Sign Up for Hosting

1. Begin by going to siteground.com and click Get Started under Web Hosting.

2. Next choose a plan. The “StartUp” plan is generally enough space for a small to medium sized business. If your website is rather large (more than 15 pages), you expect high traffic (more than 10,000 visitors a month), or you plan on hosting more than one site, then I would up to the “GrowBig” plan.

3. Next, register your domain. You can choose anything you’d like for your domain and choose its extension (.com, .net, etc.) If your domain is already taken, they will inform you and recommend something different and similar instead. 

If you already have a domain purchased through someone else, choose the “I already have a domain name” button and enter your domain. 

4. On the next page, you’ll set up your Site Ground account and enter your payment information. 

5. Then review your Purchase Information. Keep in mind that although SiteGround lists their prices as a monthly expense, you will be paying upfront for the entirety of your plan. You can choose a longer plan for a cheaper rate. The Site Scanner extra service probably isn’t necessary. If you’re working with a web developer, they should be setting up security measures on their end. If they do recommend using Site Scanner, you can always add that to your account later.

6. Finally, click Pay Now and you’re hosted!

Install WordPress

If you’re using WordPress as your website platform, you’ll need to install it onto your site. SiteGround makes this super easy for you. After your purchase is completed, you should be redirected to your Account page.

1. In the top menu choose “Websites”.

2. Under here click the orange “cPanel” button.

3. Under AUTO INSTALLERS click the WordPress icon.

4. Then click blue “Install” tab.

5. Under Site Settings name your Site and enter a custom description if you wish. You can also leave this field as is, the “site description” is not usually visible anywhere on your website. Leave Enable Multisite unchecked.

6. Under Admin Account create a username and password and enter you email. When creating a username and password, remember that you’ll need to share it with your web designer. Once your project is complete, you’ll be able to change your password.

7. Under Admin Account create a username and password and enter you email. When creating a username and password, remember that you’ll need to share it with your web designer. Once your project is complete, you’ll be able to change your password.

8. Keep everything else as is and click Install.

9. Once installed, you’ll see an Administrative URL link to access the backend of your new site. In the future you can log in to your site at www.yourdomainname.com/wp-admin.

You’re done!