How to Design a WordPress Website in the UK?
The Benefits Of WordPress
WordPress is the world’s #1 blogging platform and it is especially popular in the UK. It is free, open-source and it offers tonnes of features not found in other blogging platforms.
If you are looking to set up a blog, whether it is about family, lifestyle or business, you will find plenty of uses for WordPress. It is a completely free tool and its design is highly customizable which makes it perfect for anyone who wants to build their own unique blog.
WordPress also has a vibrant and supportive community which provides users with countless online resources, including tutorials, newsletters, and much more.
WordPress was initially designed for bloggers who are usually based in the US and Canada. However, it has become so popular that anyone can use it to set up a blog. This is largely due to the fact that it is incredibly easy to use, regardless of your technical knowledge.
Which Design Template Should I Choose For My Blog?
There are hundreds of free web templates to choose from when you install WordPress. While it is great to have lots of options when choosing a design, it can be a little overwhelming. This is why we have compiled a list of the best free WordPress templates which you can download and use to launch your blog.
You will find four different designs from which you can choose: the traditional blog design, the portfolio style, the magazine style, and the flyer style.
Traditional Blog Layout
This is the classic WordPress blogging layout which you will find if you go to the dashboard of any newly created blog. It is characterized by a large header, a content area and a sidebar with a collection of posts and other content such as images and videos.
The content area appears on the page and it is usually surrounded by a thick black border. Above the content area is a strip of white space which contains the blog title and the search bar.
The sidebar is found on the right side of the blog and it usually consists of three to five posts as well as contact and other information. At the very least, your WordPress blog should contain these elements.
On the left side of the blog is another area of white space which usually contains links to previous posts and other sites along with some featured images or videos from various events.
One of the most striking features of this traditional blog design is the large headers found at the top of each post. These headers are designed in a way that suggests there is more content below them. When pages contain more than four posts, the WordPress team recommends using an automatic headline generator to create unique headings for each post.
Portfolio Blog Layout
This is one of the most popular blog designs among business owners and bloggers who want to showcase their work. It was specifically designed for photographers and designers who want to showcase their work online.
Photographers use the portfolio style blog to show off their work in a clean and attractive way. The posts usually feature multiple images with large preview sizes and the content is typically geared towards inspiring creative thoughts. Creative businesses such as design agencies and fashion houses use the portfolio style blog to showcase their work. This blog style offers a clean and modern look which quickly differentiates it from most other WordPress designs.
The content area for a photography portfolio blog is usually found above the four corner posts. These are typically large format pictures that are designed to be viewed individually.
The main focus of a photography portfolio blog is on the imagery rather than the text. However, you should still include a few lines of text to provide additional information about the content (e.g. a short bio about the photographer).
Magazine Blog Layout
This design is very similar to the previous one but it is meant to appear in a magazine rather than a blog. This type of layout was first developed for print magazines but it has since been adapted for use on the web. It is characterized by a large header, a thick black margin around the content and a lower height for the sidebar.
The main difference between a magazine style blog and a traditional blog is in the way headlines are designed. Where a traditional blog uses a large header at the top of each post to suggest the post is part of an ongoing series, a magazine blog uses smaller, individual headlines for each post.
Flyer Blog Layout
This blog style was specifically designed for use at trade events, such as exhibitions and festivals. It offers a minimalistic look with the main attraction being images rather than words. This blog style is ideal if you are looking to attract potential customers to your business.
For instance, a vintage clothing brand might use a flyer blog design to show off their Spring collection at a trade fair. They would use the design to attract potential customers who are interested in buying vintage clothing.
The most popular festival blog designs are characterized by a large upper header, a thin black margin around the content and a lower sidebar.
How Do I Publish A Blog Post?
Once you have set up your blog with a theme that you like, you can start adding posts to it. As you may have guessed, WordPress makes this extremely easy and you will not have to learn any special tricks to get things done.
In general, you will need to complete the following steps to publish a blog post:
- Login to your blog dashboard
- Click on ‘Posts’ in the menu
- Add a new post
- Type in a headline
- Type in the content
- Set a blog post’s category
- Click on ‘Publish’
Voilà! Your blog post is now live and you can see it right away in your blog’s dashboard.
Keep in mind that your post will only be published once you have set the correct time for it to go live.
What If I Want To Change The Design Of My Blog?
As we mentioned above, WordPress is a highly customizable platform and it allows users to change the appearance of their blogs through the use of free themes and plugins. This is why it is important to try out a range of designs before you settle for one.
However, if you are looking for a more professional look and feel, you will need to upgrade your blog to take advantage of the available premium themes and plugins. These are paid for but they provide businesses with unique features, such as automatic backups, dedicated forums, and more.
What Is A Blogger Dashboard?
As the name would suggest, a bloggers dashboard is the area within the WordPress interface that bloggers visit to manage their content. It is accessed through the website’s dashboard or it can be accessed directly from a blog post.
The most important aspect of a blogger’s dashboard is the WordPress toolbar that pops up when you visit the area. This toolbar contains familiar elements, including a search bar, text editor, and more.
The area can be customized through the use of a variety of free plugins. These plugins provide bloggers with additional features, such as displaying recent posts on the right side of the page, changing the appearance of the blog’s header or footer, and more.
What Is A WordPress Template?
A WordPress template is a collection of standard HTML elements that can be used to build a blog. These templates are downloaded from various places, including the WordPress repository.
You can use a variety of free tools to find a suitable WordPress template for your needs.