How to Make a Website Like WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popular blogging platforms, and for good reason; it’s incredibly easy to use and gives you the basic building blocks to create a fully-functional website in no time. Even if you’re not a developer, you can still use WordPress to create and manage your blog; you just need to know a few tricks.
In this guide, we’ll discuss different ways in which you can use WordPress to create a quality website that looks and feels the same as the big blogs out there. So if you’ve ever considered creating a blog, this article is for you.
The Basics Behind WordPress
In a nutshell, WordPress is a content management system (CMS); it allows you to easily publish and update content on your website without having to worry about tech knowledge. WordPress is free and open-source, which means it is completely and legally accessible to anyone anywhere. This in turn makes it incredibly popular, as there’s no financial barrier to entry. You don’t necessarily need an existing website to use WordPress, as the platform also provides you with the tools to launch a blog from scratch.
One of the major differences between WordPress and other content management systems is that it is a self-hosted platform; this means you run and control the software from your own computer. WordPress also offers a variety of free hosting packages that allow you to launch your website quickly and easily. While you don’t need a web host to run a WordPress blog, choosing a reputable and affordable web host that offers WordPress as one of its supported platforms is ideal for beginner bloggers.
When you choose to self-host your WordPress blog, you also need to pick a domain name for your website. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a.com domain in order to drive significant traffic to your site. When choosing your domain name, make sure that it is easy to spell and memorable. Also, make sure that you register the domain name you choose before you use it, as you can’t update the DNS records for a.com domain once it’s been registered. Your web host will likely provide you with the tools to set up your WordPress blog with a.com domain name.
The Look And Feel Of WordPress Websites
Even though WordPress is a free and open-source platform, that doesn’t mean it lacks the ability to look and feel custom-made. In fact, there are several ways in which you can use the platform to create a unique and compelling website that looks and feels like you poured your heart and soul into it. Here are just a few tips and tricks on how to make the most of WordPress to achieve your desired results.
Pick A Theme That Suits Your Needs
WordPress comes with a boatload of themes that you can use to style your website. While it’s nice to have a diverse range of appearances to choose from, you should really go for a theme that suits your needs. Now, this isn’t to say that all WordPress themes are perfect for all websites; it’s up to you to find the one that best fits your needs. Fortunately, this is a very easy process, as all you need to do is search for the theme that matches your needs.
If you’re a blogger who plans to write about lifestyle, you might want to check out Shopify’s blog theme or Element’s magazine theme as a starting point. If you’re a photographer looking to showcase your work, you might want to check out Visual Composer or Element’s premium theme as a starting point. If you’re a business owner who wants to attract potential customers to your site, you might want to check out the Solstice or Element themes.
Use The Right Fonts And Color Scheme
Once you’ve picked out a theme that suits your needs, the next step is to use the correct fonts and color scheme. Just like with the theme, you should really go for something that suits your needs, but remember that your visitors come first above all else. If you’ve picked a theme that’s clean and simple with a no-frills look and feel, but you use Comic Sans for the font on your site, it’ll clash.
Now, it’s important not to choose a single font size and then use it on your site as it varies significantly from screen to screen, and person to person. If you’ve picked a theme with a large number of options, like Studio, then you can ensure that each individual element is customized for your audience.
Keep Things Organized
WordPress comes with a variety of tools that you can use to properly organize your content on your site. The most notable of these is the Visual Editor, which is basically a word processing interface designed for editing content. Instead of just using plain text for your posts, you can now use images, video, and other content types to create something unique and compelling.
For instance, if you’ve picked out a theme that’s focused on product photography, you can use the Visual Editor to shoot, edit, and share compelling product images with your audience. If you’re a food blogger, you can use the tool to curate and organize all the recipes you’ve tried and created, as well as the food images you’ve used to showcase them. If you use stock images often, the Visual Editor can help you find the image you need without having to search through a boatload of online sources.
Make Sure Your Site Is Secure
Last but not least, we need to talk about security. Now, you don’t necessarily need to go overboard and hire a full-time security guard to protect your site, but you should definitely choose a secure host for your WordPress site. This way, even if your site gets hacked, the damage will be minimal.
There are several reputable and affordable web hosts that support WordPress, such as Bluehost, which we’ll discuss in more detail later in this guide. Ensure that the host you choose is committed to providing a secure and stable environment for your WordPress site.
You can also use tools like Let’s Encrypt to automatically secure your site with SSL, which adds an extra level of protection.
Now, as you can see, there are several ways in which you can use WordPress to create and style a website. Just remember that the platform is extremely flexible and can be used to create almost anything a business owner could want. On that note, it is highly recommended to use a content management system like WordPress to create and maintain your site, as it makes adding and editing content a breeze. If you’ve ever considered creating a blog, now is the perfect time to do it, as you have access to a wide variety of themes and plugins that can help you build a compelling brand identity.