ZPortals First Steps
In order to install the ZPortals plugin you need a WordPress installation. If you already use Wordpress, skip the below and proceed to setting up ZPortals.
Is your website built on WordPress?
- Yes: you can install the plugin directly into your website or you can choose to install it on a subdomain, in special cases (see below)
- No: you must install WordPress on a subdomain in order to install ZPortals
Domain vs Sub Domain
We often get this question on whether or not to put ZPortals on a domain or a sub domain. The honest answer is... it's a personal preference. There is no right or wrong way.
A few things to consider when making your choice:
Choose Domain if:
You want your portal on a completely different domain than your primary domain (ie. www.mywebsite.com and www.yourclientportal.com)
If your website is already built on Wordpress
Choose Sub Domain if:
Your main site is not on Wordpress, and you are not planning on moving your existing site.
Your main site is already large and you want a separate instance.
You want a dedicated place for your clients to login that is separate from your main site.
Cloud Hosted vs Self Hosted
After you choose your domain, your next choice is self hosted or cloud hosted.
Cloud Hosted:
Cloud hosted sites are fully managed by the company providing them, and can sometimes limit features. This is best for beginners who do not have a web designer on their team.
You can get a cloud hosted Wordpress site from:
Elementor Cloud (recommended)
Wordpress.com (Min. Business Plan)
Self Hosted:
Self hosted sites are free outside of the hosting plan you pay for. Depending on the hosting you choose, you may have to install Wordpress manually or via a One-Click App.
The benefit of self hosted is that you get more control over your Wordpress instance and the ability to move hosting companies without losing your entire site.
Some popular hosting companies are:
Site Ground
A2 Hosting
Hostinger
Hostgator
Bluehost
WPEngine
Liquid Web
If your hosting company uses cPanel look for Wordpress Manager, Wordpress or Wordpress Toolkit. You will then see a screen similar to this screenshot where you choose the domain or subdomain you plan on installing it on, setting your Site Name and Admin User, Password and Email.
If you use HPanel (Hostinger)
Related Articles
ZPortals License and Subscription Overview
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The ZPortals Dashboard is the first page users see by default. You can add various elements that include banner images, text, quick links and embedded content. Learn more about adding external elements in ZPortals. You can also create different ...Admin Dashboard Overview
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