HostMonster Web Hosting Package

In case you had installed WordPress at Hostmonster via Fantastico, be aware the version available is quite outdated (WP 2.6.5). It seems that folks at HM is not updating scripts at Fantastico as often as they do for SimpleScripts.

What to do if your WordPress is installed with Fantastico?

For those who had WordPress installed via Fantatico, the fastest way to keep your WP blog updated is by switching your installation from Fantastico to SimpleScripts. There are several ways to migrate your installation from Fantastico to SimpleScripts and the old methods used to be tedious and very risky.

However things are improved by now as SimpleScripts provide a one-click switching utility at their control page. To start switching, simply login to your Hostmonster cPanel and get to SimpleScripts control page. Click on ‘WordPress’ and scroll down once you reach at the installation page for WordPress. You’ll see a link under the title ‘Convert a Fantastico installation’.

Click in and select the WordPress you wish to convert. Click convert to proceed and everything should be done in seconds. By the time your WordPress installation is converted from Fantastico to SimpleScripts, login back to your WordPress installation page at SimpleScripts for the updates.

The switching process is pretty simple but it takes a few more steps than the usual for a standard WordPress updates. In case you need help, please do not hesitate to post your questions here. I’ll try my best to help.

There are a few important consideration points when it comes to looking for a host for your blog. Personally, I would recommend you to check on these points:

Easy blogging platform installtion?

Good uptime record for the server?

Fast load time for the web server?

Why Fantastico or Simple Script is handy?

I want an easy installation for my blogging software (like Fantastico or Simple Script) beacuse it’s troublesome to install those blogging software (like WordPress) manually. I just want to blog and do not want any hassles from setting up databases in MySQL or configurating my PHP files.

Why good server uptime record is crucial?

Good uptime history is crucial so whenever my blog readers want to read my blog, they can come to my site anytime. Web surfers who visit a blog and found it’s unavailable will think the website is gone. In most cases, they will not come back to your blog again (if it’s the first time visit) and will probably delete your website from their bookmark. I do not want to lose any of my readers because of this stupid reason.

Why fast server load time is important?

I wish to work of my blog efficiently. A fast server load time will assure blogging work like setting up blog plugins, savings/publishing a blogpost, regrouping blog pages, or editing reader’s comments to be done quickly. Ideally, no time should be wasted on waiting the server to response.

Is Hostmonster recommended for blog hosting?

Hostmonster offers both Fantastico and Simple Script features; their server uptime is respectable in my record; the server load time is better than average – seeing such, the answer for the question is ‘YES’. Blog hosting at Hostmonster is recommended – especially if you are blogging on Word Press (both Fantastico and SImple Script offer one-click-installation on Word Press).

Hosting your own blog at HostMonster is easy and I’ll show you how right now. As most users are pretty new with the use of Simple Scripts, I’ll show the installation of WordPress blog via Simple Scripts.

Getting Started with Simple Scripts

First, get into Simple Scripts control panel and click on the WordPress installation button.

This will then lead you to a brief intro page on WordPress as well as available version in Simple Scripts. At the time of writing WordPress 2.5.1 is the latest version released. Click on “Install Now”.

Setting up your blog details

Moving on, you’ll come to a page where you need to type in some basic info for your to-be-installed blog. Basically what you need is to decide the folder in you wish to install your WordPress (leave blank if you wish to have your blog on your main page) and input your desired blog name.

Finishing your blog installation on HostMonster

Click “Complete” to finish the installation. The actual WordPress installation will be started and completed within seconds. Installation and login details will be sent to your email automatically.

And there, you’re done and ready to start posting on your blog. In case you need to review your installtion, details can be found at Simple Scipts control panel.

It’s just that easy!

As said, the overall installation process is really simple and you should really try hosting your blog on your own domain and web hosting. In case you’re running your blog on Blogspot or TypePad – you should really stop looking like an amatuer and have your own web host now.

Come’on, how much can you lose? A web hosting account at HostMonster only takes less than $7/mo and you’ll get unlimited disk storage space and bandwidth!