Checklist and steps for setting up a Wordpress site:

   1. Purchase domain name from namecheap.com
   2. Set up domain on hosting (create an add-on domain on Hostmonster)
   3. Install Wordpress (Download from wordpress.org and install)
   4. Upload robots.txt file (in Files tab)
   5. Configure Wordpress (refer to "To do list below")
   6. Do a 301 redirect from non www to www (.htaccess example is in the Files tab)
   7. Set up mailing list (via Aweber) - create a new mailing list for this new domain name

TO DO LIST FOR Wordpress:

Simply log into the admin area and setup the following:

    * Plugins - Activate Akismet
    * Plugins - Activate Contact Form http://chip.cuccio.us/projects/contact-form-ii/
    * Plugins - Activate Exex-PHP http://bluesome.net/post/2005/08/18/50/
    * Plugins - Activate Feed Control
    * Plugins - Activate Full Text Feed http://cavemonkey50.com/code/full-feed/
    * Plugins - Activate Google Analytics
    * Plugins - Activate Google Sitemaps
    * Plugins - Activate Permalink Redirect http://fucoder.com/code/permalink-redirect/
    * Plugins - Activate Singular
    * Plugins - Activate Wordpress Database Backup
    * Plugins - Activate Wordpress Hashcash
    * Plugins - Activate dd sitemap plugin - http://www.dagondesign.com/articles/sitemap-generator- plugin-for-wordpress/ create a page called "Sitemap" and put into it and then link to that page in your footer nav
    * Plugins - Deactivate all the rest of the plugins
    * Plugins - install Custom Query String plugin http://www.transycan.net/blogtest/download-themes/
    * Presentation - Turn off ALL widgets
    * Presentation - Change Font to Verdana, Small
    * Presentation - Footer - Uncheck "Kudos to WordPress, Semiologic and the skin author"
    * Presentation - Pick a layout you like. I do Wide with "Main, Ext Sidebar"
    * Presentation - Menus - Only Home in the header
    * Presentation - Menus - No Sidebar Menus
    * Presentation - Menus - Add these footer menu's: Contact - /contact RSS - /feed Sitemap - /sitemap.xml Privacy - /privacy-policy
    * Presentation - SEO - Add title, keywords, description
    * Options - General - Let Anyone Comment
    * Options - Writing - Set up your ping list (mine is available in the Files tab)
    * Options - Discussion - Check: Attempt to notify, Allow Link notifications, Allow people to post, Comment Author must fill out name and email
    * Options - Permalinks - Custom Structure /%postname%.php This is where the .htaccess file in the Files tab comes in handy. If wordpress has problems, just upload that file to your base website directory
    * Options - Feed Control - Include Posts, Pages, and sort by modified date
    * Options - Google Analytics - Paste in your google analytics code (this is a good time to sign up for google analytics if you haven't already).
    * Categories - create one category for your default posts (always put stuff into this category)
    * Options - CQS - Add an "is_category" and set it to -1 (this will show links to all posts in all categories on the category pages)