You recently came across a store and considered purchasing a bunch of Adidas or Nike shoes. The moment you walk in, the store feels heavily inviting to you. It appears the store was all geared up to attract, convince, and convert you. Isn’t that the standard terminology all of our digital marketing enthusiasts often use to communicate value to each other and customers? Speaking of digital, what if you could replicate the same experience online? This is only possible if you invest in a digital front, probably a website powered by WordPress.
WordPress isn’t easy, they said! Well, nah, I believe there’s an entirely different side to the story. In reality, WordPress is one of the easiest platforms on which to build your digital presence, especially when partnered with a digital product development agency that understands how to make the most of it. Curious, aren’t we? In this article, we will find out everything we know about WordPress.
From choosing the right platform to installing and configuring the WordPress website, let’s learn everything we know about WordPress and how it can give you a thriving digital presence.
How Do You Build a Custom Website Using WordPress?
Step # 1 – Choosing the Right Platform
Building a website requires choosing the right platform. And WordPress tops the list by engaging almost 60% of the entire web space.
It’s easy-to-use and highly customizable. You can choose from many themes and install valuable plugins to make it work. So, before proceeding with designing your website, you need to come up with a goal. What do you think is the purpose of your website? Why do you need an online store, or will a website simply present what your company is about, and is it only a simple blog or portfolio?
When you decide on your goal behind setting up your website, choosing the best theme and configuring its presence with the right plugins becomes easy. Although you can invest in building a website from scratch using languages such as HTML & CSS, you must improve your coding skills. By far, the easiest way is to invest in a drag-and-drop builder such as an Elementor running on a CMS like WordPress. Platforms like WordPress can become more flexible & let you fully customize.
Also Read: Top 8 CMS Platforms For Your Website Development
Do You Have a Technical Team Backing You?
With WordPress, it’s important to understand how much technical knowledge you hold. There are plenty of drag-and-drop editors and pre-designed templates where your technical knowledge doesn’t matter much altogether. You can have a professional-looking website without having any prior knowledge of coding. All you need is some base-level understanding of WordPress and voila!
Some of the most useful website builders available are none other than SeedProd, Thrive Architect, Beaver Builder, Divi, Elementor, Visual Composer, and Themify Builder. Apart from WordPress, there are brands such as Wix, Duda, and Web.com, which are often limited in functions. But when it comes to WordPress, there’s plenty of room for customization, and you can build the store to your preference.
Step # 2 – Buy Domain & Hosting
If you want to start a website, two essential things must be addressed.
Choosing the Right Domain Name – it’s what you will name your website.
Your domain name will appear as your site’s address, like www.yourwebsite.com. Therefore, when you choose your domain name, you can choose one with which your brand can perfectly resonate.
Choosing the Best Web Hosting – to run a website, you need to host it on a server.
Your server is the space where you will be setting up your website instance. There are plenty of website hosting services available, and we recommend you choose the one that satisfies your budget.
How to Get Your Custom Domain Name?
To get your custom domain name, visit a website like GoDaddy.com or NameCheap.com.
Search for your desired domain name and check its availability.
If the domain name is available, then go ahead and make a purchase.
Since the Internet space has become overly crowded and millions of websites launch almost every day, there’s a significant chance you won’t find any common names for custom domains. Either you will have to make a deal with an existing vendor, or you can test out different variations.
For example, if www.mywebsite.com is not available, you can always check for other variations, such as www.mywebsiteisonline.com, www.mywebsiteishere.com, or www.mywebsitelaunch.com.
How to Choose a Website Hosting Provider?
An essential step in setting up a WordPress website is to find an exemplary hosting service. Hosting servers often come with their pre-designed plan options to deliver an optimized experience.
HostNoc is a decent hosting service with various server types for hosting websites on WordPress. The plans usually include flexible rates and a pre-installed WordPress presence.
If you’re just starting and unsure which hosting option to choose, shared hosting is a great choice. It’s affordable, easy to manage, and ideal for beginners.
Other options, such as VPS, dedicated servers, and eCommerce hosting, provide advanced features, but if it’s your first time, consider hosting plans with personalized features like product management, security, and payment integrations—especially if you’re working with a WordPress website development company to build a scalable website.
Step # 3 – Install CMS on Your Desired Host
Once you have successfully set up your hosting and domain, your next task will be to install WordPress on your system. Many hosting providers simplify the process by introducing built-in tools that allow them to install WordPress in just a handful of clicks – no technical knowledge is required.
