Step by Step Guide for Creating a WordPress Website
Creating a WordPress website today is easier than it used to be a decade ago. This is thanks to the large community that is there to help you every step of the way and the fact that the platform has been improved even for the beginners. In this post, we will be taking a look at the steps you should take to create your website from home. All that you will need is a domain name, WordPress hosting and at most 60 minutes of undivided attention.
Step one: pick a platform
The first step is picking the right website platform. A self-hosted WordPress.org will be a perfect choice for most users. This is because the platform comes with thousands of designs and add-ons that enable you to create a WordPress website with ease. It is also good to note that WordPress is free to download and use. However, you have to account for the cost of a domain name which basically costs around $14.99 per year. Hosting costs will also need to be considered. They are about $7.99 per month. Once you have purchased a domain name and hosting, you can go ahead and start working on your website.
Step two: install WordPress
To install WordPress, you will have to login to your hosting account. Here, you will find tons of platforms to pick from. Find ‘WordPress’ and install it. The install wizard will guide you through the installation process. Once the install is complete, you will be taken to the WordPress login URL. You can login using the admin and password you used during the installation.
Step three: pick a theme
How your website looks will be determined by the theme you install. There are so many paid and free WordPress themes for you to pick from. Installing them on your website will change how it looks. Don’t rely on the basic theme. Find a theme that impresses you and install it. The installed theme can be customized by clicking on Customize link which is under the Appearance menu.
Step four: add content
WordPress provides two content types: pages and posts. Posts are usually part of the blog and are in reverse-chronological order. Pages are static. They include about page, privacy policy, contact page and other pages your website might need. The default setting is that WordPress displays blog posts on the front page of the website. You can change this so that they show on another page. To add pages, you should go to Pages>>Add New. You can customize the page as much as you want.
Step five: install plugins
Plugins are like apps for your website. They help add features to your website such as galleries, contact forms and so on. There are over 49,000 free plugins available. You will find a plugin for just any function that you need. There are plugins for website optimization, security and a lot more.
These are the main steps you need to take to create a WordPress website. Everything is straightforward. However, to gain more, you have to keep learning more about WordPress.