What is Needed to Build and Launch a WordPress Website

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) out there, and for good reason. Its free and open source, which means you can download and use it to build your own website at no cost. For those who don’t know, a CMS allows you to effortlessly publish content (e.g., articles, photos, etc.) to your site, and manages all of the technical details such as the appearance of the site (the “skin”), as well as its functionality. In this article, we’ll discuss the essentials needed to launch a WordPress website.

Web Hosting

One of the most essential elements to consider when launching a WordPress website is web hosting. Without it, you can’t publish any content to your site without getting a server error. That being said, web hosting is quite possibly the most expensive element of web development—apart from paying for the software itself—so make sure you’re committed to the platform and are sure you can afford it. Fortunately, there are several affordable web hosting providers that can be accessed from the comfort of your own home or office, with the choice largely coming down to personal preferences and what you need out of a web hosting provider. Some of the major considerations when choosing a web host include:

  • Price
  • Account type (free vs. premium)
  • Dedicated IP
  • Bandwidth
  • Pricing
  • Operating system (Windows vs. Linux)
  • Disk space
  • Email support
  • Feature-rich

For the best prices, go with a managed hosting service like Hepsia, which is optimized for WordPress and is very easy to use. You’ll also get a free domain name and you can install 1 website on the server at no cost. If price is not a major concern for you, then take a look at Bluehost, which offers a free dedicated IP for any registered user. This way, you don’t have to worry about accessing your own personal IP address when hosting websites.

While we’re on the subject of web hosting, it’s also important to mention that you need to get a good hosting plan with a reliable provider, otherwise, your site could become inaccessible to visitors. This is especially important for websites that deal with sensitive data or contain controversial content. In other words, don’t choose a host that limits the amount of storage or bandwidth, or one that is known for shutting down websites because of allegedly “illegal” content. The last thing you want is to launch a site only to discover it’s not available to the public because your host shut it down. You can avoid this issue by doing your due diligence before signing up with a host, and make sure they’re a reputable company with a good reputation. Also, make sure you’re aware of any known downtime or delays that the company might be experiencing.

Domain Name

Before you begin building your WordPress website, you’ll need to secure yourself with a good domain name. Choosing a domain name that is specific and memorable is essential, and it will make a big difference in the overall feel and appeal of your site. The best domain name registrars offer top-notch services, and they make getting a.com,.net, or. org domain name very convenient. Some of the big name registrars that host great websites include GoDaddy, 1and1, and Network Solutions.

CMS Software

Now that you have your web hosting for the website set up and running smoothly, you’ll need to consider what CMS software you’ll need to launch your site. WordPress offers a ton of free and premium options when it comes to content management systems. In fact, more than 28.8 million websites are currently powered by WordPress alone. In the upcoming sections below, we’ll discuss the various free and premium options available for WordPress.

Free CMS

WordPress.com is one of the most popular and well-liked content management systems available when it comes to free websites. This popular web software platform offers a simple to use dashboard that makes creating and maintaining a website very convenient. You’ll also have the option of either using the WordPress.com or WordPress.org versions of the CMS. While the former is a free service offered by the WordPress organization, the latter is completely free and open source. The only difference between the two is the amount of functionality they offer. If you’re looking for a free CMS solution, then WordPress.com is the clear choice. Thanks to its huge popularity, the platform has a huge amount of resources available online, including tutorials, FAQs, and support forums should you need any help.

Premium CMS

If you’re looking for a more robust content management system that comes with a paid account, then you should consider the premium version of WordPress. This version is completely free to use, but it gives you access to a streamlined back end, advanced features, and several themes that you can implement on your website. Additionally, you can use the premium version of WordPress to create and manage stores and galleries for products that you’re selling online. To get started with the premium version of WordPress, you’ll need to purchase a license key from WordPress.com, and then enter it when prompted during installation.

Themes

We can’t talk about WordPress without mentioning its role as a content management system template. As the name would suggest, a theme is a piece of template that can be used to build a website, and WordPress comes with a huge variety of themes that you can choose from. Themes are also a great way to give your website a unique look, and they can be used to fit any taste or style.

There are two main types of themes: free and premium. The free themes are completely open source, and anyone can download and use them to build a website. The only downside to these themes is that they don’t provide the most robust functionality, and they don’t look as good as the premium themes. The best way to find the right theme for your needs is to browse the gallery available on ThemeForest.

The premium themes are completely customizable, and they provide you with a wide range of features. Thanks to their advanced design templates and sleek customizations, premium themes can look as good as – and sometimes even better than – the popular free themes when applied correctly. However, the price of these premium themes is usually very high, and it’s not an easy process to build and design a good-looking website using premium themes.

Email Signup

If you want to be able to send and receive emails from your website, then you should consider setting up an email system with a reputable host. There are several reasons why email marketing is so effective when used correctly:

  • Free traffic
  • More people are using email marketing than traditional marketing methods
  • It’s incredibly easy to set up (just type in your email address and you’re done)
  • You can use automated email campaigns to send out relevant information to your subscribers
  • You can track the progress of your email marketing effort from click to conversion (e.g., purchase, sign-up, or newsletter sign-up)

With all of this information, it should come as no surprise that email marketing is one of the most popular methods of acquiring new customers. To get started, visit this special link, which will take you to the Sign-up Form for Aweber, one of the most popular and trusted email marketing services.

In summary, to launch a WordPress website, you’ll need web hosting, a domain name, and either a free or premium CMS. Hopefully, this article will help you choose the right hosting plan and/or CMS for your needs. Once you’ve made these selections, constructing and launching your own site will be a breeze.