When you\u2018re just getting started with making a website, I know that the process of learning how to use WordPress can feel overwhelming. We\u2019ve all been there, so you’re certainly not alone.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n While WordPress<\/a> does have a bit of a learning curve, I still think it\u2018s something that anyone can use to build a website \u2014 even people who have never done so before. That\u2019s why WordPress is, by far, the most popular way to make a website<\/a>.<\/p>\n To make the process as painless as possible, all you need is the right knowledge, which is what we\u2018ve created this post for. Below, I\u2019ll take you step-by-step through how to use WordPress to build your very own website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Table\u00a0of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n What is WordPress?<\/a> WordPress Website Tips and Tricks<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n To give you more flexibility when designing your website and adding features, the core WordPress software is built in a very extensible way. You can use WordPress plugins<\/a> to add new functionality to your site and WordPress themes<\/a> to control the design of your site.<\/p>\n Below, I\u2018ll cover everything that you need to build your own WordPress site, starting from zero and working up to adding your own content and plugins. Beyond the step-by-step guide, I\u2019ll also share a list of tips and tricks to remember while working with WordPress.<\/p>\n But first, let me answer the question most people have when they begin thinking about their new WordPress website: What is the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com?<\/p>\n\n Download the Free Guide<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n The difference between WordPress.org<\/a>, WordPress.com<\/a>, and WordPress VIP<\/a> primarily has to do with who is actually hosting<\/a> your website.<\/p>\n When most people say \u201cWordPress,\u201d they’re referring to WordPress.org, which is the home of the open-source WordPress project.<\/p>\n However, because all three entities have \u201cWordPress\u201d in their names, I understand that they can cause a lot of confusion, especially for people who are brand new to WordPress.<\/p>\n So, let me break it down.<\/p>\n WordPress.org<\/a> is the home of the open-source WordPress software, along with many associated things such as the WordPress plugin and theme directories.<\/p>\n When you use the WordPress.org<\/a> software, you <\/em>host your own website, which is why you’ll also see it called \u201cself-hosted WordPress.\u201d<\/p>\n Essentially, this means that you purchase web hosting from one of the many providers and install the WordPress software on that hosting. While that might sound complex, most hosts make this super easy and will even pre-install WordPress for you so that you can start building right away (and I’ll cover the full process below).<\/p>\n You\u2018ll also have 100% control and ownership over your website. You can post whatever content you want, add any extension, edit the code in any way, etc. It\u2019s 100% within your control because you’re hosting the software.<\/p>\n Despite sharing the same domain name, WordPress.com is a completely separate entity from WordPress.org, though a lot of the same people are involved in both WordPress.org and WordPress.com.<\/p>\n Instead of requiring you to use your own hosting, WordPress.com<\/a> offers to host your website for <\/em>you, more like a software-as-a-service tool (SaaS) or a website-as-a-service (WaaS).<\/p>\n You can either use a WordPress.com subdomain for free (e.g.,<\/strong> yoursite.wordpress.com<\/strong>), or you can pay to use your own custom domain name (e.g., yoursite.com<\/strong>), which I think is a better approach for most websites.<\/p>\n One important thing to know about WordPress.com is that its free and cheap plans do not<\/strong> give you full access to the WordPress software. For example, if you want the ability to install your own custom themes and plugins, you’ll need to purchase at least the Business<\/strong> plan.<\/p>\n WordPress.com is owned by Automattic, a for-profit company founded by one of the co-founders of the open-source WordPress project.<\/p>\n WordPress VIP is a concierge service offered by Automattic, the same company behind WordPress.com.<\/p>\n WordPress.com<\/a> is focused on \u201cregular\u201d people and businesses, with plans that cap out at $45 per month when paid annually. Meanwhile, WordPress VIP is focused on offering solutions for much larger businesses and organizations. This is why WordPress VIP also brands itself as \u201cEnterprise WordPress.\u201d<\/p>\n To give you an idea, some of the brands using WordPress VIP include Time, Meta, etc.