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When it comes to starting a new website, the best development platform is WordPress. Fumbling with complex coding languages and technical jargon can be frustrating and time-consuming. But WordPress offers a simple solution to build a stunning website without any coding knowledge.
So through this blog, I’ll tell you how the WordPress development experts create a new website and how the beginners can also do it in hours if not minutes. Let’s get straight into it.
Key Stages of WordPress Beginners Guide
Let’s look at what you will need to take care of when trying to start a website with WordPress.
Domain Name & Hosting
Your domain name is your website’s online address. Choosing the right domain name and reliable hosting provider is the foundation of your digital presence.
WordPress Installation
Installing WordPress is like building the framework of your website. It’s a simple process that will set the stage for your online venture.
Theme Selection
Your website’s theme is its personality. Choosing the right theme can significantly impact your site’s look and feel, attracting and engaging your audience.
Plugin Installation
Plugins are like power-ups for your WordPress website. They can add a wide range of features and functionalities, from improving SEO to enhancing security.
Pages & Posts
Pages and posts are the building blocks of your website’s content. Learn how to create and organize your content effectively to provide a seamless user experience.
SEO Optimization
SEO is the art of making your website visible to search engines. By optimizing your content, you can attract more organic traffic and increase your online visibility.
Site Launch
Launching your website is the culmination of your hard work. With a few final checks, you’re ready to share your digital creation with the world.
These are just a few of the key tasks taken care of by the best WordPress development services when starting a website. I’ll tell you how you, as a beginner, will start the website with ease.
How to Choose a Domain Name and Hosting?
Let’s assume you have decided to go for the free, beginner-friendly WordPress (by default WordPress.org). Then the first thing you will have to do is to choose a WordPress hosting (not included in WordPress). And of course, you will have to choose a domain name that will serve as the foundation of your branding.
Choosing a Domain Name
- Keep it Simple and Memorable: A short, easy-to-remember domain name is ideal.
- Relevance: Ensure the domain name is relevant to your website’s topic or brand.
- Avoid Hyphens and Numbers: These can make your domain name harder to remember.
- Check for Availability: Use a domain registrar to check if your desired domain is available.
- Consider Domain Extensions: While .com is popular, other extensions like .net, .org, or country-specific extensions can also be effective.
Choose a Hosting Provider
- Shared Hosting: Suitable for most beginners, shared hosting involves sharing server resources with other websites. It’s cost-effective but may have limitations on performance and customization.
- VPS Hosting: VPS hosting Offers more control and resources than shared hosting, making it ideal for growing websites.
- Managed WordPress Hosting: Managed hosting provides complete control over the server, but it’s more expensive and requires technical expertise.
- Dedicated WordPress Hosting: Specifically optimized for WordPress, these hosting providers offer easy installation, automatic updates, and enhanced security.
Some of the best WordPress hosting providers are Hostinger, WP Engine, Bluehost, WPMU DEV, etc. Make sure to consider factors like uptime reliability, storage and bandwidth, security, and support.
Next is the WordPress installation.
How to Install WordPress?
There are two ways to install WordPress. You can either go about the manual installation process or opt for one-click installation offered by some hosting providers.
First, the manual process.
Step 1: Visit the official WordPress website and download the latest version.
Step 2: Use an FTP client to upload the downloaded files to your hosting server’s public_html directory.
Step 3: Set up a MySQL database in your hosting cPanel.
Step 4: Access your domain in a web browser. This will initiate the WordPress installation process.
Step 5: Enter the database name, username, password, and hostname provided by your hosting provider.
Step 6: Provide your site’s title, admin username, password, and email address.
Step 7: Click “Install WordPress” to finish the process.
Some of the best WordPress hosting services also offer one-click installation, making the process incredibly easy. You’ll get a thorough guide with the process where you will only need to enter the domain name, database details, and admin username and password. Then you will click “Install” and wait for the process to finish.
Want help with creating your WordPress website?
How to Install a WordPress Theme?
Themes make it easier to customize the design of your WordPress website. You can get the theme from the official repository or a third-party marketplace. Where you get it will dictate the theme installation process.
Through the Official WordPress Repository
Step 1: Log in to Your WordPress admin Dashboard. Access your website’s admin area.
Step 2: Navigate to Appearance > Themes. This will take you to the Themes page.
Step 3: Click the “Add New” button to add a new theme.
Step 4: Search for a Theme that suits your needs.
Step 5: Once you’ve found a theme, click the “Install” button, followed by “Activate.”
Through a Third-party Marketplace
Step 1: Visit the website and download the ZIP file of the theme.
Step 2: Navigate to Appearance > Theme and click “Add New”.
Step 3: Click the “Upload Theme” button and select the ZIP file for the theme.
Step 4: After the file is uploaded, click “Install Now”, followed by “Activate”.
Although themes from the repository tend to be more compatible, third-party premium themes can be more advanced in terms of customizations. That’s why you need to consider both the free and premium themes before making your choice.
How to Install a WordPress Plugin?
WordPress plugins are tools that extend the functionality of your website. They can add features like contact forms, SEO optimization, and eCommerce capabilities. Just like the themes, you can install WordPress plugins in two different ways.
