Want to build a website for you and your business but have no idea where to start? You came to the right place. Even though building a website can seem complicated and overwhelming, it can actually be broken down into just five simple steps. Using the WordPress platform enables you to create your website without the need for a web developer or web designer. The software on WordPress is incredibly easy to use, allowing anyone to successfully create a website.
In this article, we will break down step-by-step the entire process of creating a WordPress website and give you some tips and tricks to remember while doing it.
Table of Contents
Select a WordPress hosting plan
The first thing you will have to do is choose a hosting plan, preferably one that suits your needs and your budget well. The WordPress platform offers five hosting plans. However, you can also choose a hosting plan from other web hosting providers that are WordPress-approved. Nowadays, many hosting companies offer WordPress hosting packages with great features.
The hosting plan will provide you with features like storage, bandwidth, security, performance, reliability, plugins, themes, and everything else related to your WordPress site. It is good to know what you need before you start looking. The main differences between all hosting plans are the monthly fee, the types of site customization, and the access you get to their specialized tools. The average cost of a hosting plan for WordPress starts at around $3.95/month.
Domain name and email address registration
The next step is getting a domain name and email address. A domain name is the name of your website that the user types into the browser window to reach your website. On the other hand, an email address has the domain name within it plus the part of the address that comes after the @ symbol. WordPress does not offer domain and email address registration which means you will have to find a third-party hosting provider to register your website.
When choosing a domain name, make sure to get one that is easy to search and easy to find. If you have already purchased and created a domain name, you can easily transfer it to your WordPress website. If you want to simplify your process and not look for both a hosting provider and a domain name registrar, you can just find a hosting provider that will do both. There are a lot of hosting providers today that offer domain and email address services.
Install WordPress
Probably this is the easiest step in your journey of creating a website. If you are using a third-party hosting provider outside of WordPress, you will have to download the WordPress app to begin the installation. Once the app is installed, you will have to answer some questions about the domain you want to use, the directory where you want to install WordPress, and your admin information. About 24 hours later, your website will be installed on your hosting account. Then it is time to set up your primary domain within the WordPress platform so that when your visitors search your domain name, they see your website.
Choose your theme
Once you are done with the previous steps, you can start to customize your WordPress website with WordPress themes and templates. They all contain a multitude of layouts, formatting styles, colors, fonts, and other visual options. When you create your website, WordPress will give a default theme that you can keep or start editing and customizing to your liking. However, we highly recommend editing the default theme even a little bit just to make it your own.
The website will be the first impression your clients will get about you and your company so you want it to be appealing and professional. WordPress has hundreds of themes and templates for multiple different business types to choose from. So we are you can find one that will work for your specific needs.
Add content to your website
The WordPress content is displayed in 2 forms, either in posts or in pages. WordPress posts are usually for websites like blogs or portfolios because they automatically place the newest content at the top of your featured content. WordPress pages, on the other hand, are static since the added content stays in the same place you put it.
The pages on WordPress are the more recommended option for company websites. You will have to make a decision on which form you want to use. When you are adding content, you will have to add a title for your post, place photos, change the format, and insert page elements. You can save your draft or publish it immediately. You can preview your posts before publishing them and go back to re-edit if you are not satisfied.
Conclusion
Building a website with WordPress is something anyone can do if they are willing to spend some time researching and practicing. It is a task that does require time but if you are passionate about creating a website on your own, it shouldn’t be a problem. We wish you luck!