How to Make a Website in WordPress?
There is no doubt that WordPress has become the world’s #1 content management system. More and more websites are being built on the powerful platform because of its simplicity and flexibility. What is more, with the release of WordPress 5.0 this April, developers got some long-awaited upgrades which make the platform even more reliable and secure.
If you’re looking to create your own website or just want to understand what all the fuss is about, this article is for you. Here we will teach you step-by-step how to make a WordPress website.
Step 1. Decide what you want your website to be about
The first and most critical step to building a successful website is to decide what kind of content you want to put on it. Are you planning to share your travel adventures or do you want to focus on your family life? What is the main point of your website?
If you’re not sure, take some time to think about it. Consider all the possible topics you could write about and make a list of them. You can also ask colleagues or family members for suggestions.
Step 2. Choose a WordPress theme
Once you have a general idea of what your website will be about, it’s time to pick a WordPress theme. A WordPress theme is an interface that allows you to design your website as you see it in your head. Each theme comes with its pros and cons, so you need to carefully consider which one is the best for your needs. In addition to that, you also need to decide whether you want a free or a premium theme.
There are many reasons why you might want to go with a premium theme instead of a free one. You can learn more about the differences between the two types of themes here. In case you miss the opportunity to choose a premium theme, don’t worry: there are hundreds of free WordPress themes available online that you can use.
Step 3. Set up your website with a domain name
As we mentioned above, a WordPress website can be easily accessed via a domain name (also known as a web address or URL). A domain name is like an email address: it will make it easier for people to find and connect with your content. You can choose from a variety of premium domain extensions to create a unique and memorable brand for your website (e.g..net,.org, or.biz).
In case you don’t own a domain name yet, don’t worry: you can purchase one from a reputable company like Bluehost or One Domain. In order to set up a WordPress website with a domain name, you need to visit the company’s website and select the appropriate offer. The purchase process is straightforward and the installation is simply a matter of following the on-screen instructions.
Step 4. Install WordPress
Once you have set up your website with a domain name and chosen a WordPress theme, it’s time to install WordPress on your server. If you’re new to this, take a few minutes to watch this short video to get an idea of how to install WordPress on a server.
Installing WordPress is very easy. All you need is a FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client such as the one found in most web browsers or a dedicated FTP server. Simply log in to your server via SSH (Secure Shell) and then change directories to where you downloaded the WordPress archive.
Once in the WordPress directory, you can issue the installation command:
php wp-cli setup
This will prompt you to enter a database password. Make sure you use a secure password that only you know and that is at least 8 characters long. A WordPress database stores your site’s content and settings. If you use a secure password, this will make it harder for hackers to break into your site and steal your content. Once you enter the password, you will be taken to an overview page of the WordPress setup process.
Step 5. Customize your website
Once you finished installing WordPress, it’s time to start customizing your website. This is where you will enter all the content for your website. It begins with the appearance of your blog or website which is controlled by the design of your theme. From there, you can easily navigate to the different parts of your site: About, Services, Blog, etc. If you ever get stuck, there is a community of WordPress users ready to help you via live chat or email.
You can add a contact form to your website so that interested parties can get in touch with you. You can use a service like Contact Form 7 to make it incredibly easy to add a contact form to your WordPress site.
Step 6. Test your website
Once you finished adding content and setting up your contact form, it’s time to test your website. Simply enter some content (e.g. blog posts, images, etc.) and then hit the preview button.
If everything went well, you should see a preview of your blog or website with the content you entered. If some parts of your content are cut off or missing, that is most likely due to the way your browser displays media. In case you don’t see anything at all, make sure you clear your browser’s cache and refresh the page.
Step 7. Post regularly
Now that you have a basic understanding of how to make a WordPress website, it’s time to put it to practice. One of the best things about WordPress is how easy it is to use and how accessible it makes an online presence. If you want to establish yourself as an expert in your field, consider using WordPress as a means of providing free content to draw visitors to your site. In order to do that, you need to consistently put out new content which is valuable and interesting to your target audience. In case you’re looking for inspiration, explore some of the many successful blogs out there that use WordPress as their platform.