<\/p>\n WordPress VIP plans are customized to the business but start at around $25,000 per year, so I don’t think that WordPress VIP is really something that most WordPress webmasters need to think about.<\/p>\n You may be wondering whether WordPress.org or WordPress.com would be a better fit. Let\u2019s review a few more of the pros and cons that come with both options, so you can make an informed decision.<\/p>\n WordPress.org <\/strong>is ideal if you want full power over customizing and controlling your website. Because you\u2018re hosting it yourself, it\u2019s 100% yours, and you can do whatever you want with it.<\/p>\n Self-hosting WordPress is also the cheapest way to access the full power of the WordPress software, including the ability to install plugins and themes.<\/p>\n The downside, though, is that you\u2018ll be responsible for maintaining everything and applying updates. I think that WordPress.org is still definitely something that a non-technical user can handle, but it\u2019s still not as easy as WordPress.com.<\/p>\n To ease this workload, some providers offer managed WordPress hosting, which simplifies the process by handling updates, security, and backups. This makes it easier for non-technical users to manage a WordPress.org site, though it still requires more effort than WordPress.com.<\/p>\n WordPress.com <\/strong>can be a good option if you\u2018re willing to pay a little more to have everything done for you. From a technical perspective, it\u2019s absolutely the simplest way to make a WordPress website. You just register for an account and start building.<\/p>\n WordPress.com has a free and paid version. If you stick with the free version, you can\u2019t upload any custom themes or plugins, and you will have a WordPress subdomain. I think this makes the free plan unsuitable for most serious websites.<\/p>\n If you want to use your own custom domain name and install your own WordPress themes and plugins, you’ll need to pay for<\/a> at least the WordPress.com Business <\/strong>plan, which costs $40 per month (or $25 per month if you pay annually).<\/p>\n If this is outside of your budget, you can make a WordPress website for cheaper by using self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org). The process just won’t be quite<\/em> as simple as what WordPress.com offers.<\/p>\n Finally, if you’re looking for an enterprise WordPress solution, you might consider WordPress VIP<\/strong>. However, the high prices of WordPress VIP mean that it’s not a viable option for most \u201cregular\u201d WordPress webmasters.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n There are a number of ways for you to create your dream website with WordPress. Users generally find the software easy to use<\/a>, but I know that getting started can be understandably intimidating if you\u2019re completely new to the process.<\/p>\n In the section below, I’ll take you through the entire process of setting up a WordPress website using your choice of WordPress.com or self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org).<\/p>\n I’ll cover every single step in the process, from setting up your basic website to choosing a theme, adding content, tweaking important settings, installing plugins, and more.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Here’s how you can create your own WordPress site using either WordPress.org or WordPress.com.<\/p>\n To start, you\u2018ll need to choose whether you\u2019re using WordPress.org (AKA self-hosted WordPress) or WordPress.com.<\/p>\n If you want to use WordPress.org, you can skip ahead to the next step.<\/p>\n If you want to use WordPress.com, you\u2019ll have to choose between the five preset plans<\/a> that WordPress.com offers. There\u2018s also a free plan, but it\u2019s fairly limited<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n Again, I think that most people who are looking to make a serious website should choose at least the Business plan. You’ll need this plan to install your own custom themes and plugins, which are some of the best parts of WordPress.<\/p>\n However, if you don\u2018t think you\u2019ll need any custom themes or plugins, I think the Personal plan is also fine, as it lets you use your own custom domain name and removes the WordPress.com ads.<\/p>\n If you\u2018d rather use WordPress.org than WordPress.com, you\u2019ll need to choose your hosting provider and set up your domain name before you can start building your WordPress website.<\/p>\n Before I cover how to complete those tasks, I think that it’s important to discuss the difference between your domain name and hosting provider.<\/p>\n Think about your domain name as your website’s home address \u2014 it\u2019s how your visitors are able to locate your website on the Internet. Your domain name will look something like this: www.example.com. For example, our domain name is hubspot.com.