Setup Your Hosting: A Step by Step Guide

by Son Hosting Uncategorized

Thank you for trusting us to host your website, we believe you will never regret choosing us for your hosting needs.

Congratulations on securing your web hosting! Whether you’re creating your first website or transferring an existing one, this guide will walk you through the setup process on SonHosting. By the end, you’ll be well on your way to launching your site. Let’s break things down into manageable steps to make the process as smooth as possible.

Step 1: Accessing Your Hosting Dashboard

Once your hosting is live, you’ll first need to access your hosting dashboard. This is where you’ll manage all aspects of your hosting account, from your domain settings to your hosting plans.

If you haven’t logged in to your new dashboard yet, you can do so by visiting the link provided by SonHosting upon signing up or click here. If you’re unsure where to find this, look for an email from SonHosting with your account details.

On the dashboard, you will find two primary tabs:

  • Domains: This section shows all the domains associated with your account.
  • Hosting: Here, you’ll see all your hosting plans.

Now that you’re in, let’s move on to the next step.

Step 2: Point Your Domain to SonHosting

If you already own a domain (perhaps from another provider), you’ll need to point it to SonHosting’s nameservers so that your website can be properly hosted. A nameserver is like a phonebook for the internet, telling browsers where your website is located.

What Are Nameservers?

Nameservers are responsible for translating your domain name (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com) into the IP address that corresponds to your website’s hosting server. Without properly configured nameservers, your website won’t be accessible.

Do I Need to Do This Step?

  • If you bought your domain from SonHosting, you can skip this step because SonHosting will automatically configure your nameservers.
  • If you purchased your domain from another provider, you will need to point the domain to SonHosting’s servers manually.

Here are the nameservers you need to use for SonHosting:

  • ns1.sonhosting.com
  • ns2.sonhosting.com

How to Update Your Nameservers

If your domain is with another provider, follow these steps to point it to SonHosting:

  1. Log in to your domain registrar’s dashboard (the platform where you bought your domain).
  2. Locate the DNS settings or domain management section.
  3. Find the area where you can update the nameservers.
  4. Replace the existing nameservers with the SonHosting nameservers mentioned above.
  5. Save your changes.

Keep in mind that DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours, so don’t worry if your site isn’t instantly live.

Step 3: Installing a Content Management System (CMS)

Now that your domain is connected to your hosting, it’s time to install a Content Management System (CMS). The most popular choice is WordPress, but SonHosting also supports other platforms like Joomla and Drupal.

Why WordPress?

WordPress is beginner-friendly, highly customizable, and supports a vast array of plugins and themes to enhance your website. Many hosting providers, including SonHosting, offer a one-click installation process for WordPress, making it super easy to set up.

How to Install WordPress on SonHosting

WordPress comes pre-installed on all Sonhosting plans except VPS and reseller plans. If you wish to manage multiple installations follow the steps below or skip to the next steps if you want to continue with just one WordPress installation.

  1. Log into your SonHosting dashboard.
  2. Navigate to the Control Panel (cPanel) or the WordPress management area, depending on the specific hosting plan you have. (Note: You will need to request access to the panel manually by visiting https://www.sonhosting.com/mycpanel/ or contact technical support for assistance.)
  3. Look for the button with “Manage”.
  4. Click on the WordPress logo to begin the installation.
  5. Fill out the necessary information (like your website name, admin username, and password).
  6. Click Install and wait for the process to complete.

Once WordPress is installed, you can access your website’s admin panel by going to www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin. From here, you can begin customizing your website.

Step 4: Choosing and Installing a Theme

One of the easiest ways to make your website look professional is by installing a theme. WordPress has thousands of free and premium themes available.

How to Install a WordPress Theme:

  1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Themes.
  2. Click Add New to browse the free themes available in the WordPress theme directory.
  3. If you have purchased a premium theme, you can upload it by clicking Upload Theme.
  4. Once you find a theme you like, click Install and then Activate.

Now your website will have a completely different look, and you can start customizing it further.

Step 5: Installing Essential Plugins

Plugins are small software add-ons that enhance your website’s functionality. Some essential plugins for a new website include:

  • Yoast SEO: Helps improve your site’s search engine optimization.
  • WP Super Cache: Speeds up your website by caching pages.
  • Contact Form 7: Easily create and manage contact forms.
  • UpdraftPlus: A backup plugin that ensures your website’s data is safe.

To install a plugin:

  1. Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Search for the plugin by name.
  3. Click Install Now, then Activate.

Step 6: Launching Your Website

With your theme in place, plugins installed, and content ready to go, it’s time to launch your site! Double-check all the pages, menus, and images to ensure everything looks good. Once you’re satisfied, it’s time to promote your site and start sharing it with the world!

Setting up a website with SonHosting is straightforward. By following these steps, you can have your site up and running quickly. Just remember to ensure your domain is properly connected, install your CMS, and customize your site with themes and plugins. Now, you’re ready to go live!

If you need any assistances, reach us on [email protected]