DreamHost ACADEMY

Choosing a hosting service for your website can be a challenge. Plus, even after you decide on a host, there’s still the matter of signing up for an account and managing settings or installing applications. You might be wondering what to expect during that process.

Fortunately, signing up for our Unlimited Shared Hosting here at DreamHost is pretty painless. There are also some choices you’ll be able to make along the way, which will help you get your website online quickly and easily.

In this article, we’ll show you how to get your new Unlimited Shared Hosting plan set up. Additionally, we’ll explain how to install the handy WP Website Builder. Let’s jump right in!

Why You Should Add WP Site Builder to Your Unlimited Shared Hosting Plan

There are a lot of website hosting options available, and comparing all the fine print can get confusing. Our Unlimited Shared Hosting is pretty easy to understand, however.

True to its name, our highly-scalable Unlimited Shared plan comes with the following:

1. Websites. Install as many sites on your plan as you need.  
2. Email. Create unlimited email accounts using your domain name.
3. Traffic. Bring in as many visitors as you want, since this plan has no fees for bandwidth overages.

You’ll also have the option of adding WP Website Builder. This site builder brings flexible, drag-and-drop functionality to your website design process, in addition to a wide variety of professional WordPress themes.

With WP Website Builder, you’ll also be able to edit your site in a live front-end view, so you’ll know exactly what your changes will look like as you make them. Adding this site builder to your shared hosting plan can make creating a unique and stylish site a lot easier, so we highly recommend it.

How to Sign Up for a DreamHost Account (In 5 Steps)

Once you know what you want, you’ll only need to complete a few steps to create your hosting account. Let’s walk you through the setup process now.

Step 1: Choose Your Plan and Domain Name

From our Shared Hosting information page, click the Sign Up Now button under the Shared Unlimited plan banner to start the account creation process.

Next, you’ll have some decisions to make. You can choose from a monthly, yearly, or three-year plan for your hosting account. The longer you contract your plan for, the better the discount will be.

Additionally, you’ll decide at this point whether you want to choose your free domain name now or later. You can also move an existing domain name over to your new DreamHost account.

If you’re setting up a new domain name, you can select Register a new domain and search for the name you want.

After that, you’ll be ready to move on to setting up your payment information.

Step 2: Enter Your Payment Details

You’ll now need to enter your billing address and contact information. This is done through our secure checkout system, so you can purchase with the confidence that your personal data will be protected.

Next, you can choose which payment method you prefer to use for your account. We accept all major credit cards and PayPal, so you can select whatever is most convenient.

 

If you choose to use a credit card, click on the relevant card image, and the form you need will appear. Alternatively, if you select the PayPal option, you’ll be directed to complete the PayPal process when you check out and submit your account order.

Step 3: Assign Your Primary Account Email

The next item you’ll need to take care of is assigning your primary account email. You also have the option to sign up for your account using the convenient Sign Up with Google function. 

This is the email address you’ll use in order to receive important account information, so make sure it’s one you have easy access to.

Step 4: Opt for Automatic WordPress and WP Website Builder Installations

There are just a few other options you’ll want to review before completing your account setup. We recommend opting into our free pre-installation service for WordPress and our WP Website Builder option. You can do this by checking the relevant boxes in your shopping cart.

If you decide not to install WP Website Builder during checkout, you can enable it later through your web panel.

Step 5: Submit Your Order and Start Building

Once you’re satisfied with your selections, you can select Submit Order at the bottom of the shopping cart page.

Once the order is processed, you’ll receive an email containing links to your WordPress login page and instructions on how to access your admin dashboard. When you visit your website for the first time, you’ll be guided through the WP Website Builder start-up wizard so you can begin designing your new website right away.

Create Your Hosting Account

Getting a full picture of what to expect when creating your hosting account can help you proceed more confidently when starting a website. Fortunately, getting started with DreamHost is quick and easy if you keep these steps in mind:

1. Choose your plan and domain name.
2. Enter your payment details.
3. Assign your primary account email.
4. Opt for automatic WordPress and WP Website Builder installations.
5. Submit your order and start building.

Here at DreamHost, we offer the best WordPress hosting options and resources. Additionally, you can achieve that “wow” factor with your site’s design by installing WP Website Builder on your new Unlimited Shared hosting account!