WordPress is one of the most widely used website-making platforms in the world and the best for every beginner who desires to create a website. Whether you wish to build a blog, portfolio, or business website, WordPress has proven very user-friendly and offering you powerful features. If you’re just getting started, don’t you worry-this guide will walk you through the essential steps to learn WordPress from scratch.
1. Understand What WordPress Is
So before I start detailing on more technical explanation, let’s briefly understand what WordPress is and how it actually works. First and foremost, WordPress is called a content management system, hereby further referred to as a CMS; it helps one create, organize, and manipulate or manage the contents on the site. It’s free and open-sourced, meaning it allows anybody to use it, available on both cloud-based versions, WordPress.com, and self-hosted versions, WordPress.org.
To get started, we always recommend using WordPress.org (self-hosted), as it offers you vast flexibility, full control over your website, and the ability to install plugins and themes. This will require web hosting and a domain name.
2. Select a Web Host and Install WordPress
First, you need to set up hosting and install WordPress. The majority of hosting providers, be it Bluehost, SiteGround, or HostGator, offer one-click installation for WordPress, which actually makes getting started quite facile. Once you’ve signed up for hosting, simply log in to your account, find the “One-Click Install” option for WordPress, and follow the instructions.
- After installation, you can reach your website’s admin dashboard by accessing www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin, where you will be entering your login credentials.
3. Select a Theme
The theme you choose is going to essentially dictate the look and feel of your site. Within WordPress, there are literally thousands of free and premium themes available. To choose a theme:
- In the dashboard click Appearance, then Themes.
- Browse or search for a theme that suits your website’s purpose.
- Click Install and then Activate to apply the theme.
- You can also customize the theme by clicking on Appearance > Customize, where colors, fonts, layouts, and much more can be changed.
4. Learn About Plugins
Plugins extend the functionalities of your WordPress site. You could use plugins among many for improving SEO, contact forms, and making improvements in the speed of your website.
To install a plugin:
- Go to the Plugins section in your dashboard.
- Click Add New, then search for plugin name, then click on the Install Now button.
Once installed, click Activate. - Some of the common plugins for newbies are Yoast SEO to help with Search Engine Optimization, WPForms-which lets you create contact forms with ease, and Jetpack for all performance and security needs.
5. Content Creation and Management
To start populating your site with content, you must first know about pages and posts:
- Pages are static content such as your homepage, about page, or contact page.
Posts are dynamic content, usually used for blogs. - To add a new page or post to your site, click from the dashboard of Pages or Posts Add New. Use inbuilt editor- Gutenberg add text, Image, Video other media.
6. Customize your site settings
The Settings section on your dashboard allows you to change some settings on your website, including:
- General Settings: The settings include a change in Website Title and Tagline and also Time Zone.
- How it works: Reading Settings: Choose whether you want a static page, or your blog posts to show on the homepage.
- Permalinks: Define a nice permalink structure for posts and pages.
7. Publish Your Website
Once you’ve customized your site and added your content, it’s time to go live. Just head to your dashboard and click Publish on any pages or posts you’ve created. You can always come back to make adjustments and updates to your content.
8. Keep Learning and Experimenting
WordPress has a huge community, and you can find forums, blogs, and video tutorials that will help you learn. As you get comfortable with WordPress, you’ll want to try some of the more advanced features, such as custom CSS, child themes, or custom post types.
Conclusion
In the end, learning WordPress as a total beginner is an exciting thing. With the proper resources and an experimenting attitude, in no time, you will be able to create a practically full-featured website. Start small, keep practicing, and above all, have fun creating!
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