How to Build a WordPress Website: What You Need to Know
Whether you are a seasoned professional or a budding entrepreneur, building a website is a project that you are bound to embark on at some point in your career. Launching a website means taking the step into the great unknown, and you need to be prepared to learn and grow from the process.
Whether you are building a blog or a custom e-commerce store, getting started can be challenging. Knowing where to begin can feel overwhelming, and you can quickly lose faith if you do not receive the results you are looking for. If you’re new to the process, hopefully, this guide will assist you in taking the first steps towards publishing your work on the web and improve your chances of succeeding.
Why WordPress?
WordPress is the market leader when it comes to website creation platforms, and with good reason. With millions of active users and a staggering number of available add-ons and themes, it is the perfect choice for anyone who is looking to launch a website.
What’s more, the open source platform is extremely flexible and can be altered to suit your needs. All you need to do is log in to your WordPress account and you can begin making changes. If you are looking to build a fully functioning e-commerce store or blog, the versatility of WordPress shines through.
The Essentials
Aside from the fact that WordPress is the perfect choice for beginners, it also happens to be one of the easiest and most convenient options available. For those looking to build a portfolio website or blog, WordPress is a no-brainer. Not only do you get a free web host, but you can install the software in less than ten minutes and start building your site. Simply log in to the WordPress dashboard and click the ‘Create new site’ button to get started.
Once you’ve launched your WordPress site, you can use the WPSitePro plugin to manage all of your sites from a single location. This is especially useful for small businesses and solopreneurs who run several sites.
The Advancements
What impresses me about WordPress is its pace of development. WordPress is always looking for ways to make your experience as a user better, and with tens of thousands of active contributors and regular updates, it is always moving forward. As a user, you will never be left in the dark when it comes to future improvements and upgrades. Additionally, the WordPress community is always looking for ways to further improve the software and make the process of creating a website simpler and more streamlined. For example, the Jetpack plugin adds many features to WordPress including A/B testing, post thumbnail editing, and live traffic monitoring.
When you are building your site, WordPress gives you the option of selecting a content delivery network (CDN) to improve load times and provide faster, safer access to your content for your readers. With the majority of web traffic now coming from mobile devices, the need to improve site load speeds and create a better user experience has never been greater. With a CDN, the performance of your site will be bound to improve, and you can rest assured that any issues that arise will be addressed quickly and professionally.
Where to Begin?
In the spirit of taking the first step, you are invited to download the free WordPress starter kit from the official website. When you do, you will be provided with a variety of useful tools that will assist you in creating a professional looking website in no time.
When you are ready to begin building your site, you can use the provided tools to get the ball rolling. From there, you can use the step-by-step wizard to guide you through the process. Simply follow the on-screen instructions and you will be up and running in no time with a fully functioning WordPress site.
Build A Successful Website
WordPress was not built in a day, and neither will your website. Just because you launched a WordPress site does not mean it will automatically become a successful one. You need to continue to work hard and utilize the various tools provided to maximize its potential.
As a user, you are always free to install add-ons and themes from the WordPress.org site, and if you are looking for inspiration on what to change or add to your site, you can browse the online catalog for existing themes and plugins. Alternatively, you can use the theme generator to launch a fully customized theme in under ten minutes.
Conclusion
WordPress is a proven and reliable platform for website creation, and for those looking to build a successful business, it is the perfect choice. Beginners will appreciate the simplicity of using WordPress, and advanced users can take advantage of the powerful tools within.