Step One:  I highly recommend the class Creating WordPress Websites through Moraine Park Technical College.  This class is part of their ed2go series for online continuing education. It is loaded with content and the knowledgeable instructor will answer all of your questions.  The class lasts 6 weeks and includes 12 lectures.  We created a fictitious blog and website for the class and learned everything we needed to know to set up and manage the back end of our own site.  A new class starts in the middle of every month.  This class was a bargain and well worth the time spent.

Step 2: Sign up for a hosting account.  Site Ground gave us 90 days of free service for the class.  When I signed up for my own hosting account, I was able to register my domain name at Site Ground free of charge.  Set up was easy.  They installed WordPress and a choice of WordPress themes as part of the set up process.  I received a follow-up email and phone call to see if I had any questions after installation.

Step 3:  Choose a software application for your website or blog.  You may have done that in Step 2 when you signed up for your hosting account.  The self-hosted WordPress.org gives you abundant options for customizing your site.

Why use WordPress?  The article “Eight Reasons Why Fortune 500 Companies Use the WordPress CMS” will fill you in on why some of the biggest corporate websites are powered by WordPress.

Step 4: Enjoy the fun and creativity of setting up your own blog or website!

I do not receive compensation from Moraine Park Technical College, WordPress, or Site Ground.