HOW TO CREATE A WEBSITE FROM WORDPRESS

So, you’ve decided to build a website using WordPress, excellent choice! WordPress powers over 40% of the internet, making it one of the most popular website platforms in the world. Whether you’re launching a blog, business site, or online store, WordPress gives you the tools to create a professional site without needing to be a coding genius. Here’s how to do it step by step.

Before you start, you need to decide between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a hosted version where WordPress takes care of hosting and security, but it has limited customisation unless you pay for premium plans. WordPress.org is the self-hosted version, where you have full control over your website. You’ll need to buy hosting and a domain separately, but you get unlimited flexibility. Most businesses and serious website owners choose WordPress.org.

If you’re using WordPress.org, you’ll need to buy a domain name, which is your website’s address, and web hosting, which is where your website’s files are stored. Popular hosting providers for WordPress include Bluehost, SiteGround, and Kinsta. Once you sign up, most hosting providers let you install WordPress in just one click.

After setting up hosting, you can install WordPress directly from your hosting dashboard. Once installed, log in to your site by going to yourdomain.com/wp-admin. This will take you to the WordPress dashboard, where all the magic happens.

Now it’s time to make your website look good. WordPress offers thousands of free and premium themes that you can browse under the Appearance section in your dashboard. Pick a theme that suits your style, then customise it by changing colours, fonts, and layouts using the WordPress Customiser. If you want more design flexibility, you can use a page builder plugin like Elementor or Divi, which allows you to drag and drop elements without needing to code.

Every website needs core pages like Home, About, Contact, and Services. You can create pages by going to the Pages section in your dashboard and adding content. To expand your website’s functionality, install plugins. Plugins are like apps for your website, helping you add features like SEO tools, contact forms, and security. Some of the most popular plugins include Yoast SEO for optimising your site for search engines, WPForms for creating contact forms, WooCommerce for setting up an online store, and Wordfence for adding security protection.

To help your site appear in Google search results, set up SEO using a plugin like Yoast SEO. Add meta titles, descriptions, and keywords to improve rankings. Also, check the mobile preview to make sure your site looks great on phones and tablets, most website traffic comes from mobile users.

Once everything looks good, it’s time to publish your site. Click Launch or Publish, and your website will be live for the world to see. Make sure to assess your pages, check links, and preview how your site looks on different devices.

Creating a website from WordPress is easier than you think. With the right theme, plugins, and a bit of patience, you can build a professional site that looks great and functions smoothly. Whether it’s for a personal blog, business, or eCommerce store, WordPress gives you the flexibility to create anything you want.