WordPress: What’s the Best Way to Build a Website?
You are looking for a way to build a website and you have decided to use WordPress because it is the most popular blogging platform. But you haven’t decided on a design for your site yet and you are wondering: What’s the best way to build a WordPress website?
If you want your blog to be successful, you need to build a solid foundation first. You don’t want to rush this process and end up creating a boring, clichéd website. You want to find the perfect balance between usability and appearance. So let’s get into it!
The Basics
You have created your WordPress account and you are ready to begin creating content for your new blog. Congratulations! Now you have to decide what type of website you want to create. There are many different options that you can choose from. You can create a general blog for anyone to read, you can create a blog for a specific niche or you can even create a news website. To decide, you can simply follow the guidelines given to you when you created your account.
The Options
Once you have decided what type of site you want to build, you should then proceed to choose a theme that will serve as the backbone of your site. The easiest way to find the right theme is to search for the name of your chosen blog in the WordPress theme directory. This will pull up a list of themes that you can download and install on your site.
You should then set up your WordPress site with a nice, clean, modern looking homepage that will draw in potential readers and make them want to read your content. To create a beautiful, immersive experience for your readers, you can either use a CMS (content management system) or you can install a WordPress plugin that will turn your blog into a fully-fledged web magazine. For more on this subject, check out How to Build a Modern Blog With a CMS and Build a Web Magazine With a WordPress Blog.
Consider All The Options
It is a good idea to try out several different themes before you lock down on a design. This will help you find the right balance between looking sharp and feeling comfortable on your blog. Once you have found this sweet spot, it will be easier to build on it going forward.
If you decide that none of the themes seem to fit the vibe you are trying to create, you can always go back and edit your homepage to look more like a classic blog post. And if you decide that one of the themes works better than the others, you can switch over to it without having to worry about your blog looking out of place.
The Finishing Touches
When you have built your site and begun attracting visitors, it’s time to start working on the design details. First, you need to establish a style for the site and then take it one step further by customizing the design for your own branding. To do this, you will need to install a WordPress plugin that can help you establish custom styles for your site.
If you are using a CMS, you can either choose from one of the established styles or you can use plugins to build upon these already-existing styles. For more information on establishing styles for your WordPress site, check out How to Build a Beautiful Blog and Find Your Blog’s Style. For information on creating a theme from scratch using a WordPress plugin, check out Make A Simple, Minimalistic Blogging Theme, Establish a Custom Blog Style With a Minimalistic Approach and Create A Simpler, More Minimalistic Blogging Experience.
Once you have laid the groundwork for your blog by creating a beautiful, functional website, you can begin to think about monetizing it. There are many different options here, from affiliate marketing through affiliate programs to selling and displaying ads. You should research the best way to monetize your blog before you get started.
WordPress is the most popular blogging platform, not because it is the best in terms of usability or functionality, but rather because it is the most popular. This should not be a bad thing, though, as it means there are plenty of options for just about any need. Just remember to build a strong foundation first, before you start expanding. Having a beautiful, functional website is the best way to start attracting readers and establishing your blog as an authoritative source on your chosen subject matter.