Before you can use WordPress to create your own blog, you'll need to activate WordPress by installing the WordPress software in your site. We've made the process quick and easy. To get started, visit your Web Hosting Control Panel.

To add WordPress:

1. Go to the Create & Update tab of your Web Hosting Control Panel and click the "Activate a WordPress blog" link.
   
   
2. In step 1, choose a user name and password for your WordPress blog. (Note that your user name is case sensitive; USER and user, for example, are considered different names.) You'll use this information to sign in to your WordPress control panel. Be sure to choose a unique name and password; you should not use your Yahoo! ID and password. Learn more.
   
   
3. Enter the email address at which you would like to receive password reminders from WordPress if you ever forget your password. You must choose an email address that matches your domain, such as you@widgetdesigns.com.
   

4. In step 2, you can decide if you want your blog to be your web site home page. To make your blog your home page, click the corresponding checkbox. If you'd prefer not to make your blog your home page, leave the checkbox unselected.
   
   Important: If you have already created a home page for your site, please be aware that if you select this option, your blog will replace your current home page. If you'd like to preserve your current home page, or link from your home page to your blog, you should not select this option.
   
   
5. Select the standard or custom activation path. Recommended for most users, the standard path speeds the activation process by preselecting the most popular WordPress settings and saving your WordPress blog files in a default directory. If you'd rather choose your initial blog settings and blog directory yourself, choose the custom path. Don't worry too much about which path you choose — you'll be able to change your blog settings anytime.
   

6. Click the "Next" button to continue.
   
   
7. If you chose the standard path, you can skip ahead. If you chose the custom path, you'll be able to choose an installation location for your WordPress files now.
   
   
8. Click the radio button that corresponds with the directory into which you'd like to save your WordPress files. You'll be able to choose from three options.
   

   default folder (recommended): Your files will be saved in a designated WordPress folder we name and create for you.
   
   new folder: Your files will be saved in a new folder you name yourself. (Be sure to enter a name for this new directory in the field provided.)

   

   existing folder: Your files will be saved in a folder you have already created. If you decide to use an existing folder, click the "Browse" button to find and select your preferred location.

   Note: Be sure not to install WordPress in a directory in which you have already installed a PHP-based tool, such as phpMyAdmin or any advanced add-on.

9. Choose "Next" to continue.
   
   
10. Choose a theme for your blog. Your theme controls the general look and feel of your blog pages, including the page colors and layout. You can view a larger image of any available theme by moving your mouse over the theme's thumbnail image.
    

11. Click the checkbox next to each blog plug-in you'd like to activate now. To learn more about a particular plug-in, click its name.
    
    
12. Choose "Next" to continue.
    
    
13. On the following page you can decide how you'd like to upgrade your WordPress software. We recommend choosing the first option, which will automatically upgrade your software whenever updates become available. If you don't want to upgrade your WordPress software automatically, you can choose instead to be notified of WordPress updates in your Web Hosting Control Panel or via email. When you receive these updates, you can upgrade your software manually.
    

14. Choose "Next" to continue.
    
    
15. Read and agree to the WordPress and MySQL Database user license, the GNU General Public License Agreement, by clicking the "I have read and agree to the terms of the GNU General Public License" checkbox.
    

16. Choose "Activate" to activate your WordPress blog.
    
    
17. You'll arrive on the "Congratulations" page, which includes your blog's web address, a list of your initial blog settings, and helpful links you can use to begin working with your blog.