How to Make a Great WordPress Website
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems around, and with good reason. It’s easy to set up and use, and it provides a great platform for building a web presence.
However, despite all its benefits, WordPress has a few notable flaws that can make it less than ideal for certain situations. The fact is, WordPress is a bit like Microsoft Word in that it’s easy to use but not always the best tool for all tasks. The following are some of the things you should know about before you start using WordPress to build your website:
Why WordPress?
WordPress started off as a simple blogging platform, but it has since become so much more. It now provides a complete content management system that can host whatever you want and make your site available to the entire world. If you’re looking for a free content management system with a vibrant community, then WordPress is the perfect choice.
Blogs Vs. Websites
Blogs are still very much a part of WordPress, and it continues to evolve with the times. However, if you’re looking for a complete website that can stand on its own, then WordPress isn’t the best option. That said, for the sake of this comparison, let’s say you have a blog with a following of more than 3,000 people. You can use WordPress to easily set up a blog page for your site where you can write your posts. Since the demand for blogs is high and the cost of running one is relatively low, you may decide this is the best way to go. It’s also a great way to experiment with blogging before you invest in building a website.
No Coding Skills Required
Blogs can be created using an online tool called a content management system, or Cms for short. You don’t need to learn how to code in order to use one of these platforms, and it makes creating and editing blogs a whole lot easier. In fact, some Cms tools are even designed for non-techies, so you don’t have to worry about embarrassing errors creeping in. All you need is a good idea for a blog post and a little bit of writing skill.
Limited Functionality
While it’s a great tool for creating blogs, WordPress has its limitations. For example, it’s pretty basic when it comes to web analytics, and it doesn’t provide any features related to SEO optimizations or content marketing. If you want to set up your own analytics or find some affordable SEO tools, then you’re pretty much stuck with a traditional HTML website. On the other hand, a content-focused platform like HubSpot doesn’t require you to run after each detail as soon as it comes up, so you can spend your time doing what you do best—creating content and engaging with potential customers.
Choosing The Right Hosting Provider
As mentioned before, WordPress is quite flexible when it comes to the hosting service you use, but you should still consider a few key factors before making your decision. For starters, make sure your hosting provider is easily accessible and has a great reputation. Also, look for a host that offers the features you need and doesn’t charge extra for them. A highly recommended web host for WordPress sites is Bluehost, which can be accessed via a simple one-click installer. They offer a free trial, and during that time you can explore all the features and functionality and see how the platform works in practice. In addition to hosting, Bluehost also provides you with a free domain name and lets you connect various payment methods to your account, so you don’t have to worry about cash flow issues when launching your website.
Additional Considerations
Once you’ve decided to build a blog or website using WordPress, you need to take a few other factors into consideration. One important decision you need to make is whether you want to use WordPress.com or the free WordPress.org version. The main difference is that WordPress.com provides you with limited functionality (e.g., no custom themes, no plugins, etc.), while the free WordPress.org version provides you with all the functionality of the platform (including all the plugins and themes). If you’re just getting started, then the free version is the way to go. Another decision you need to make is whether you want to monetize your site. You can do this by either selling and displaying ads on your site or by offering your visitors valuable information in the form of affiliate marketing. The key point to keep in mind is that you need to make money from somewhere in order to maintain a successful site. If you don’t make any money, then your site will eventually become defunct. Finally, make sure you back up your site regularly. This is critical to prevent any disasters that might occur.
Hopefully, this article will help you decide whether WordPress is the right tool for you. From an easily accessible, free platform to hosting with the features you need, and one that doesn’t require any additional technical knowledge, there are a lot of perks to using WordPress for your website.