How to Create a WordPress website in 8 steps

Abah Moses

Sun, 08 Sep 2024

WordPress is an ideal CMS to create your own website. The system offers many possibilities, and you do not need any knowledge of programming languages. However, it can still be difficult if you have no experience with CMS systems. Do you want to create a WordPress website? In this article, we will explain how to do this in eight easy steps.

1)Buy a domain name and hosting package

When you create a website, you always need a domain name and a hosting package. Creating a WordPress website is no different. The domain name is the address of your website. The hosting package ensures that your website is connected to the internet via a server and therefore visible to others. There are several registral where you can order both a domain name and a hosting package. Some well-known registrals are Namecheap, hostinger etc. It is very easy to register a domain name that is still free to register with such a provider and then choose a hosting package directly.

2)Install WordPress on your domain name

Once you have ordered a domain name and hosting package, you can often install your domain name via this provider with the click of a button on the WordPress button via the control panel. However, some registrals do not offer this option, and you then have to install WordPress yourself by setting the database and FTP itself. On the WordPress website you will find the file that you have to download and an explanation about the installation.

3)Customize the general settings

After you complete the WordPress installation, you can log in with the admin data you provided during the installation. You then go to 'Settings' - 'General' where you can set some general settings. Choose a good website title and subtitle, enter your email address and choose the correct date and time format. You can also choose the website language and then save the settings.

4)Choose a template or theme

Creating a WordPress website has the advantage that you can choose a certain template or theme and therefore do not have to design the entire website yourself. To set a template, click on 'View' in the menu on the left and choose 'Themes'. You click on 'Add new' and here you can choose a free template for your website. The easy thing about a template is the fact that you already have a design for all pages. You can often make some adjustments, if you want.

Do you want to make the design for your WordPress website? Then you better choose to install a paid theme. At ThemeForest you can find numerous themes for a WordPress website. A paid theme has many more features than a free template, and you have more options. After you have purchased the theme, you can upload it to your website via 'Themes'.

5)Create new pages

Via 'Pages' in the menu on the left, you can create a number of pages. The "Home" and "Contact" pages are recommended for all websites. Do you want to create a WordPress website for your business? Then you can also install an 'About us' page, a page where you show your products or services and a page with the rates you use. You can also choose to install a blog page.

After that, it is time to set the page 'Home' in such a way that it also becomes visible as a homepage. To do this, go to 'Settings' - 'Read'. At 'Homepage', check the box with 'A static page' and choose the homepage under 'Front page'. If you have a blog page installed, you can set it up in "Message Page." Then click on 'Save changes'. Do you want to create a WordPress website with only news items? Then you can skip this step, because the latest messages are then shown directly on the homepage.

6)Design the header

It is not always possible to fully customize the header of your website, but you can at least upload your own logo. To do this, go to 'View' - 'Theme options' and then upload your logo. Under 'Theme options' you can adjust other settings of the design of your website, if you want. Then it is time to make the main menu. You do this via 'View' - 'Menu's'. Click Add a new menu and give the menu a name. Tick the pages you want in the menu and click on 'Add to menu'. After that, you can still change the order by dragging the pages, or you can put certain pages under other pages (as a dropdown). Make sure there is a check mark at the bottom of 'Main Header menu' and save the menu.

7)Install the necessary plugins

There are many free and paid plugins available for a WordPress website. If you have chosen a template and want to be able to furnish the contents of the pages yourself, it is useful to install the plugin Page Builder by SiteOrigin. This allows you to divide the pages into rows and columns, so you can determine the places of the texts and images yourself. Other useful plugins include:

• ZenCache - improves loading time
• WordPress SEO - enter meta title & meta description
• Google Analytics - for measuring visitor numbers
• AddThis - adds social media buttons
• Contact Form 7 - adds a contact form

8)Place the texts and images

Your WordPress website is almost ready! All you have to do is place the texts and images on the site. You can enter it on the pages you have created. You can also choose to post some blog texts via 'Messages'. Try to incorporate some search terms in the texts to make your website rank higher in search engines. It is also useful to enter an alt text with the search term with the images you place. Don't forget to save the pages and messages after entering the texts and images!

Creating a WordPress website is not that difficult. With a simple template, you’ll have your website ready within one day. However, if you choose a theme, and you still want to make a lot of adjustments, you are probably busy with this a bit longer. Fortunately, you can make it as difficult as you want. Good luck designing your WordPress website!