QUEEN OF KLUDGE

The Basic To-Do List

1. Register Domain Name
2. Purchase Hosting Plan
3. Download WordPress software
   • Its a zip file
4. Unzip
5. Download and install FTP software
6. Setup FTP access to the host server 
   • Need FTP address, username, password
7. FTP to host
8. Upload WordPress folder
9. Complete installation
   • Tip: immediately set up a second admin account with a username and password you will be able to remember
10. Set up Domain Name
11. Shop for themes
    • Choose one or more, download and unzip
    • Tip: If you see a theme that looks interesting, but you’re not sure if you want it, go ahead and download it anyway. Zip files don’t take up a lot of room, and it will be much faster to find it again on your own computer, than to go searching the web for it, if you do later decide you want it.
12. FTP to host server
13. Upload theme folder to wp/content/themes
14. At WordPress Dashboard click Design -> Themes -> Select theme
15. Create cutom banner image in Photoshop
16. Upload banner
17. Edit header.php to display custom banner
18. Edit/customize sidebar
19. Customize column widths

If you choose a host that offer “one-click install” you can initially skip steps 3 – 9.  However, you will still want to acquire an FTP program and learn to use it in order to add themes and plugins.  Also, One Click hosts usually do not update to new WordPress versions promptly.  You may also want to install updates, which will require FTP access.

I created this list to organize which steps I have already addressed in step-by-step posts.  

Also, I see that the few posts already written need to be broken down into smaller components.