now completed the installation and you can log into your Siteground blog. If you click on the URL from the admin page, you’ll be logged in without you having to do anything.

However, when you’re logging into your WordPress site on a daily basis, you won’t be accessing it from the SiteGround admin page. Instead, you’ll just want to login to your wp admin page.

I always make sure to copy that URL that is on the software installation page and put it somewhere I can easily access it everyday. After all, you’re going to be working on your blog on a daily basis, especially, at the beginning of your blogging journey.

Next Steps

I know that you’re excited to tell the world about your new blog. However, there are some things that you need to take care of before letting everyone know about your new blog. Do everything that you can to tell anyone about your blog.

You’ll just get discouraged when you see that no one is visiting it except your family and friends. Instead, let’s get some of the basics out of the way that you’ll need to complete.

• Play around and become familiar with the WordPress dashboard. There’s a lot to learn, but it will get easier as you continue working in it.
• Start making your logos for your blog, I recommend using PicMonkey which makes it extremely easy even if you don’t have a creative bone in your body.
• Invest in the a professional looking WordPress theme and don’t worry about hiring a designer yet. It’s just a waste of money if you’re just starting out. I use Genesis with the Wellness Pro theme.
• Install the basic WordPress plugins from the start and you can add more as soon as you know know what type of functionality you need.
• Start learning about Pinterest (I recommend this course) and reading up on SEO (search engine optimization) your blog is going to depend on it. Start with this article.
• Get busy and write your first blog post. Don’t worry about getting it wrong, we all do. The only way that you’ll learn is to start.

Blogging is fun and I absolutely love my blog. However, I’ve learned a lot and have made my fair share of mistakes. Chances are you’ll make some along the way as well.

Don’t worry, it’s okay the only way you’ll learn is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Just keep learning and doing everything that you can to learn as much as you can.

If you need a more in-depth tutorial on how to start a blog, you’ll love my other tutorial. It walks you through on everything after the WordPress installation process.