By this point in our how to blog series, you may be even more curious about WordPress and have some unanswered questions. If you use google as your resource for your answers you will find that the information available is sometimes confusing, contridictory and filled with myths.
We will discuss the common myths of WordPress, self hosting and how to get beyond these misconceptions.
Self Hosting is Expensive
I see this statement online so often, but lets really look at the costs of hosting. Lets look at the top two hosting companies WordPress recommends and we will toss in one of my favorites at the end.
BlueHost: 1 year: $72
DreamHost: 1 year: $108
HostGator: 1 year: $67
If you pay more than one year you will pay even less.
These are just examples of hosts, I only have researched HostGator. I recommend doing your research and finding the hosting company for you. You can read more about how to do this in my series: How to Research Web Hosting.
WordPress is Hard to Setup
Most of the hosts above have a control panel where you can install wordpress with one or two clicks. If you know you want WordPress ask the host about this before buying hosting with them.
You have to keep updating WordPress
WordPress does need to be updated maybe once a month. But to update it you click a button and it tells you when its done. If you keep up on your updates (at least every few months or so) you shouldnt have any troubles.
WordPress is Hard
Just like everything you need to dive in and learn. WordPress makes their software user friendly.
If you are not technically savvy or you cant just jump in and learn, buy a book; subscribe to a few blogs; read some articles; and/or find some Youtube videos to watch.
You can also find someone to teach you. I can teach a new blogger about blogging and WordPress in two hours. Someone new to WordPress can learn to start posting in about an hour.
How to Blog Series
- 5 Facts that WordPress is Made for Building Income
- The Blogging Quiz: WordPress Versus Blogger
- Starting a Blog: 8 Things to Consider When Starting Out

Installation is one of the scariest steps for beginners and they really just haven’t been informed on how easy it is. They may look at wordpress.org and the codex and see all the technical jargen about how to install by hand and feel overwhelmed. When really the setup has been turned into a 1 button installation by many good hosts.
Great info here, Pepper! Yeah I hear the same things being said about WP. I host with Go Daddy and the set up and installation of WP took just a few clicks.
Yes all three of those hosts have quick and easy script installers for WordPress. Which make installation so easy. You can probably do it in 5 minutes or less.
One thing I love about Dreamhost is that they have one click installs which make installing WordPress even easier. It’s how I’ve set up my installations, and it is extensible enough to develop my plugins. WordPress really is easy to use (and program for 🙂