How to Begin Building Your Website Using WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used globally, especially in Europe and North America. Its popularity is no surprise as it is very easy to use and there are literally thousands of themes and plugins available to make any type of website look completely unique.
When deciding to build a website, whether it is for personal or commercial reasons, you will most likely end up choosing WordPress. It is also one of the more flexible and scalable CMS’s available, which means that you can easily add more content or functionality to your website without having to start from scratch.
Why Should You Use WordPress For Your Site?
When choosing a CMS for your site, you will have to consider a variety of factors such as your needs, the technical capabilities of your web host, and of course your budget.
For those looking for a free alternative to WordPress, Joomla! may be a good choice. However, if your website requires more complex features or you need to host it yourself, there are a variety of CMS’s that you can choose from that are better suited to your needs.
How Do I Begin Building My Website Using WordPress?
The first step to creating a website is to choose a domain name and hosting service. Next, you will want to download and install WordPress to your computer. Once installed, you can use the tool, the WordPress dashboard, to manage all of the content and functions of your website. For those looking to learn more, WordPress has created an entire Getting Started guide to help walk you through the steps to create your very own website.
What Platform Should My Website Be Built On?
Now that you have WordPress installed on your computer, it is time to consider what kind of platform you will use to build your website. There are two basic options: using the WordPress dashboard or building from the ground up. For those looking for a simple and easy to use CMS, WordPress.com is a great choice as it provides all of the features you need to create and manage a basic website. For larger enterprises, who might need specialized features or greater scalability, you should consider building from scratch.
What Is Content Management Systems (CMS)?
If you are not familiar with CMS, they are software programs that allow you to create and modify the content of a website without needing to touch a line of code. WordPress is just one example of a CMS, but there are dozens of these tools available. The benefit of using a CMS is that you can simply change the content on one page and have it automatically updated on all other pages and posts within the site.
Do I Need A Website?
If you are looking to grow your business or want to establish yourself as an expert in your industry, you might consider creating a website for yourself. However, you should not feel that you have to as there are hundreds of other reasons why a website might be useful. If you are looking for a simple, cost-effective way to communicate with potential customers, create a blog for yourself. Or, if you want to quickly and easily find the information you need, perform a simple internet search and you will surely find the answer you are looking for.
Where Do I Go From Here?
Once you have built your basic website using WordPress, the next step is to find themes and plugins that will allow you to change the appearance of your site. The more you can do with the appearance of your site, the more you can engage your visitors and make them feel as though your website is a reflection of their interests and needs. The more you can do with the appearance of your site, the more you can engage your visitors and make them feel as though your website is a reflection of their interests and needs.
Choosing a WordPress theme is relatively easy. You just have to make sure that it is functional and responsive, which means that it will look good on any device, whether it is a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Once you have found a theme you like, you can use the tool, WordPress Customizer, to make small adjustments to the design, such as the colors, fonts, and layout.
What About Security?
In today’s world, everyone, including businesses, want to be as safe as possible when it comes to their online activities. When it comes to your website, this means ensuring that no one can tamper with the content or functionality of your website. Fortunately, WordPress provides you with many options when it comes to securing your site. You can use a free plugin, such as the one from WordPress itself, or you can use a premium plugin, such as the well-known Better WP Security.
Summary
If you are looking for a free and easy to use CMS, WordPress is a great choice. It is also one of the most popular CMS’s globally, which means there are many online resources that you can use to learn more about it. If you already have a basic understanding of WordPress and are looking to expand your knowledge, the WordPress Bloggers Handbook provides you with the information you need to begin building your own website using WordPress.