<\/p>\n Your hosting provider is like your house. It’s where your website files are actually stored. Without a hosting provider, your site wouldn\u2019t have space on a server to \u201clive.\u201d Some of the best WordPress hosting<\/a> providers include WP Engine<\/a>, Hostinger<\/a>, Bluehost<\/a>, Rocket.net<\/a>, Dreamhost<\/a>, WordPress VIP<\/a>, and Kinsta<\/a>.<\/p>\n Personally, I use Rocket.net for my own websites. However, I recognize that it might not fit the budget of first time webmasters, so you can also consider cheaper options like Bluehost or Hostinger.<\/p>\n\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Again, WordPress.org requires <\/em>you to purchase your own domain and find a third-party hosting provider for your website. WordPress.com allows you to decide <\/em>whether or not you want a custom domain, depending on the plan you choose, but it takes care of the hosting for you.<\/p>\n Your hosting provider is important because it impacts your website\u2019s speed, security, and reliability. There are hundreds of providers to choose from, which is why we put together a list of the best WordPress hosting providers<\/a> to help you decide what will work best for you. All of these providers meet WordPress\u2019s three basic hosting requirements<\/a>:<\/p>\n PHP version 7.4 or greater When considering hosting providers for your WordPress site, make sure they meet all of the above criteria.<\/p>\n For domain names, getting one is as easy as searching and purchasing one through your domain registrar of choice<\/a>. Many web hosts also offer their own domain registration services, and some will even give you a free domain name for the first year.<\/p>\n If you are new to WordPress but have already purchased and created a domain name elsewhere, no problem, you\u2019ll have the option to transfer<\/a> or map<\/a> it to your WordPress website.<\/p>\n For the sake of this guide, let\u2019s assume you do not <\/em>yet have a domain or hosting provider. Here\u2019s how to start creating your website with the popular hosting service Bluehost.<\/p>\n First, head to Bluehost\u2019s WordPress hosting page<\/a> and click View Plans<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n From here, you\u2019ll be taken to Bluehost\u2019s pricing page to choose from three plans.<\/p>\n\n I recommend using the Choice Plus <\/strong>plan if it fits your budget, but the Basic <\/strong>plan is fine if you want to keep costs as low as possible. Make sure to pay attention to both the promotional price and the renewal price when making your decision.<\/p>\n Once you choose your plan, you\u2019ll be taken to another page to sign up for a domain name (which is free for the first year).<\/p>\n\n Once you select your domain name, you\u2019ll be brought to a page to complete your account and billing information for your purchase.<\/p>\n I don\u2018t think most people need any of the add-ons, so feel free to disable them. For example, Bluehost already offers free SSL certificates via Let\u2019s Encrypt, so there’s no need to purchase the premium SSL add-on.<\/p>\n\n After confirming your account and purchasing your domain, you will gain access to your hosting dashboard, where you\u2019ll be able to install the WordPress CMS.<\/p>\n If you are using your own WordPress hosting provider (instead of WordPress.com), you\u2019ll need to install the WordPress software to connect your new domain to your website.<\/p>\n I know \u2014 that sounds like it\u2018s going to be complicated. But don\u2019t worry! I think you’ll be surprised by how easy and non-technical it is to install WordPress.<\/p>\n Because WordPress is so popular, most quality web hosts have built really simple dashboards that make installing WordPress as simple as clicking a few buttons.<\/p>\n Some dedicated WordPress hosting providers will even pre-install WordPress for you so that you can get started right away.<\/p>\n For this example, let’s continue using Bluehost. However, in my experience, the same general principles that you see here will apply to pretty much any quality WordPress host.<\/p>\n Here’s how to start:<\/p>\n Log in to your Bluehost account Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n On the next screen, choose the option to Install WordPress<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n You can then give your site a title and choose which domain you want to connect to (you should already see your domain name if you chose a free domain name when signing up for Bluehost).<\/p>\n\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n After you click Continue<\/strong>, there will be a short wait while Bluehost installs WordPress for you.