Easy Guide to Setting Up a WordPress Website From Scratch

Introduction

Building a website from scratch can feel daunting, but WordPress makes it much easier. WordPress offers outstanding website creation capabilities, including personal blogs, online stores, and professional portfolios. Its user-friendliness, wide-ranging customization, and minimal technical needs are extraordinary. This thorough guide offers all the necessary information to guarantee your WordPress website’s successful launch.

Understanding WordPress

Let’s first look at what WordPress is before getting into the setup process. It simplifies creating and managing websites by removing the need for complex coding. Its open-source nature makes it free to use and widely adopted by developers around the world. WordPress is easy to use and this allows almost anyone with some computer skills to build an attractive website. WordPress offers all the necessary tools to start a blog. Furthermore, it provides everything necessary to build a professional portfolio or launch a successful online store.

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Step 1: Choose a Domain Name

A domain name is what people use to find your website. That is your house’s specific internet address and it is a special identifier for your online connection. A short and memorable domain name is ideal. It should closely relate to much of your website’s content. A particularly successful cooking blog, for example, might use a domain name such as TastyRecipes.com. Carefully avoid names that are excessively long, as they can be hard for people to remember. 

Tips for Choosing a Good Domain Name:

• Keep it short and easy to spell.
• Use relevant words related to your website’s purpose.
• Avoid numbers or hyphens, as they can be confusing.
• Check if the name is available using a domain registration service.

Step 2: Register Your Domain Name

Securing a domain name is comparable to purchasing a piece of online property and this single action represents a meaningful investment. To “own” the domain, a small annual fee is required. GoDaddy, Namecheap, and other domain registrars, or your hosting provider, offer domain registration services. Complete registration is required. This will enable you to add all email addresses associated with your domain.

How to Register a Domain:

• Go to a domain registration website (like GoDaddy).
• Search for your desired domain name.
• If it’s available, follow the prompts to complete your purchase.

Step 3: Choose a Web Hosting Provider

Web hosting is like renting space on the internet where your website gets to live and be seen by others. Without web hosting, your website wouldn’t be accessible to anyone online.

There are many hosting options available, but some of the most beginner-friendly and reliable options are Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator. These companies offer great customer support and easy-to-use features.

When choosing a hosting provider, make sure they offer good performance, security, and easy WordPress installation.

Types of Hosting:

• Shared Hosting: Affordable and suitable for beginners. Your website is hosted on a server that also supports other websites.
• VPS Hosting: Offers more control and resources but is slightly more expensive.
• Dedicated Hosting: Best for large websites with lots of traffic, but it’s the most expensive option.

Once you’ve chosen your hosting provider, you can register for a plan that fits your needs. Most hosting services offer a one-click WordPress installation feature, making the setup process even easier.

Step 4: Install WordPress

Now that you have a domain and hosting, it’s time to install WordPress. The best part about WordPress is how easy it is to install. Many hosting providers offer a “one-click” installation, which means that with just a few clicks, WordPress will be installed on your site.

Here’s how to install WordPress:

1. Log in to your hosting account.
2. Find the “One-Click Install” or “WordPress” section.
3. Follow the steps to install WordPress on your domain.
4. Once installed, open your browser and visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin to log in and access your WordPress dashboard.

Step 5: Choose and Install a Theme

Once WordPress is installed, you’ll want to choose a theme. A theme is a pre-designed template that gives your website its look and feel. Think of it like picking out the clothes for your website.

With WordPress, you have access to a wide variety of themes—both free and paid—that cater to all kinds of websites. Some popular free themes include Astra, OceanWP, and Twenty Twenty-One. These themes are simple and customizable, making them perfect for beginners.

How to Install a WordPress Theme:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to “Appearance” in the menu, then select “Themes” and click on “Add New.”
3. Search for a theme you like.
4. Simply click on “Install” and then hit “Activate” to apply the theme to your site.

Once your theme is installed, you can customize it to fit your style by adjusting colors, fonts, and layout.

Step 6: Tailor Your Site To Your Needs

Customizing your website is an excellent way to make it designed for purpose. With WordPress, it’s simple to customize everything, including the layout and the colors.

