Unraveling the Mysteries of Pointing WordPress to a Domain Name

If you’re one of the millions of people hosting a website on WordPress, you know how crucial it is to make sure everything is in sync. But if you’re new to website creation, the second-order implications of domain name registration and pointing WordPress can leave you feeling perplexed. But have no fear – it’s not as complicated as it seems! Here, we’ll walk you through the bewildering process step-by-step.

Step 1: Register your domain name

Before you get to the juicy stuff, you’ll want to bookmark a domain name for your website. A domain name is what folks enter on their keyboards to track down your website online. There are a variety of domain registrar services available, like GoDaddy and Bluehost, that cater to a range of needs and budgetary constraints. Once you find your match, create an account, pick your name, check availability, and finalize the registration process.

Step 2: Set up your hosting account

The next step is figuring out web hosting. This is where your website files live, which is a must if you want to manage them! There are plenty of hosting service providers to choose from, like Hostgator and SiteGround. Make sure you pick a plan that suits both your needs and wallet. Once you’ve made your decision, set up your account, and get your website up and running. Following setup, you will receive your web hosting account’s name servers. These are important to keep at hand.

Step 3: Update domain nameservers

You now have a domain name and a web hosting account at the ready, so it’s time to unite them. To do this, you need to update your domain nameservers. These servers are at the core of the domain name system’s operation. Essentially, they translate your domain name into a numerical address, or IP. When someone types your website URL, their computer sends a request to your nameservers to convert your domain into that IP address, leading them to your website.

To update your nameservers, log in to your domain registrar account, search for the DNS settings or Nameservers option that pertains to the domain you want to point at your web hosting account, and enter the nameservers you received from your web hosting account.

Step 4: Install WordPress

After setting up your domain name and web hosting account, the next order of business is to install WordPress. You can choose to do this manually or use a one-click install option provided by your web hosting service. If you decide to install WordPress manually, you’ll need to download the software from the official website, unzip the files, upload them to your web hosting account via FTP, and then create a MySQL database.

Alternatively, if you choose the one-click option, log in to your web hosting account, choose the WordPress one-click installer, and follow the process. Once done, WordPress will be fully installed and ready for you to use!

Step 5: Update Site Address and WordPress Address

Now that you’ve installed WordPress, log in to your WordPress dashboard and make your way to the Settings menu item. Choose General from the dropdown and update your website address and WordPress addresses to your brand new domain name. Ensure that you type out the exact address and include “www” or “https” as needed. Finally, hit the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page.

Step 6: Test your Website

Finally, it’s time to see if you are successful in your undertaking. Enter your URL into the address bar to check if your WordPress website appears. If it doesn’t, it could indicate an error in your site address or WordPress address. Recheck the format and spelling you used in the settings if this is the case.

Conclusion

In summary, to point WordPress to a domain name, you need to do the following six tasks:

• Register your domain name
• Set up your hosting account
• Update domain nameservers
• Install WordPress
• Update Site Address and WordPress Address
• Test your website

These steps will allow you to create a website on WordPress and make it accessible to the entire internet, including some of its fiercer inhabitants. With WordPress’s manifold features and flexibility, you can design and customize your website to meet your needs and goals.