In this article, you will read and learn how to create a WordPress website in 9 easy steps.
WordPress is one of the most popular site-building and content management systems in the world. WordPress powers over 30% of all websites on the internet.
No matter what kind of website you want to build, WordPress can help you do it. In this post, we’ll show you how to make a WordPress website. We’ll also explain why WordPress is such an excellent choice for businesses and individuals who want to build a website.
If you’re new to WordPress, don’t worry. Our step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start with WordPress. By the end of this post, you’ll have a fully functioning WordPress website.
WordPress is a great choice for building a website because it’s easy to use, flexible, and scalable. You can use WordPress to create any kind of website you want, from a simple blog to a complex e-commerce site. WordPress is also free to use and open source, which means anyone can contribute to the WordPress codebase.
If you’re looking for a platform that will grow with your business, WordPress is a great option. Many large companies including The Guardian, Forbes, and The New York Times use WordPress to power their websites.
Now that we’ve answered the question “what is WordPress?” let’s take a look at how to create a WordPress website step by step.
- Set up a domain and hosting account
- Install WordPress on your web host
- Choose a WordPress theme
- Configure WordPress settings
- Choose and install plugins
- Create pages and posts
- Add content to your WordPress site
- Launch your WordPress website
- Promote your WordPress site
Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps so you can get started building your WordPress website.
1. Set up a domain and hosting account
A domain is the address people will use to find your WordPress site on the internet. For example, our domain is wpexplorer.com.
You can buy a domain from a domain registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Once you have your domain, you’ll need to set up WordPress hosting.
WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting specifically designed for WordPress websites. WordPress hosting providers offer features like one-click WordPress installs and automatic WordPress updates.
There are many WordPress hosting providers to choose from. We recommend using a WordPress-specific host like WPX, or Siteground, or if you are on a budget, choose Hostinger.
Choose your WordPress hosting provider below with its pricing
WPX
SiteGround Pricing Plan
2. Install WordPress on your web host
Once you’ve set up your domain and WordPress hosting account, you can install WordPress on your web host.
Most WordPress hosts will offer a one-click WordPress install, which makes the WordPress installation process super easy. If your host doesn’t offer a one-click WordPress install, don’t worry. Installing WordPress is still pretty straightforward.
You can find detailed instructions on how to install WordPress on different types of hosts in our ultimate WordPress installation guide.
After you’ve installed WordPress, choose a WordPress theme.
3. Choose a WordPress theme
Choosing a WordPress theme is one of the first things you’ll do when creating a WordPress website. A WordPress theme is a collection of files that determine the look and feel of your WordPress site.
There are thousands of WordPress themes to choose from, so it’s important to take some time to find a theme that fits your needs. If you’re not sure where to start, check out our post on the best WordPress themes for businesses.
Once you’ve found a WordPress theme you like, you can install it on your WordPress site. Most WordPress themes are available for free, but there are also premium WordPress themes that you can buy from sites like Themeforest.
Installing a WordPress theme is easy. You can do it directly from the WordPress admin dashboard by going to Appearance > Themes and clicking the Add New button. From there, you can upload the WordPress theme file or search for a WordPress theme from the WordPress theme directory.
Once you’ve found and installed the WordPress theme you want to use, it’s time to configure your WordPress settings.
5. Configure WordPress settings
The WordPress settings control the basic functionality of your WordPress site. You can access the WordPress settings from the WordPress admin dashboard by going to Settings > General.
From there, you can change things like your website title, tagline, and timezone. You can also set up permalinks, which is how WordPress structures the URLs for your posts and pages.
Choosing the right permalink structure is important because it can affect your SEO. We recommend using a permalink structure that includes the post name, like this:
/%postname%/
After you’ve configured the WordPress settings, it’s time to choose and install WordPress plugins.
5. Choose and install plugins
WordPress plugins are pieces of software that add features and functionality to WordPress websites. There are WordPress plugins for just about everything, from social media sharing to security.
You can install WordPress plugins directly from the WordPress admin dashboard by going to Plugins > Add New. From there, you can search for WordPress plugins in the WordPress plugin directory or upload a WordPress plugin file.