<\/p>\n Once the installation process finishes, you’ll see an option to Log Into WordPress<\/strong>, which will take you to your WordPress dashboard.<\/p>\n\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n As I mentioned above, the process will look slightly different if you’re using another WordPress host, but the basic steps will be the same.<\/p>\n For example, here’s what the WordPress installer looks like at Rocket.net, a dedicated WordPress host that I use for my personal websites:<\/p>\n\n Now, on to step four: making your website look nice by setting up your WordPress theme.<\/p>\n WordPress themes<\/a> help you control the overall design and style of your website without changing the underlying content.<\/p>\n You can kind of think of them like clothes. If you put on a new shirt, you’re still \u201cyou\u201d underneath. But at the same time, the shirt lets you quickly change how you look to the outside world.<\/p>\n For example, let\u2018s say you publish a few blog posts and then decide you want to change your theme. After changing your theme, all of those blog posts will still be there. They\u2019ll just be styled differently according to the rules of your new WordPress theme.<\/p>\n When you first install the WordPress software, WordPress automatically applies a default theme that looks rather plain. Instead of using that default theme, I recommend installing a new WordPress theme that matches your preferred design aesthetic.<\/p>\n You can find thousands of free or paid themes, so you’re almost certain to find a design that you like.<\/p>\n In the past, it was common to find very niche-specific WordPress themes. For example, one WordPress theme for \u201crestaurant websites\u201d and a different WordPress theme for \u201cplumbing businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n However, nowadays, the most popular approach with developers is to just offer one flexible base theme and then lots of importable starter sites. In my experience, this is the best way to go when choosing your themes.<\/p>\n Personally, I think that choosing a lightweight multipurpose theme like Astra<\/a>, Kadence Theme<\/a>, or GeneratePress<\/a> is a great place to start. I personally use GeneratePress on most of my websites, if you’re wondering.<\/p>\n All of these themes are multipurpose (which means you can use them for any type of site) and include dozens or hundreds of importable \u201cstarter sites.\u201d This basically means that you can import a starter site design with just a few clicks and then instantly have a beautiful website.<\/p>\n However, we also have a post on our favorite WordPress themes<\/a> and a guide on how to choose your WordPress theme<\/a>.<\/p>\n Once you choose the WordPress theme that you want to use, here’s how to install it:<\/p>\n Open your WordPress dashboard. If it\u2018s a free theme at WordPress.org, you can install it by searching for it. If it\u2019s a premium theme that you purchased directly from a developer, you’ll need to upload the .zip file for your theme.<\/p>\n\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Once you find the perfect theme, you can install it to begin customizing. Each theme has different steps required during the customization process, so be sure to follow them closely.<\/p>\n Generally, you can customize most <\/em>WordPress themes by going to Appearance <\/strong>\u2192 Customize<\/strong>. This will open the WordPress Customizer, which lets you easily make changes using preset options and a real-time preview of your site.<\/p>\n\n If you choose one of the newer \u201cFull-Site Editing\u201d themes<\/a>, you can customize it by going to Appearance<\/strong>, then Editor.<\/strong><\/p>\n For more details, we have a whole post on how to customize a WordPress theme<\/a>. You can also consult your theme developer’s documentation for instructions that are specific to your chosen theme.<\/p>\n When you add content to your WordPress website, it\u2019s usually displayed in the form of posts and pages:<\/p>\n Posts <\/strong>\u2014 Use these when you want to create blog posts or other similar content. New posts will automatically appear at the top of your blog listing page, and each post will have its own public publish date. <\/p>\n Pages <\/strong>\u2014 These are better for static content that doesn’t have a publish date. For example, your \u201cAbout\u201d page<\/a>, \u201cContact\u201d page<\/a>, and so on. There\u2018s no default page that lists all of your \u201cPages,\u201d but you can add links to them using your site\u2019s navigation menu or other areas. <\/p>\n For more advanced use cases, you can also create your own WordPress custom post types<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, I don’t recommend going that route until you become more familiar with the WordPress software. I do recommend learning this eventually, though, as it really unlocks a ton of flexibility.