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Hostwinds is a budget-friendly yet resource-packed website host. It’s not perfect, but it’s a versatile host, offering more than enough features for most people to easily get started.
If you’ve signed up already, this article takes you through the entire process to set up WordPress and connect a domain. It’s easy and only takes a couple of minutes.
Once you’ve created an account with Hostwinds, you can easily log into the client area using the information from your welcome email. In the dashboard, you’ll see a list of your products. Select Manage
Step Two: Log into cPanel
When you’re in the product section, select Login to cPanel from the left-hand side of the screen.
Step Three: Select the One-Click Installer
Inside the cPanel dashboard, scroll down to the software section. It’s here you’ll find and select Softaculous Apps Installer.
Step Four: Start the WordPress Install
Once inside the app installer, you’re given the option to install WordPress. Simply click on the WordPress icon.
Step Five: Confirm the WordPress Installation
On the next screen, you will be prompted to install WordPress. Follow the on-screen instructions for a quick install. It takes a couple clicks, but it’s really easy.
Step Six: WordPress Is Installed
Once you’ve completed the WordPress install, you will receive notification of its success.
Step Seven: Connect Your Domain
Map your domain to your new WordPress installation as the final step. Hostwinds offers great beginner-friendly support, ensuring you can easily locate your nameserver details within both the client area and your welcome email.
Grab the nameserver information and go to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy) to update them. It can take up to 48 hours for the Domain Name System (DNS) to propagate, though it’s usually much quicker, and your website will be live.
Step Eight: Install Cloudflare CDN
Since the plans come with a free Cloudflare CDN, it’s a good idea to install it. It only takes a couple clicks and can be done via the Softaculous one-click installer. Follow the on-screen instructions and you’ll be done in just a few seconds.
cPanel and Softaculous for the Easy Win
Most seasoned website owners have come in contact with this common control panel and one-click installer combo. If you haven’t, it’s actually very easy to navigate for beginners and experts alike.
Overall, as you can read in my in-depth Hostwinds review, I like Hostwinds; however, it might not be perfect for your needs. If you’re looking for a vendor that is more geared at developers, try Vultr. If you’re looking for a vendor that specializes in managed WordPress hosting, read about Flywheel.
Gwen is a web developer and software engineer who loves to get lost in JavaScript (and a good book). She spends her free time teaching girls how to be coders, and doing yoga on her balcony in the sunshine.
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