WordPress is one of the most popular platforms for blogging.
Not only is WordPress easy-to-use, but it has numerous plug-ins available so that you can customize your blog to suit your needs.
WordPress also allows you to alter the code so that it can suit your needs and you can share that modified code with anyone as long as you continue to distribute it under the same conditions as you got it (such as allowing others to be able to change the code the way that you did).
WordPress has two different options.
The first option is the free option with WordPress.
com.
Using WordPress.
com is an excellent choice if you want to simply have a blog as a hobby.
The platform is quite easy-to-use and you can find numerous free WordPress themes to use with your blog.
The other option is to download the WordPress code from WordPress.
org and install it yourself.
Because you are hosting your WordPress blog yourself, you can decide what type plug-ins to use and you will have complete control over all of the files on your blog.
This option also allows you to monetize the blog and to use it for whatever purpose you see fit.
If you have maintained a website before, hosting your own WordPress blog will not be a challenge.
Even if you are new to maintaining a website and hosting one, it is not that difficult.
WordPress has the famous "five minute installation" and it is one of the appealing features of using WordPress over other blogging platforms.
The first thing that you will need is to choose a web host.
WordPress actually gives a few suggestions when you're looking at the WordPress.
org website.
Once you choose your web hosting, then you will need to make sure that you have all of the necessary tools on your local computer to set up your WordPress blog.
The first thing you'll need is a file transfer protocol client.
This is to help you get files from your computer to your hosting space.
The FTP is not actually a program, but it is a protocol that most programs will use to transfer files.
You will also need a text editor.
Windows users could use Notepad, for example.
If you're using a Mac, you can use text edit.
Just make sure that you do not use Microsoft Word - doing so will cause problems with your WordPress files.
Once you have all of your tools, then you will need to get your WordPress files.
This is the simplest part of the whole process.
Point your browser to www.
WordPress.
org/download and you'll see a big orange box that says you need to click they are in order to download.
(Make sure that you do not choose the beta releases or the nightly builds - you want the stable version.
) WordPress.
org will walk you through the installation process.
You will be able to name your blog and provide your e-mail address so that WordPress can send the administrator account information to you after the installation is created.
You will also be able to select whether or not your blog should show up in search engines.
Once you have successfully installed WordPress, you will receive all of your login information via e-mail.
You will use that information to login for the first time, and then you're on your way.