HostGator is regularly recommended for website hosting and as it offers Linux based shared hosting you would think that HostGator and WordPress would work well together.

Actually it is a mistake to think that any Linux hosting is good for WordPress powered sites but in this case it is true to say that HostGator and WordPress are a good fit. Many people do use HostGator for WordPress sites both personal and commercial.

HostGator are well known for their customer support but this should not be needed to install WordPress. It is a simple process that does not need any technical knowledge. To set-up a WordPress site on HostGator the process is:

Select a domain name - at the time of writing I would recommend registering this with GoDaddy.com or Cheapnames.com because Hostgator's service is somewhat limited but this is set to change during 2011 as they move into domain registration.

Join Hostgator - Simply visit the web site and select your package. You get the best price by signing up for three years but you can choose to simply pay monthly. There is no contract so you can cancel at any time. You will probably get a discount using a coupon code (see links at bottom of this article) but this will only apply to the initial invoice, renewals are charged at the standard rates.

DNS configuration - Hostgator will send you an email after you have signed up giving you various information you need. One item will be the Nameserver addresses. These should be entered against your domain name on your registrar's website.

Go in HostGator's cPanel (again see the email) - Find the "Software/Services" section and open Fantasico De Luxe. In the left hand column you will see "WordPress". Clicking this will bring up the WordPress menu in the center column and "New Installation" should be selected. Complete the next screen as follows:

• Install on Domain: your domain name should already be shown.

• Install in Directory: can be left blank.

• Administrator User Name: Use anything other than "Admin".

• Administrator Password: Use a strong password from the outset.

• Base Configuration: Put something in these fields but the data can be changed later when you see how it is used.

You can now select 'Install WordPress' and on the following page 'Finish Installation'. You will now see confirmation of the WordPress installation with the login details. There is an option to email these to yourself and I would recommend that you do so.

Log into Wordpress - you can now start configuring your site. This involves installing a theme, selecting a layout, installing plugins and adjusting the WordPress setup to suit your needs. If you are not familiar with WordPress you can download some training videos free (see links below).

As you will see it is very easy to set-up WordPress with Hostgator and you can have your site up and running in no time.