Basic Customization Options:

• Site Identity: Go to “Appearance” > “Customize” to change your website title, tagline, and logo.
• Colors and Fonts: Change the colors of your website and choose fonts that match your style.
• Layout: Choose the layout that best suits your content, such as a full-width page or a two-column layout.

The “Customizer” tool lets you see the changes live as you make them, so you can experiment and find what works best for your website.

Step 7: Create Pages and Posts

Now that your site looks great, it’s time to add content. In WordPress, you can create two types of content: pages and posts. 

Pages:

Pages are static content, meaning they don’t change frequently. Common pages include:

• Home Page: This is the initial page that visitors see when they open your website.
• About Page: This is a page that explains to visitors who you are and what your site is about.
•  Contact Page: A page offering a method for individuals to reach out to you.

To create a page:

1. Go to “Pages” > “Add New.”
2. Add a title and content.
3. Click “Publish” when you’re done.

Posts:

Posts are used for blog content or news updates. If you’re running a blog, you’ll add posts regularly. To create a post:

1. Go to “Posts” > “Add New.”
2. Write your post.
3. Click “Publish.”

Step 8: Add Plugins to Extend Your Website’s Functionality

Plugins are like apps for your website. They add extra features and functions to your WordPress site. There are thousands of free and premium plugins available, and some are essential for every website.

Essential Plugins to Install:

• Yoast SEO: Helps optimize your website for search engines, making it easier for people to find you online.
• Jetpack: Offers security features, backups, and performance improvements.
• WooCommerce: If you’re planning to run an online store, WooCommerce adds e-commerce functionality to your site.

To add a plugin:

1. Go to “Plugins” > “Add New.”
2. Search for the plugin you want.
3. Click “Install” and then “Activate.”

Step 9: Configure Your Website Settings

Now that your website looks great and has useful content, it’s time to configure some basic settings.

Important Settings to Adjust:

• General Settings: Go to “Settings” > “General” to set your website’s title, tagline, and time zone.
• Reading Settings: Decide whether you want your homepage to show a static page or your latest posts.
• Permalink Settings: Go to “Settings” > “Permalinks” to choose how your website’s URLs are structured. It’s best to use “Post Name” for clean, easy-to-read URLs.

Step 10: Make Your Website Live

Once you’re happy with your website, it’s time to share it with the world! Simply remove any “Coming Soon” or “Under Construction” page, and your website will be live.

Step 11: Maintain Your Website

After your website is live, regular maintenance is essential to ensure it runs smoothly.

Things to Do Regularly:

• Update WordPress: Always keep your WordPress version up to date for security.
• Update Themes and Plugins: Regularly update your themes and plugins to fix bugs and improve performance.
• Backup Your Site: Set up regular backups to avoid losing your content.

Step 12: Marketing Your Website

Building a website is just the first step. To ensure people visit your site, you need to promote it. Here are a few strategies:

• Share on Social Media: Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share your website link.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Ensure your website ranks on search engines by implementing SEO best practices.
• Email Marketing: Build an email list and send updates or newsletters about your website’s content.
• Paid Advertising: Consider running Google Ads or social media ads to drive traffic.

FAQs

Q: Do I need coding knowledge to build a WordPress website?
A: No, WordPress is easy to use, so you won’t need to know how to code. Customization is straightforward because many themes are available and several plugins are also provided.

Q: What does it take, cost-wise, to create a WordPress site?
A: The cost to build a WordPress website ranges from a few dollars to several thousand. Monthly hosting fees usually range from $5 to $10 per month, and a domain name costs between $10 and $15 per year. Many high-quality themes, along with plugins, can increase the total expense, although several free alternatives exist.

Q: How long does it take to set up a WordPress website?
A: Building a simple WordPress website takes two to forty-eight hours, depending on how much you customize it.

Q: Can I change my WordPress theme later?
A: Yes, WordPress themes are changeable at any time— your content will remain unaffected.

Q: What are some good SEO practices for WordPress?
A: Employ precisely selected keywords, rigorously optimize images, incorporate many internal and external links and consistently create exceptionally high-quality content of the utmost standard. Yoast SEO assists with several of these practices.

Conclusion

Creating a WordPress website from scratch doesn’t have to be overly complicated. With the appropriate tools, sufficient patience and by following all of the above steps, creating a professional-looking website is simple. This guide offers a rapid method for constructing a completely functional website. So, happy building!