Here’s a step-by-step process on how a user can install WordPress.
- Log into Your Hosting Account – Start with your control panel, such as the cPanel, and use the login info your host sent when you signed up.
- Find the Installer – Search for a tool called Softaculous Apps Installer (or something similar). You will find a list of several content management systems.
- Install the WordPress Software – Click on WordPress, add the desired details about your website, & simply hit the install button.
And there you have it, WordPress is now automatically installed; you’re only just a few steps away from running your website live.
Step # 4 – Choose Your WordPress Theme
The theme you choose sets the foundation in stone for your WordPress website.
The platform has multiple themes; there are thousands of WordPress themes. Some of these themes are free, while the others are premium options. Based on your specific budget, you need to find & purchase a theme which comes with all the essential features and customizability options.
Themes are flexible!
WordPress themes are reliable, and you can change them whenever you want without losing content. You can simply add or remove posts or pages without making any such customization.
How to Install a Free WordPress Theme?
To set up a WordPress theme, you need to gain access to the WordPress admin dashboard.
You can start by going to Appearance > Themes.
Now, click on “Add New”
You will come across a complete directory of WordPress themes. Use the search bar to find the theme that complements your business. As soon as you decide on the theme you wish to install, now hover over it and click Install. Click Activate and apply the theme to your WordPress website.
Customize your WordPress theme to suit your preferences.
If you’re going for a premium option, then you will first have to make a purchase and then complete the necessary steps. Premium themes have higher quality, better performance & ongoing support.
Step # 5 – Install Plugins
A WordPress website only works flawlessly when it adds more functionality.
There are plenty of things you need to do on a website, such as perform SEO, create contact forms, add social sharing buttons, and more. The easiest way to get it done is by adding a WordPress plugin.
WordPress has a relatively extensive library of mostly free and premium plugins. Browse from the collection of plugins.
Some of the popular plugins to consider include:
- WPForms: A super simple tool for creating contact forms.
- Yoast SEO: Perfect for boosting WordPress site’s visibility on search engines.
- WooCommerce: Great for turning your WordPress website into an online store.
- MonsterInsights: Get Google Analytics insights to track how your website performs.
How to Install WordPress Plugins?
If you want to install a WordPress plugin, you simply need to navigate to the WordPress dashboard.
Go to Plugins > Add New.
Search for the plugin you wish to add to your WordPress website and install it. Once the plugin is installed, simply Activate it. WordPress makes it super easy to supercharge your WordPress site with extra features. When it comes to WordPress, you don’t have to invest in any coding practice.
Step # 6 – Customize Your WordPress Website
For now, we believe you’ve already found a suitable domain name and hosting. You may have also picked a website theme and performed adequate customization for your site. Now, there are certain pages that you need to add to your website to ensure it has a proper structure.
A few must-have pages on your website include:
- Homepage – Your homepage is the first impression.
- Service Pages – Your site needs service pages to sell different services.
- Contact Us – You let people know how they can reach you.
- About Page – Your site shares your story or talks about your business.
- Blog Page – To keep your website running, you want to plan and publish content.
How to Add Pages to Your Site?
You can use any page builder, such as Elementor or Beaver Builder. Once you’re happy with your website design, go to the dashboard and navigate to Pages. Click “Add New.”
You can edit the website page in the future to change text, add images, or add any other media.
Step # 7 – Add Blog to Your WordPress Website
You will also want to add a blog to your WordPress website. You can start simply by adding a regular page. Here are some of the steps that you need to take:
Start by visiting the dashboard. Go to Posts > Add New.
Write the blog post that you wish to write. Add a catchy title, write content, and add images. Add whatever elements you wish to include. Happy with what you’ve written?
Now, it’s time to publish. Hit the “Publish” button & your post goes live.
All Set – Your WordPress Website is Ready to Launch
Once you’ve launched the essential pages and customized your theme, your website is well on its way to going live. But the journey doesn’t stop there! Keep experimenting with different options and refining your design as your WordPress site evolves. When you’re satisfied with its looks and functions, it’s time for the exciting moment—your official launch. If you’ve followed all the steps, your site is already live. Simply type your URL into a browser, and just like that—you’re online!
Take the next step—promote your website, optimize for SEO, and start engaging with your audience. Need help to grow your site? Explore all our resources for expert tips and strategies.
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