Through the Official WordPress Repository
Step 1: Log into the WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
Step 2: Then, click “Add New” and choose the best plugin. Here’s an example.
Step 3: Use the search bar to find a plugin that suits your needs. You can filter by features, popularity, or author.
Step 4: Once you find a plugin, click the “Install Now” button, followed by the “Activate” button.
Through a Third-party Site
Step 1: Download the plugin’s ZIP file from the plugin’s official website or a reliable source.
Step 2: Access the WordPress admin area and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
Step 3: Click the “Upload Plugin” button and select the downloaded ZIP file.
Step 4: Once uploaded, activate the plugin.
There are some plugins that every website should have right at the beginning of the operations.
Key Plugins for WordPress Websites
Here are a few of the best plugins for every website, no matter the size or domain.
- Yoast SEO: This powerful plugin helps you optimize your content for better search engine rankings, improve readability, and attract more organic traffic.
- Jetpack: This all-in-one solution offers a wide range of features, including security, performance optimization, marketing tools, and more, making it a must-have for any WordPress user.
- Akismet Anti-Spam: Protect your website from spam comments and trackbacks with Akismet Anti-Spam. This reliable plugin automatically filters out spam, saving you time and effort.
- WP Super Cache: This caching plugin improves performance by generating static HTML files, reducing server load and enhancing user experience.
- OptinMonster: This powerful lead generation tool helps you create high-converting opt-in forms, popups, and other engagement tools to grow your audience.
You can also get our WordPress plugin development services for more elaborate feature customizations. But that comes at a later stage. Right now, focus on getting your site up and running.
How to Create Pages & Posts in WordPress?
Pages and Posts are the fundamental building blocks of your WordPress website. Understanding the difference between the two is crucial for effective content organization.
How to Create a WordPress Page?
Step 1: Log into Your WordPress Dashboard: Access your website’s admin area.
Step 2: Navigate to Pages > Add New: This will open the page editor.
Step 3: Add Your Content: Use the editor to add your desired text, images, and other media.
Step 4: Set the Page Title and Slug: The title will appear in the browser tab and the slug will be part of the page’s URL.
Step 5: Publish or Save Draft: Click the “Publish” button to make the page live or “Save Draft” to save it for later.
How to Create a WordPress Post?
Step 1: Log into Your WordPress admin area.
Step 2: Navigate to Posts > Add New. This will open the post editor.
Step 3: Use the editor to add your desired text, images, and other media.
Step 4: Set the Post Title and Slug. The title will appear in the browser tab and the slug will be part of the post’s URL.
Step 5: Add Categories and Tags to your post.
Step 6: Click the “Publish” button to make the post live or “Save Draft” to save it for later.
The visual editor makes it easy to format your content without any coding knowledge. Make sure you insert images, videos, and other media to make the content on pages and posts more engaging.
How to Optimize the WordPress Website for SEO?
This part of the website development and maintenance is to ensure it is presented when someone tries to search for products or services similar to yours. To that end, there are some key WordPress SEO undertakings to handle.
- Keyword Research and Optimization: Identify relevant keywords for your target audience and strategically incorporate them into your website’s title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and content.
- High-quality Content: Create informative, engaging, and well-structured content that provides value to your readers. Optimize your content for readability and search engine friendliness.
- Technical SEO: Ensure your website is technically sound by optimizing website speed, mobile-friendliness, XML and HTML sitemaps, and robots.txt.
- Link Building: Build high-quality backlinks from reputable websites to improve your website’s authority and search engine rankings.
- Track and Analyze: Use Google Analytics and other tools to monitor your website’s performance, track keyword rankings, and measure the impact of your SEO efforts.
For this part of the process, you can also consult with skilled SEO experts to ensure the best results.
How to Launch the WordPress Website?
Once you’ve built and optimized your WordPress website, it’s time to launch it to the world. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth launch:
- Review Content: Double-check all your pages, posts, and images for accuracy and consistency.
- Test Functionality: Ensure all links, forms, and plugins are working correctly.
- Check Mobile Responsiveness: Make sure your website looks and functions well on different devices.
- Adjust Search Engine Visibility: Choose the appropriate settings based on your preferences. If you’re ready to be indexed, uncheck “Discourage search engines from indexing this site”.
- Enable HTTPS: Switch your website to use HTTPS to enhance security and improve SEO.
- Check All Pages and Posts: Ensure everything is displaying correctly.
- Remove Maintenance Mode (if enabled): If you were using a maintenance mode plugin, disable it.
After doing all this, your website is ready to be shared with the world. Go ahead and start promoting it through social media, email newsletters, and other channels.
But that’s not it. Now, you need to continuously work on ensuring the best performance and security. For that, the best way forward is to hire our WordPress website maintenance packages.
Need expert assistance with your WordPress project?
FAQs on WordPress for Beginners
So What’s the Verdict for Beginners?
WordPress is an outstanding platform for building high-quality websites with ease. Its user-friendly interface and vast ecosystem of themes and plugins make it accessible to everyone.
Remember, the key to a successful WordPress website is consistent effort and a willingness to learn. As you gain experience, you’ll discover new techniques and strategies to enhance your website’s performance and user experience.
But if you want more advanced development and customizations, consider hiring our WordPress professionals today!
