Are you looking for a guide to building a WordPress website? If you are a beginner or looking to build a WordPress website, you have come to the right place. In this post, we are presenting you the guide to building a WordPress website. 

It might look overwhelming but, with WordPress, you do not have to be tech-savvy to build your website. 

WordPress is an easy-to-use and intuitive interface for building a website. From creating personal or lifestyle blogs to commercial and corporate websites, WordPress has solutions for all.

Follow this step-by-step guide and in 7 steps, you will be able to build your WordPress website. 

1. WordPress.com or WordPress.org

WordPress has two platforms, i.e., WordPress.com and WordPress.org. The key difference between them is that WordPress.com is a hosted site while WordPress.org is a self-hosted site. So how can you choose which one is better for you? 

If you are just looking to build personal websites or blogs, go for WordPress.com.  It is a popular choice among bloggers and students. Meanwhile, if you are looking to monetize your content, or build corporate or online stores, WordPress.org is the better option.  

WordPress.com has limited customization and plugin installation. However, the platform takes care of maintenance and security. WordPress.org on the other hand gives you access to full customization and plugins. In contrast, you will have to maintain, secure, and update your website. 

2. Pick web hosting and domain name

The next step is to pick the web host. Although WordPress is a free software, your website will not be available on the web without a web hosting service. 

WordPress.com manages web hosting for you and also comes with free domain name. Depending on the plan of your choice, you can also choose a custom domain. In the case of WordPress.org, you have to purchase the web host and create the domain. 

Web host like DreamHost includes free domain name. But you can also purchase domain names from sites like Google Domains and connect them to your web host. Bluehost, SiteGround, DreamHost, etc. are some of the best WordPress web hosts. 

3. Install WordPress

The next step is installing WordPress. After signing up, most of the top hosting services minimize the task of WordPress installation on your behalf. Likewise, you can also install WordPress manually. 

To install WordPress manually, first, you have to download WordPress. Then upload all the files to your domain folder and create a database. Direct your web browser to the domain, and follow the instructions displayed on the screen. 

After completing of WordPress setup, you can start with the customization of your website. 

4. Choose a WordPress theme

Our next step in the guide to building a WordPress website is choosing a WordPress theme. WordPress theme is a collection of files that includes graphics, style sheets, and code. A theme determines the look of your website. WordPress has a huge compilation of free and premium themes.

You can customize the appearance of your site with the help of themes. When you install WordPress, it comes with default themes. The default themes are very basic. 

Thus, if you want to upgrade your website design, you can install free or paid themes. 

Once you install a theme, you can start customizing it right away. However, to access the full customization features, you will have to purchase the premium themes. 

5. Create content for your website

It is now time to create content for your website. You can either create a post or a page. Posts are dynamic pages and are used to create articles, blog posts, and news. They are displayed in reverse chronological order where the recent post appears on the list’s top. Posts are used to publish content that you want to share with your audiences regularly. 

On the other hand, posts are contents that are static and contain timeless information. However, it does not mean that it is impossible to change the information at a later date. They can be updated. They are listed in the menu and are usually organized in a hierarchical structure.  

Decide whether you want a post or a page for your website’s homepage. 

6. Install essential plugins

Plugins are software that adds extended features and functions to your website. There is a plentiful selection of free and paid plugins in WordPress that can be easily installed. 

Since there is no shortage of different kinds of plugins, you might end up installing too many unnecessary ones. This can have the opposite effect and your website might end up getting slow. 

Therefore, only install plugins that are essential and add to your website’s advantage. Also, note that your host provider may already have several plugins installed. 

7. Optimize and market your website

The final step in our guide to building a WordPress website is the optimization and marketing of your website. You want visitors to frequent your website and have a positive experience. 

You should optimize your website so that it performs at top speed. If your website takes a longer time to load, the visitors will be annoyed. It makes for a bad customer experience. 

Similarly, market your website to attract target audiences. Just because you made your website does not mean that the audiences can find it straightaway on the web. Advertising plays a key role in gaining your website visibility and directing the right audiences to your website. 

Looking to master WordPress? Click here to read tips for WordPress that every webmaster should know!

Final Words

So this was our guide to building a WordPress website. We urge you to do your research as well before you start the process. It becomes quite a hassle to change elements halfway through. 

We hope you find our post useful. Do share your thoughts with us!