Start by going here:

You’ll see “WordPress Hosting” as the middle button.

Click “see plans,” and you should be taken to WordPress hosting plans. Click “Startup,” which is fine for most sites.

It’s $14.99 per month after the first year (screenshot right). Right now it’s only $2.99 per month for the first year.

You will set up your unique user/password. I’ll need this info to work on your site.

SiteGround will ask you whether you already have a domain (your website name is a “domain”) or whether you need to purchase a domain? If you haven’t purchased a domain name, you may buy one via SiteGround for $17 per year.  Their control panel will tell you whether that particular domain is available and you then have an opportunity to revise as needed if it’s already owned by someone else. If you have a domain but need a temporary “staging” site, I can help or you can ask SiteGround to help you with this. We’ll build the new site on that staging site and then flip the switch when you are ready to launch.

If you own a domain and it’s just parked, we will first need to point that domain to SiteGround so we can build it. In that case, I’ll need the user/password for your domain registrar and sometimes we need to collaborate if they block me from logging in for security reasons.  Often they will send a code to your email or phone which I’ll need to use so I can login.

If you have a site that is already hosted, then we will first migrate that site with all existing databases, content, images, etc. as the first step. If you are currently using GoDaddy and need my help, expect 1-2 hours billing while I’m being passed around. So it’s better for you to do as much as you can to get the info I need instead of me listening to their salespeople try to up-sell when the best thing you can do is to get as far away from GoDaddy as possible.  Likewise Register.com.

Bad hosting just ends up costing the client any money they may have “saved” because it takes three times as long to get anything accomplished.  Things break. They don’t upgrade their technology and try to move you to their new “improved” server for $40 per month.  They charge $90+ per year for a required SSL certificate while at SiteGround it’s free.  Don’t get me started…