How to Create a Website Using WordPress: The First Steps

If you’re looking to create a website but don’t have any experience, the options can seem endless. There are so many different platforms and tools out there that it can be hard to know where to start. However, with WordPress, the choice is clear and the process is straightforward.

In this article, you’ll discover how to create a simple WordPress-based website with no previous experience necessary. You’ll also learn some helpful tips along the way.

The Essentials

As the name would suggest, WordPress is a “platform” rather than a tool. Essentially, this means that it provides the “basic building blocks” of a website but you, as the builder, must provide the content and design it to your liking. With WordPress, simply enter the domain you want to use for your site (i.e., example.com), pick a theme, and start “building.” If you already have a domain and are looking to make the move to WordPress, you can use the free blog platform available from WordPress.com.

WordPress was originally created for blogs but has evolved to provide a complete CMS (content management system) for websites. It is completely free and open-source technology, which can be downloaded from the official website and is supported by a large community of developers. 

Getting Started

To get started with WordPress, you’ll need to first have a domain name. You can use GoDaddy to register your own domain or you can choose from one of their many premium plans. If you decide to use GoDaddy, simply point your domain to the server they provision.

GoDaddy provides several helpful tools for new site owners including a free domain privacy policy, free premium storage, and a free domain forwarding service. All you need to do is enter the domain you purchased from GoDaddy in the space provided and then click on “Create Website.”

You’ll see a confirmation page from GoDaddy with a link to your new website.

To make the most out of your new website, it’s important to pick a reliable and experienced web host. With WordPress, this is easily done through the use of plugins, which are additional tools built into the platform. For example, WordPress comes with the All-in-One SEO Plugin, which makes it easy to perform SEO (search engine optimization) on your site. Simply install the plugin and configure it according to your needs. You can learn more about SEO and how to perform it effectively on your website at SEO for Podcasters.

The Building Blocks Of A Website

To create a functional website using WordPress, you’ll need to understand some of its “building blocks.” A basic website is constructed using a series of HTML files, style sheets, and image files. HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language and it is the “markup” that distinguishes words, phrases, and images from one another on a web page. A style sheet is a document that contains the HTML code and formatting information for a particular web page. An image file is a document containing image information (such as logos, product images, or icons) used on a website. Finally, a web host is a service that provides the space on a server where your website can be stored. When someone accesses your website via a web browser, they’ll need to connect to the server that contains your website’s content.

Where To Next?

Once you have a basic understanding of how to create a website using WordPress, the next step is to choose a branding template. A branding template is simply a pre-designed layout for your site that you can modify by adding your own content. You can choose from a variety of templates or create your own by using tools such as BrunoMars Creative or Canva. If you decide to create your own, be sure to invest in a high-quality logo and design for your business. You can also choose a template that provides all the graphic elements you need to create a professional-looking website.

Finally, it’s important to research keywords and content that is both relevant and seo friendly. Search engine optimization is the process of getting your website to show up when someone types your business’s name or product into a search engine. The more relevant and informative the content on your website, the more likely it will be found by potential customers. If you’re looking to create a professional, SEO-optimized website using WordPress, be sure to check out these tools:

• SEO Checker from WooRank: Finds your top-ranking keywords and tells you how to improve your ranking
• SEO Keyword Tool from WordStream: Generates a keyword analysis report for your business and delivers an actionable list of keywords to improve upon
• Yoast SEO version 3 or higher: A flexible and powerful SEO plugin that can be used to perform on-site search engine optimization and analyze the effectiveness of SEO campaigns

Further Resources

If you’re looking to learn more about creating a website the easy way, be sure to check out these helpful websites: