Follow these step-by-step instructions to install, configure, and launch your new website.
Installing WordPress via cPanel
Your arwMedia hosting account includes a powerful One-Click Installer. Here is how to use it:
- Log in to your cPanel: Access your hosting control panel using the credentials provided in your welcome email.
- Locate the Installer: Scroll down to the Software section and click on WordPress Manager by Softaculous (or the WP Toolkit).
- Start the Install: Click the blue Install button.
- Choose Your Domain: Ensure your domain name is selected and leave the "In Directory" field completely blank.
- Create Admin Credentials: Enter a strong Admin Username, Password, and a working Admin Email. You will use these to log into your site's dashboard.
- Finish: Scroll to the bottom and click Install. Once complete, you will see a link to log into your new WordPress admin dashboard (usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
Essential Dashboard Settings
Before building your site, make these two crucial configuration changes from inside your WordPress dashboard:
1. Set SEO-Friendly Permalinks
By default, WordPress URLs look messy (e.g., /?p=123). Let's fix that for Google.
- Go to Settings > Permalinks.
- Select the option for Post name.
- Scroll down and click Save Changes.
2. Set a Static Front Page
WordPress defaults to showing a blog feed on your homepage. For a professional business site, you want a static landing page.
- Go to Pages > Add New. Create a page titled "Home" and publish it. Create another titled "Blog" and publish it.
- Go to Settings > Reading.
- Under "Your homepage displays", select A static page.
- Set Homepage to "Home" and Posts page to "Blog".
- Click Save Changes.
Recommended Themes & Plugins
To build a fast, secure, and modern website, we highly recommend installing the following free tools.
Core Theme
Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New. Search for and install one of these highly-rated, lightweight themes:
- Astra Theme
- Kadence Theme
Essential Plugins
Go to Plugins > Add New. Search for, Install, and Activate these plugins:
- Elementor: A drag-and-drop page builder for easy designing.
- Limit Login Attempts Reloaded: Secures your site against brute-force attacks.
- WebP Converter for Media: Automatically converts uploaded images to fast-loading WebP format.
- FluentCart: Only install this if you want to sell products. It adds a powerful, free online store directly to your dashboard!
Mastering WordPress
Ready to learn how to edit pages, write posts, and manage your new site? Bookmark these excellent, ad-free training resources:
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1
An incredibly straightforward, easy-to-read manual that jumps straight into navigating the dashboard and managing your content.
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2
The official training hub created by the WordPress community. Check out their "Beginner WordPress User" course!
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3
A fantastic repository of video tutorials and presentations straight from official WordPress events.