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Getting Started with WordPress Hosting

WordPress Hosting helps you build and run fast, secure websites with built-in eCommerce, visual editing, and managed hosting. This guide walks you through choosing a template or importing a site, customizing your design, setting up your store, connecting your domain, and tracking performance.

Getting started checklist​

  1. Choose a template or import your site: Start from a pre-built layout or bring an existing WordPress site
  2. Customize your site: Add your logo, colors, and content with Divi Builder
  3. Set up your store (if selling online): Configure WooCommerce for products, payments, and shipping
  4. Connect your domain (Pro only): Point your custom domain to your site
  5. Connect analytics: Track visitors and performance with Google Analytics

Step 1: Choose a template or import your site​

New sites start from a template or from an existing WordPress export. Templates include themes, plugins, and page layouts so you can launch quickly.

How to create a new site from a template​

  1. Log in to Business App and open WordPress Hosting.
  2. Create a new site and choose one of the seven pre-built templates (Retail, Services, Education, B2B, Home Services, Art/Photography, or Health/Fitness).
  3. Enter your business name and tagline when prompted.
  4. The template installs Divi Builder and WooCommerce automatically.

See the Templates overview for custom templates and hiding pre-built options.

How to import an existing WordPress site​

  1. Create your WordPress Hosting account and a new site.
  2. Install the All-in-One WP Migration plugin on both your original site and the new WordPress Hosting site.
  3. On your original site: go to All-in-One WP Migration > Export, then download the export file.
  4. On your new site: go to All-in-One WP Migration > Import, then upload the file.

See the Import guide for migration options, file size limits, and manual import steps.

info

WordPress Hosting Standard uses subdomains only. Custom domains require WordPress Hosting Pro.

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Step 2: Customize your site​

Use Divi Builder to edit your site visually without coding. Add your logo, change theme colors, and update pages and images.

How to customize with Divi Builder​

  1. Go to WordPress Hosting and open your site's WordPress Dashboard.
  2. Click Customize your site or go to your homepage with Divi Builder enabled.
  3. Edit text and images directly on the page. Use Divi > General Settings to add your logo and Divi > Theme Customizer to set theme colors.
  4. Add or edit pages from the Pages tab in WordPress.

See Edit your site with Divi Builder for a full walkthrough.

tip

The Getting Started Card on your dashboard Overview page provides quick links to customize your homepage, add your logo, set theme colors, and add pages.

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Step 3: Set up your store (if selling online)​

If you use an eCommerce template, configure WooCommerce to add products, set up payments, and define shipping.

How to set up WooCommerce​

  1. Go to WordPress Hosting > WordPress Dashboard.
  2. Open WooCommerce > Settings and click Setup Wizard (under the Help tab) to run the configuration.
  3. Add products under Products > Add New.
  4. Configure payment methods under WooCommerce > Settings > Payments.
  5. Set up shipping under WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping.

See Set up your WooCommerce store and WooCommerce Payments for details.

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Step 4: Connect your domain (Pro only)​

WordPress Hosting Pro supports custom domains. Configure DNS at your registrar and connect the domain in WordPress Hosting.

How to connect a custom domain​

  1. At your domain registrar, add an A Record for your root domain pointing to 34.149.86.124.
  2. Add a CNAME Record for www pointing to host.websiteprohosting.com.
  3. Go to WordPress Hosting > Domains.
  4. Click Connect a Domain, enter your domain, and click Add Domain.
  5. Wait for the domain to show as Connected. WordPress Hosting provisions SSL automatically.
  6. Use Make Primary to set your main domain if you have multiple connected domains.

See Domain setup and the Domains overview for DNS details and troubleshooting.

note

DNS propagation can take from a few minutes to 48 hours. SSL certificates are issued automatically by Let's Encrypt.

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Step 5: Connect analytics​

Track visitors, page views, and traffic sources. Connect your own Google Analytics account for accurate, site-specific data.

How to connect Google Analytics​

  1. Go to Business App > Administration > Connections to connect Google Analytics, or
  2. In WordPress Dashboard > Settings > General, enter your Tracking ID in Custom Google Analytics Tracking ID.

See the Analytics overview and Add your own analytics account for setup and data options.

tip

Connecting your own Google Analytics account gives you more accurate data than the default shared view.

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Frequently asked questions​

What is the difference between WordPress Hosting Standard and Pro?

Standard includes templates, Divi Builder, WooCommerce, daily backups (2 retained), and subdomain-only hosting. Pro adds custom domains, staging environments, extended backup retention (up to 90 days), phpMyAdmin, SFTP, and no plugin restrictions.

Do I need to buy SSL separately?

No. WordPress Hosting automatically provisions free SSL certificates from Let's Encrypt for all connected domains.

Where do I find the Getting Started Card?

The Getting Started Card appears on your Overview page when you log into WordPress Hosting. It links to set up your store, customize your site, and connect analytics. See Getting Started Card for details.

Can I use a custom domain with Standard?

No. Custom domains are only available with WordPress Hosting Pro. Standard sites use subdomains (e.g., mybusiness.websitepro.hosting).