Hostgator offers the best WordPress hosting compatibility

If you haven’t figured out how to install wordpress using Fantastico, I’m going to quickly get you up to date and then move on to explaining why a solid hosting service is crucial when installing WordPress blogs.

First off, you absolutely need a cPanel hosting package to have immediate access to things like Apache or MySQL (and Fantastico too). You dont need to know what to do with it, but you better have’em.

1. Fantastico

Make sure your WordPress host offers Fantastico De Luxe

This wonderful service allows you to install WordPress on any of the domains listed in your account (see addon domains for more) in less than a minute.

It will also keep track of all the domains that have WP installed and suggest updates when necessary. The other option?

You’d have to download the WP package, FTP it to your domain, and then go to wordpress.com to get a username/password. If you know what you’re doing, it’ll take you 20 minutes – if not, well, it can take a whole day.

2. MySQL databases

I’m adventuring myself in unchartered territory, but here’s my attempt to explain why this is important when using WordPress.

Everytime you install WP, they create a new database where your configurations are stored. This way, there’s something to save you in case of a crash or invasion (Hostgator saved me from one of those).

So mark MySQL in the list of things you DONT need to know what it does but you DO need to have on your hosting package.

Got the picture?

Tomorrow I’m going to attempt to explain why these two services are CRUCIAL when you’re trying to perform trivial things like loading a new theme or installing a plugin to your WP blog. (You wont EVER have to worry about FTP!)

But before we get there, you need the most reliable wordpress hosting service -

Sign up for Hostgator today and get your first month for $0.01 (coupon code: wordpress)

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