We have a whole list of the best WordPress plugins for business websites, so be sure to check that out if you’re not sure which WordPress plugins to install.
Once you’ve installed the WordPress plugins you want to use, it’s time to create your WordPress website pages.
6. Create pages and posts
You can create a WordPress page by going to Pages > Add New in the WordPress admin dashboard. From there, you can add a title and content for your WordPress page.
If you want to change the way your WordPress pages look, you can do that by editing the WordPress page templates. Most WordPress themes come with a few default page templates that you can choose from.
To edit a WordPress page template, go to Appearance > Editor in the WordPress admin dashboard. From there, you can edit the code for your WordPress theme files.
Keep in mind that editing WordPress theme files can break your website if you don’t know what you’re doing. So if you’re not comfortable editing code, we recommend hiring a WordPress developer to help you out.
After you’ve created your WordPress pages, it’s time to add some WordPress posts.
7. Add content to your WordPress site
You can create a WordPress post by going to Posts > Add New in the WordPress admin dashboard. From there, you can add a title and content for your WordPress post.
After you’ve created your WordPress posts, it’s time to add some WordPress widgets.
WordPress widgets are pieces of code that add features and functionality to WordPress websites. There are WordPress widgets for just about everything, from social media sharing to security.
You can install WordPress widgets directly from the WordPress admin dashboard by going to Appearance > Widgets. From there, you can add WordPress widgets to your WordPress website.
We have a whole list of the best WordPress widgets for business websites, so be sure to check that out if you’re not sure which WordPress widgets to add.
After you’ve added WordPress widgets to your website, it’s time to customize your WordPress website.
You can customize your WordPress website by going to Appearance > Customize in the WordPress admin dashboard. From there, you can change things like your WordPress website colors, fonts, and layout.
If you want to change the way your WordPress website looks, you can do that by editing the WordPress theme files. Most WordPress themes come with a few default layouts that you can choose from.
To edit a WordPress theme file, go to Appearance > Editor in the WordPress admin dashboard. From there, you can edit the code for your WordPress theme files.
8. Launch your WordPress website
After you’ve customized your WordPress website, it’s time to launch it.
You can launch your WordPress website by going to Settings > General in the WordPress admin dashboard. From there, you can choose whether to make your WordPress website public or private.
If you want to make changes to your WordPress website after you’ve launched it, we recommend creating a staging environment. A staging environment is a copy of your live WordPress website that you can use to test changes before making them live.
To create a staging environment for your WordPress website, we recommend using the WP Staging plugin. WP Staging is a free WordPress plugin that lets you create a staging environment for your WordPress website in just a few clicks.
After you’ve installed the WP Staging plugin, you can create a staging environment for your WordPress website by going to WP Staging > Add New in the WordPress admin dashboard. From there, you can choose which WordPress website you want to create a staging environment for.
Once you’ve created a staging environment for your WordPress website, you can make changes to it without affecting your live website. That way, if something goes wrong, you can always revert to the previous version of your website.
To learn more about creating a staging environment for your WordPress website, check out our tutorial on how to create a WordPress staging site.
9. Promote your WordPress site
After you’ve launched your WordPress website, it’s time to start promoting it.
There are a few different ways you can promote your WordPress website. You can promote your WordPress website by:
-Advertising it on Google AdWords
-Submitting it to directories
-Sharing it on social media
For more tips on promoting your WordPress website, check out our tutorial on how to promote a new WordPress site.
That’s it! You’ve now learned how to create a WordPress website from scratch. If you have any questions about this process, feel free to leave a comment below.
Conclusions
Creating a WordPress website from scratch may seem like a daunting task, but it’s quite easy. All you need to do is follow the steps outlined in this tutorial, and you’ll have a WordPress website up and running in no time.
If you want to learn more about how to create a WordPress website, or how to earn money through affiliate marketing, we have a whole series of tutorials on the topic. Be sure to check out our guide on how to choose a WordPress theme, as well as our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.
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