Prep your hosting account for WordPress

To set up your own WordPress website, you only need 2 things — a domain + a hosting account. Once you have those things, you’ll need to prep your hosting account for a secure version of WordPress. Then it’s time to get your online business up + running.

This post is the second part of a series in setting up your own WordPress website, DIY style. If you missed the first post, check it out here.

Prep for WordPress

Unless you are using a managed WordPress hosting service, you need to prep your hosting account before you can install all of the files. In nerdier terms, you’ll need to create a database.

WordPress operates based on a database. This is the heart of what makes WordPress so great for managing blogs, podcasts + beyond. You will be using the database wizard (a helper) to create the database that your site will function based on.

Small disclaimer: this might start to feel overwhelmingly nerdy. But I promise that it’s easy to do. As long as you follow the steps, you will crush this task.

As you follow the steps below, save a copy of the names + password for your WordPress install.

Within your hosting account, head to the cPanel area — Hosting > CPanel is where it usually lives. Then you’ll need to look for something called MySQL DB Wizard. (I use the search box on the left side to make finding it easy.)

DB is short for Database. And the wizard means you’ll be guided through the process from start to finish. So let’s prep for WordPress!

Create a database

First, you’ll need to name your database. Your hosting company will automatically give you a prefix + you’ll add on the ending.

I like to give names that relate to the website so that I know what the database is associated with in the future. That means this site might get a database name of tborangedb (tiny blue orange database).

The first step in creating a database is to name it // prep for WordPress // tiny blue orange

The next step is to create a database user. Again, I base it off of the database name + website. If we stick with using this site as an example, the username might be tborangeun (tiny blue orange username). This is not your WordPress login, it’s strictly for your hosting company.

Some servers have character limits on the database name or username. Just follow the instructions if they limitations.

Once you’ve created the database name + user, you need a password. I like to use the password generator my hosting company provides because it ramps up security for my site. And since this password is one you’ll need to know only once in your life (so save it for a second), using something really secure isn’t a pain in your butt in the long run.

From here, create the user + the database.

The second step in creating a database is to generate a user // prep for WordPress // tiny blue orange

The final step is to assign All Privileges to the user you created. To do so, click the checkbox next to ALL PRIVILEGES + click the next button. With all privileges, your database can have data added to it as you create new pages, posts or get comments on your site.

Guess what? You successfully created your first database + database user within your shared hosting account. #nerdalert

When you set up your WordPress installation, you’ll add those details in place to make your site function like a dream.

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