In this article, we will discuss how to make a WordPress website. It is not so difficult. Many people have no idea that almost 60% of websites on the Internet are made on WordPress. This means more than half of the websites are active using WordPress.
Why do those people choose WordPress as their CMS? If you are a beginner and you want to have a WordPress website, first you must know what WordPress is and why it is used.
Advantages of making a WordPress website:
- Low investment and ongoing cost as WordPress itself is totally free.
- It is highly suitable for various types of websites, such as e-commerce, blogs, and portfolios.
- It is very easy to manage and simple to use.
- User-friendly interface for content management.
How to make a WordPress website?
To make a WordPress website, you must read the following step-by-step guidance. By reading this article, you get an idea about how to make a WordPress website.
Choose a domain name and hosting provider:
Domain name: The domain name is your website address on the internet (i.e., www.example.com). It would be best if you chose a domain that is related to your website. For more detailed information, you can read this.
Hosting provider: You have to choose a hosting. Hosting is where you store your website, files, images, and overall data. You should always choose the best hosting platform. We will discuss the best hosting provider platform later.
Install WordPress:
Secondly, you have to install the WordPress on your computer. You can install it manually from the WordPress.org website or many hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation that is also easy to manage.
Besides this, if you are using a hosting platform that doesn’t allow one-click WordPress installation, then you have to go for manual installation of WordPress.
For more details, read here: How to install WordPress on a local host in Xampp?
To install WordPress, you can click below:
Choose a WordPress theme:
When you successfully install WordPress and log into your WordPress back-end panel or dashboard. If you don’t know how to add themes to your WordPress websites.
For more details, read here: How to add themes in WordPress.
You should always choose the best WordPress theme for your website. Your theme determines the appearance of your website. A website with a good appearance is better able to attract more visitors. There are so many free themes on WordPress; you can use any of them. While choosing your theme, you should keep in mind some factors such as responsiveness, customization options, and speed.
Website Customization:
In the process of how to make a WordPress website, after selecting a suitable theme for your website, now its time to do customization. You have to completely customize the appearance, pages and posts, menus, and widgets.
Appearance: You can customize colors, fonts, and layouts in your WordPress website. For more customization, you can use any page builder like Elementor.
Pages and posts: Now you can create multiple pages according to your needs and user guidance. You can create a privacy policy page, terms and conditions, and about and contact pages.
Menu: You can customize and organize your website’s navigation using the menu in the WordPress dashboard. You can add your menus in the header and footer.
Widgets: Add sidebars and footers with widgets like the primary menu, location, social media links, and your address.
Plugin Installation:
You should add plugins to extend your website’s functionality. because plugins extend your website’s functionality and SEO. You can add any plugin to your website from your WordPress dashboard. It is a very simple and easy process to add plugins to your website. As a beginner, if you have no idea how to add plugins, then you can read this article
You may find so many plugins in WordPress, but that does not mean that you should add all of those plugins; add only essential plugins because too many plugins can slow down your website, lower page speed, and affect user experiences.
That’s why you should add plugins carefully and add only the best plugins that your website needs. Some essential plugins are:
- Yoast SEO
- Akismet Anti-Spam
- UpdraftPlus
- Contact Form
- Google Sitekit
Add Content:
Text content: Now, write engaging content for your pages and your posts. You can write your main keyword-rich content that will be helpful for your website’s SEO.
Images and Media: Add images, videos, and other media to enhance your content and good appearance to attract more visitors.
Test and launch:
Test Thoroughly: Check your website on different devices (e.g., computer, tab, and mobile) and browsers.
Launch: When your website is complete, then it’s time to launch your website. Make your website live by updating your domain name’s DNS settings to point to your hosting provider.
Features of WordPress:
Features | Description |
Easy to use | It is very easy to use due to its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality. |
Fully customizable | There are thousands of themes and plugins available to personalize your website. |
SEO -friendly | Built-in SEO tools to improve your website’s search engine ranking. |
Large Community | large community for support and resources |
Secure | Regular security updates to protect your website |
Pros and Cons of a WordPress Website:
Pros:
- User- friendly
- Highly customizable
- Large community
- SEO- friendly
- Cost-effective
- Responsive design
- Regular updates
- E-commerce capabilities
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Requires updates and security measures
- Slow down with many plugins and heavy themes.
- May be dependent on the plugins
Tips while making a WordPress website:
What to Consider:
- Choose the best and most reliable hosting provider.
- Always select a responsive and fast theme that is easy to customize
- Use only necessary plugins
- Compress images to reduce load time
- Backup your website regularly
- Always keep WordPress updated
- Use tools to track your website’s performance.
What to Avoid:
- Avoid using so many plugins. This may affect your website’s performance.
- Never ignore any update
- Neglecting SEO practices
- Poor image optimization
- Ignoring user experience
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is WordPress free?
Yes, WordPress itself is totally free. However, you have to pay for a domain, hosting, premium themes, and plugins.
Do I need to know coding to use WordPress?
No, WordPress does not require coding knowledge. But if you want to create a plugin by yourself or manually customize a theme, then you need coding experience
How often should I update WordPress?
You should regularly check your WordPress dashboard; if there are any required updates, then you must update your WordPress.
What is a WordPress theme?
A theme controls the overall look and feel of your website and makes your website more attractive and eye-catching.