How to Make WordPress Websites Look Amazing
So you’ve decided to create a website for your business, or to promote a new product or service. Congrats! Your efforts will be rewarded with satisfied customers and an increased online presence. But just as you are about to dive in and make your website live, you discover that it’s not quite ready for the big leagues. In fact, you’ve run into a few roadblocks that are holding you back from fully realizing your potential. You’re not alone in this struggle. Many entrepreneurs and business owners have found themselves faced with this issue. And since we’re on the topic of web design, let’s take a quick look at how to make a wordpress website look amazing.
The Basics
Don’t get me wrong, wordpress is an incredible tool. It’s one of the most popular and accessible content management systems out there. It’s free and open-source so it has no technical barriers to entry. It’s a simple and intuitive platform that allows non-techy users to create and manage websites with ease. It’s completely customizable through their dashboard so you can make it look how you want. And last but not least, it is highly mobile-friendly. Let’s take a look at how to get started with wordpress.
The first thing you’ll want to do is download the WordPress app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Head over to app.wordpress.com to get started. Once you have the app, you’ll see a big welcome screen. Just tap on the Get Started button to launch the WordPress dashboard. From here, you can see all of your website’s settings and make changes as needed. Like I said, it’s super easy to use and setup. And since you’re running a business, you’ll want to ensure that everything is just right. So let’s take a look at the different aspects of wordpress, including how to make a wordpress website look amazing.
The Theme
As a beginner, you’ll most likely want to start off with a free of charge theme. That is, until you discover that you don’t like the way it looks or performs. In that case, you’ll have to pay for a premium theme or develop your own from scratch. Don’t worry, it’s a painless process and you’ll be able to do it quite easily. But before you start designing your site from scratch, let’s take a quick look at how to make a wordpress website look amazing using a template.
WordPress has a built-in theme library, ThemesForest, that you can use to find a theme that suits your needs. From the looks of it, ThemesForest currently hosts over 80,000 themes. So if you can’t find a theme that meets your needs, you can create your own. It’s easy and there’s tons of documentation available online to help you out. Just know that theme development can be a time-consuming process so make sure you are prepared to spend the necessary time. And once you’ve built your own theme, make sure to customize it to suit your needs. Finally, when you’re happy with your new theme, don’t forget to activate it by clicking on the Activate button in the dashboard. From here, you can see your website live in all its glory. Now let’s get back to the important topic of how to make a WordPress website look amazing.
Content Management System (CMS)
A content management system (CMS) is a platform used to create and maintain websites. It allows you to drag and drop different elements, such as images, videos, and texts, to create a unique online experience.
WordPress is a popular choice for CMSes because it’s free and open-source. It’s highly customizable and has a large community that supports it. These are all great reasons to use wordpress. But maybe the greatest reason is that it is incredibly easy to use. If you’ve ever used MS Office, or any other office software for that matter, then you’ll have no problem understanding how to use wordpress. Also, since wordpress is a widely-used platform, you’ll have the opportunity to find free resources online that can help you get started. And last but not least, wordpress offers a wealth of in-built features that can help you save time and ensure that your website looks professional and polished. Let’s take a quick look at how to make a wordpress website look amazing using a template.
If you’re new to wordpress, you’ll find a great deal of free WordPress themes available online that can get you up and running quickly. Just remember that you are free to choose any theme you like, they are all open-source so you have the freedom to modify them as you see fit. Once you’ve found your perfect match, activate it by clicking on the Activate button in the dashboard.
Domain Name And Website Hosting
If you’re reading this, then I assume you’re either already aware that you need a domain name for your website or you’re about to discover this for the first time. A domain name is like the address of your website. Without it, you can’t really have a website. Not that many people know or understand this, so many start-ups and business owners end up spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on premium domain names and web hosting. Don’t worry, you don’t need to have a premium domain name to make your website work. You can use free domains from companies like GoDaddy or Bluehost. And as for web hosting, you can get a free trial from some of the best web host providers, like Bluehost or webfusion. Once you’ve signed up with them, you’ll be able to install WordPress and begin creating your website. Let’s take a quick look at how to make a wordpress website look amazing using a template.
Images
Images are an excellent way to attract and retain visitors to your website. When used properly, they can significantly increase your website’s credibility and appeal. When used incorrectly, however, they can do just the opposite. As a beginner, you’ll most likely be using free image hosting services like Google’s free images or Pixabay.com to store and display your images. You’ll notice that these services offer a simple and intuitive Image Editor that makes it easy to insert images into your posts or pages. Simply upload the image and adjust the size and position using the provided interface.
Colors
The colors you choose for your website can have a significant impact on how your visitors perceive it. Since Google is the world’s largest search engine, it’s likely that your website will be indexed by many web users and potential customers. As a result, the colors you choose for your website can influence the way people interact with it. For best results, choose colors that compliment one another and that compliment your brand. If you’re stuck for ideas, you can use tools like Google’s Color Generator to help you choose the perfect colors for your site. Once you’ve chosen your colors, make sure to use them consistently throughout your website. Don’t worry, it’s a piece of cake to keep track of all the colors you’ve chosen. You can use a tool like Colorlab to easily keep track of all the colors used on your site. With Colorlab, you can download a fully-documented color-coded layout that can be edited and shared with your team.
Fonts
Like with images, fonts can make or break the look and feel of your website. Did you know that Google’s web font directory currently lists over 150 fonts that you can use to style your site? Just remember that fonts are a tricky business and can be difficult to source for if you’re not careful. Luckily, Google makes it easy to find and use web fonts on your site with the @font-face CSS rule. Simply put, this rule allows you to use any font you want for your site. To find fonts that suit your needs, you can enter keywords like “business font” into a search engine and download numerous FREE fonts that can be used to create unique designs. Just make sure to give each font a distinct name that will make it easier to identify which one you want to use.
Layout
The layout of your website is another important factor that can affect its overall look and feel. After all, you’re designing it, so you know what you want. The problem is, not everyone will share your vision and some might even think that layouts that you chose were a mistake. The good news is, there are numerous free and premium tools online that can help you design and layout your website perfectly.