<\/p>\n To add a post to your website, go to the admin dashboard, click Posts<\/strong>, and then Add New Post<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n To add text, you can just click in the editor and start typing. For other elements \u2014 e.g., images or buttons \u2014 you can add blocks to the editor<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more details, we have a whole guide on how to use the WordPress block editor<\/a>.<\/p>\n When you’re finished, click Save Draft <\/strong>to save your changes as a draft, or click Publish <\/strong>to immediately take the post live.<\/p>\n Adding a page to your website is a similar process. In your admin area, click Pages<\/strong>, then Add New Page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n You can then add content using the block editor and Publish <\/strong>it when you’re finished.<\/p>\n Beyond the theme you choose, there are a number of ways to customize your website. I think that now is a good time to review a few options.<\/p>\n First, you can customize your site title. From your admin dashboard, select Settings > General<\/strong>. Here, add your website title and tagline. You can also toggle other basic site information like your URL, email, time zone, and more.<\/p>\n\n Next, go to Settings > Reading. <\/strong>This is the area where you can change the homepage of your website, which is something that I recommend doing.<\/p>\n By default, WordPress will display your latest blog posts on your site\u2018s homepage, which is a remnant of WordPress’s blogging roots. However, I think that most websites, even including blogs, will benefit from creating a static homepage instead.<\/p>\n That way, you can make sure that you’re putting your best foot forward when you introduce visitors to your website\/brand.<\/p>\n You can create your homepage as I showed you above (Pages \u2192 Add New Page<\/strong>) and then assign it in this settings area.<\/p>\n If you still plan to have a blog, you can also create a new \u201cBlog\u201d page and assign it as your Posts page<\/strong>. That way, visitors will be able to see your latest blog posts by going to yoursite.com\/blog<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n Outside of the settings area, I also recommend customizing your WordPress site’s navigation menu<\/a>, which can help your visitors to easily find information on your website.<\/p>\n Here’s how to add or edit a navigation menu:<\/p>\n Go to the Appearance <\/strong>tab in your WordPress dashboard. If you\u2018re using a new \u201cFull-Site Editing\u201d theme, you\u2019ll go to Appearance <\/strong>and then Editor <\/strong>instead. However, most popular WordPress themes still use the Menus <\/strong>interface.<\/p>\n\n From here, you can determine how you want your navigation menu to look, how many pages you want to include, what you want to title those pages, and what order you want them to be listed in.<\/p>\n The exact design of your navigation menu will depend on your WordPress theme.<\/p>\n Of course, this is just a fraction of what you can do in the dashboard \u2014 this post offers<\/a> more information on your WordPress site settings and customization options.<\/p>\n WordPress plugins<\/a> are add-ons to the core WordPress software that let you add new functionality to your site. This could be frontend functionality to create a better experience for your visitors or add new features to your site. Or, it could be backend functionality to help you more efficiently manage your website and business.<\/p>\n You can use plugins for small features (such as adding a contact form<\/a>) or big features (such as turning your site into a fully functioning online store<\/a> or online course).<\/p>\n With over 59,000 free plugins in the WordPress.org directory<\/a> (and thousands more free and premium plugins at other locations), there are options for almost every type of website and user.<\/p>\n Pretty much every single WordPress site will need plugins. This is because the core WordPress software assumes that you\u2018ll use plugins to add certain features. For example, if you want to implement search engine optimization best practices, you\u2019ll need a WordPress SEO plugin to help you do that.<\/p>\n Here\u2018s a quick rundown of some of my favorite plugins for key features that most WordPress sites need. You don\u2019t necessarily need to install all<\/em> of these plugins, but I think you’ll want to consider using at least some of them.