Setting up a WordPress website can seem a little tricky, especially if you’re not familiar with coding or technical processes. However, using DigitalOcean’s WordPress One-Click Install makes the process super simple. Whether you’re setting up a blog, portfolio, or business website, this guide will walk you through each step of using the WordPress One-Click Install feature on DigitalOcean. And don’t worry even if you’re new to all of this, you’ll find everything easy to understand. You can also read this Gabriel Kuhn Murder Case Revisited After 10 Years
What is DigitalOcean?
Before diving into the tutorial, it’s important to know what DigitalOcean is. DigitalOcean is a cloud hosting provider known for its simple and affordable virtual private servers (called “droplets”). These droplets make it easy to host websites, apps, and other services on the internet. One of the coolest features offered by DigitalOcean is the “One-Click Apps” section, where you can instantly deploy popular platforms like WordPress with a single click.
Why Use WordPress with DigitalOcean?
You might wonder why you should use DigitalOcean to host your WordPress website. Well, there are a couple of great reasons. First, DigitalOcean is affordable, which makes it perfect for small businesses, bloggers, or anyone who wants a reliable site without paying too much. Second, with DigitalOcean’s One-Click WordPress Install, setting up a website is incredibly fast and hassle-free. No complicated configurations or tech skills are required — anyone can do it!
Now that you know what DigitalOcean is and why it’s so handy, let’s get started with the tutorial!
Step 1: Sign Up for DigitalOcean
To get started, you’ll need a DigitalOcean account. If you don’t already have one, follow these steps:
- Go to the DigitalOcean website.
- Click on the “Sign Up” button in the top right corner.
- Enter your email address and create a password.
- You can also sign up using your Google or GitHub account.
- Once signed up, you’ll receive a verification email. Click the link to verify your email.
After verifying your email, you’ll be able to access the DigitalOcean dashboard, which is where all the magic happens!
Step 2: Create a New Droplet with WordPress
Now that you have a DigitalOcean account, it’s time to create a “droplet” (this is just DigitalOcean’s name for a server) that will host your WordPress website. The great thing is that DigitalOcean offers a pre-configured WordPress droplet, so you don’t need to install WordPress manually. Just follow these steps:
- Go to the “Create Droplet” page in your DigitalOcean dashboard.
- Select the “Marketplace” tab – this is where you’ll find pre-configured apps.
- Search for “WordPress” in the Marketplace.
- Click on the WordPress option that shows up — this is the One-Click WordPress Install we’ll be using.
- Choose your plan. For beginners, the basic plan is usually enough. You can choose a $5/month droplet for small websites or personal projects.
- Choose your data center region. This is where your website’s server will be located. Pick the region closest to your target audience.
- Add additional options if needed. This might include backups or monitoring, but it’s optional.
- Create your droplet! Click on the “Create Droplet” button, and DigitalOcean will automatically set up your server with WordPress installed on it.
In just a few minutes, your WordPress droplet will be ready to use!
Step 3: Accessing Your WordPress Website
Once your droplet has been created, you’ll need to log into your new WordPress website. Follow these simple steps:
- In the DigitalOcean dashboard, go to the “Droplets” section.
- You’ll see your new droplet listed here, along with its IP address. Copy this IP address — you’ll need it to access your website.
- Open a web browser and type in the IP address you just copied.
- You should see the WordPress installation screen. Follow the instructions to set up your WordPress site.
You’ll need to:
- Choose your preferred language for WordPress.
- Enter a site title, your username, password, and email address.
- Save your login information — you’ll need this to manage your website!
Once you’ve filled out all the information, click “Install WordPress.” In just a few seconds, your WordPress site will be ready to go!
Step 4: Logging into WordPress
Now that your WordPress site is up and running, you’ll want to log into the WordPress dashboard to start customizing your website. Here’s how you can log in:
- Open your web browser and go to
http://your-ip-address/wp-admin/. - You’ll be asked to enter the username and password you set up earlier.
- Once logged in, you’ll be taken to the WordPress dashboard, where you can manage your site, install themes, write blog posts, and more.
Step 5: Securing Your WordPress Site
Setting up WordPress is only the first step. To make sure your website is safe, it’s important to add some security measures. Here are a few easy steps you can follow:
- Update WordPress regularly – Always update to the latest version of WordPress to keep your site secure.
- Install security plugins like Wordfence or iThemes Security. These plugins will help protect your site from hackers.
- Use strong passwords – Always choose strong passwords for your WordPress login to prevent unauthorized access.
- Enable SSL – Secure your site by enabling HTTPS with an SSL certificate. DigitalOcean makes it easy to install a free SSL certificate using Let’s Encrypt.
Step 6: Customizing Your WordPress Website
Now that your website is secure, it’s time to make it your own! WordPress offers tons of themes and plugins that let you customize your website’s appearance and functionality. Here’s how you can get started:
- Install a Theme: Go to “Appearance” > “Themes” in the WordPress dashboard. You can choose from thousands of free themes available directly from WordPress or upload a custom theme.
- Add Plugins: Plugins add extra features to your site, such as contact forms, SEO tools, or social media integration. Go to “Plugins” > “Add New” to browse and install plugins.
- Write Your First Blog Post: Go to “Posts” > “Add New” to start writing your first blog post. WordPress makes it easy to create content with a simple text editor.
Step 7: Managing Your WordPress Website on DigitalOcean
Now that your WordPress site is live, you’ll also need to manage your server on DigitalOcean. Here are a few tips for managing your site:
- Monitor Droplet Resources: Keep an eye on your droplet’s CPU, memory, and disk usage in the DigitalOcean dashboard to make sure your site runs smoothly.
- Create Backups: Regularly back up your site to protect against data loss. You can enable backups for your droplet in the DigitalOcean dashboard or use a WordPress plugin like UpdraftPlus.
- Scale Your Droplet: If your site grows and needs more resources, you can easily resize your droplet from the DigitalOcean dashboard.
Conclusion
And there you have it! You’ve successfully set up a WordPress website using DigitalOcean’s One-Click Install. With this guide, even if you’re completely new to web hosting and WordPress, you should now be able to launch your website confidently.
By using DigitalOcean’s One-Click WordPress Install, you’ve saved yourself a lot of time and avoided the headache of manual installation. Plus, with the added benefits of DigitalOcean’s affordable and reliable cloud hosting, your website is off to a great start. Happy blogging.
