Blog & Web hosting with HostGator

My follow-up to “Getting Started with WordPress Blogging!”

Thanks to all of you who attended my Webinar!

As mentioned in my class, you have the option of running WordPress for free – at WordPress.com -, or to install the free WordPress software – available at WordPress.org – on a hosting service of your choice. (This is often referred to as “self-hosting”).

The free (WordPress.com) choice is great just to get started or to try out WordPress. But you’ll likely want to ‘self-host’ if you want to get serious and have more options and professional WordPress themes and use ‘plugins’ with your blog.

For self-hosting, you can use any Web hosting service that supports WordPress blogs. I mentioned in class that I use and recommend HostGator as a host as they not only support WordPress, they include the “Fantastico Deluxe” feature which makes it simple to install WordPress into your hosting account with a few click’s of the mouse. This makes installing a WordPress blog (or multiple blog installs) a no-brainer on your HostGator hosting account. And HostGator is VERY competitive (i.e., inexpensive) on price with comparable hosting services.

I’ve put together this page to answer the question many of you had about the Web/blog hosting service that I mentioned and use, HostGator. If you’d like to sign up with them, you can do so by clicking on the image below here to go to the site to sign up:

NOTE: Many of my clients and students are intimidated or to busy and ask if I can handle the process for them. So I offer the following if you are interested:

Turnkey setup by me including:

1. Sign-up HostGator account in your name for you.
2. Configure domain name(s) you want to use to be setup in the account.
3. Setup (up to 10) domain e-mail accounts for each address/domain name you want (either POP3, IMAP or Forwarding addresses).
4. Install/configure one WordPress installation into your root directory. (Install additional individual WordPress installations into the account = $20 each/ one time fee).
5. Note: If you take my Blogging Mastermind Workshop (Regularly $295 / Only $195 for VREBC attendees), it includes a custom Real Estate WordPress theme at no extra charge and I will install it for free.

Turnkey install setup fee (items 1 – 4 above): Only $99. (excludes HostGator hosting fee billed separately to your credit card). If you have any questions, please e-mail or call me at (714) 777-2130.

If you want to sign up the HostGator account yourself, click here or the HostGator banner link above and follow these instructions:

Either use an existing domain or sign up for a new one.

The hosting I recommend is the Baby Gator plan which is $9.95 per month or $119 per year. If you sign up before November 30th, use the coupon code, AUTUMN, and save 20% on the annual plan – only $95.52 for the first year! (The ad shows $7.95 per month, but that is if you commit to 3 years vs. the one year plan.)

The Baby plan is the one that lets you host multiple domain names and web sites. (The default Hatchling plan only allows for one domain name so please make sure you change the plan from the drop down list when signing up. See screen shots below for assistance).  You pay only $9.95 per month (or $95.52 if annual plan) and host as many Webs, Blogs and E-mail addresses as you like. (Domain name registration charges not included – that’s between you and your Registrar – I use GoDaddy!)

Here’s the procedure if you’d like to review first:

When you click the HostGator banner link above you’ll go to the HostGator home page. Under “Hosting“, click on the ORDER NOW button to proceed to the following screen:

Indicate if this is an existing domain you already have registered and enter it in the domain name box as shown below.

Click next to proceed to:

Choose the BABY package and click next to continue. Select your payment plan (I recommend annual) and enter AUTUMN in the COUPON box. Click Calculate Total to apply the 20% discount:

Once your discount is applied, continue on the enter your credit card information and complete the order.