<\/p>\n HubSpot WordPress Plugin<\/a><\/strong>. Easily add pop-ups, forms, and live chat to your WordPress website. It also lets you integrate the HubSpot CRM into your WordPress website. <\/p>\n The SEO Framework<\/a><\/strong>. This is one of my personal favorite SEO plugins. However, there are also several other popular and high-quality SEO plugins including Yoast SEO<\/a>, All in One SEO<\/a>, and Rank Math<\/a>. <\/p>\n Gravity Forms<\/a><\/strong>. This is one of the best general-purpose form builder plugins for WordPress<\/a>. You can use it for basic contact forms or more advanced forms such as user registration, payments, and more. If you’re looking for a free solution, I think Fluent Forms<\/a> can also be a good option. <\/p>\n WP Rocket<\/a><\/strong>. This is a great premium plugin for speeding up your WordPress site and making it more efficient. If you want a free option, you can also consider the WP-Optimize plugin<\/a>. <\/p>\n Elementor<\/a><\/strong>. If you want to add a visual, drag-and-drop design experience to WordPress, Elementor is a great option. We have a post that covers how to use Elementor<\/a>. <\/p>\n The Events Calendar<\/a><\/strong>. If you want to add events to your website, I think this is one of the best options. <\/p>\n Weglot<\/a><\/strong>. A top translation plugin for translating WordPress and WooCommerce websites. TranslatePress<\/a> is also another great option if you don’t want to pay a monthly fee for Weglot. <\/p>\n Wordfence<\/a><\/strong>. Depending on your web host, you may or may not need a dedicated security plugin. If you do need some extra security, I think that Wordfence is one of the top options. <\/p>\n To discover even more options, we have a whole post on the best WordPress plugins<\/a>. You can also search the HubSpot blog for lists of plugins for specific use cases, such as the best WordPress survey plugins<\/a>.<\/p>\n To install a new plugin, click on the Plugins <\/strong>menu in the sidebar of your WordPress dashboard. This shows you all the plugins currently installed on your site.<\/p>\n Depending on your host, you might have several plugins installed already. Note that for a plugin to work, you must activate it after installing.<\/p>\n\n Here’s how to add a new plugin that you found in the WordPress.org plugin directory:<\/p>\n Click the Add New Plugin <\/strong>button (or go to Plugins<\/strong> \u2192 Add New Plugin<\/strong>). For plugins that are not listed in the WordPress.org plugin directory, you can also upload a .zip file by clicking the Upload Plugin <\/strong>button at the top. You’ll typically use this approach if you purchase a premium plugin directly from the developer.<\/p>\n
\n WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com vs. WordPress VIP<\/a>
\n WordPress for Beginners: How to Use WordPress<\/a>
\n How to Build a WordPress Website<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com vs. WordPress VIP<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nWhat is <\/strong>WordPress.org<\/a><\/strong>?<\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n\nWhat is <\/strong>WordPress.com<\/a><\/strong>?<\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\nWhat is WordPress VIP?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How to Choose Between WordPress.org, WordPress.com, or WordPress VIP<\/strong><\/h3>\n
WordPress for Beginners: How to Use WordPress<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Select a WordPress plan (WordPress.com only).<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Set up your domain name and hosting provider (WordPress.org).<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How to Pick Domain and Hosting Providers<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n MySQL version 8.0 or greater OR MariaDB version 10.6 or greater.
\n HTTPS support <\/p>\n3. Install WordPress.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n Select Hosting <\/strong>on the left side
\n Click Add Site<\/strong>. <\/p>\n4. Choose and install your theme.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Choose your WordPress theme.<\/h4>\n
Install your WordPress theme.<\/h4>\n
\n Go to Appearance \u2192 Themes<\/strong>.
\n Click the Add New Theme <\/strong>button at the top. <\/p>\nCustomize your WordPress theme.<\/h4>\n
5. Add posts and pages to your website.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Customize your website.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n Select the Menus<\/strong> option.
\n Edit the existing menu that comes with your theme or create a new one. <\/p>\n7. Install WordPress plugins to add new features.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n Search for your desired plugin.
\n Click the Install Now <\/strong>button for the plugin that you want to install.
\n Once the installation process finishes (it should only take a few seconds), the Install Now<\/strong> button should change to Activate<\/strong>. Click the Activate<\/strong> button to make the plugin live on your site. <\/p>\n