Dreams of launching your website but feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place! WordPress is a super user-friendly platform that makes website creation a breeze, even if you have zero technical experience. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process of building a simple, yet awesome, WordPress website.

What You’ll Need

  • A Domain Name: Your website’s address (e.g., https://www.abijita.com)
  • Web Hosting: A storage space on a server where your website lives.
  • WordPress: The free software that powers your site (we’ll install this together).

Step 1: Get a Domain Name and Web Hosting

domain and web hosting difference

Think of your domain name as your online address and web hosting as the land your house (aka website) is built on. Many hosting providers offer domain names along with their hosting packages. Popular options include:

  • Bluehost
  • SiteGround
  • Hostinger

How Both Are Related?

Domain names and web hosting are two different services. However, they work together to make websites possible. A domain name system is like a massive address book that is constantly updated. Behind each domain name, there is an address of the web hosting service storing the website’s files.

Without domain names, it will not be possible for people to find your website and without web hosting, you cannot build a website.

Step 2: Install WordPress

Most hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation, making the process super easy. Look for this option in your hosting control panel.

Method 1: Using Softaculous Apps Installer

READ
The Hidden Dangers of Social Media: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

Most cPanel accounts have Softaculous, making this the easiest option:

  1. Log in to cPanel: Access your cPanel through your hosting provider’s portal.
  2. Locate Softaculous: Often found under a “Software” or “Website Builders” section.
  3. Search for WordPress: Type “WordPress” in the search bar.
  4. Click “Install Now”: Select the WordPress icon and click the install button.
  5. Configure Installation:
    • Choose Protocol: http:// or https:// (https:// is more secure).
    • Select Domain: Choose the domain where you want to install WordPress.
    • Directory: Leave blank to install in the main directory, or specify a subfolder if desired.
    • Site Settings: Enter your site name and description.
    • Admin Account: Create your WordPress admin username, password, and email.
    • Select Plugins: (Optional) Some installers allow you to pre-install useful plugins.
  6. Click “Install”: Softaculous will handle the rest!

Method 2: Manual Installation

Buy Me a Coffee

This method is slightly more technical but still manageable:

  1. Download WordPress: Get the latest version from https://wordpress.org/download/.
  2. Upload to cPanel:
    • File Manager: In cPanel, go to File Manager -> public_html (or your desired install location). Upload the WordPress zip file and extract it.
    • FTP: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to connect to your hosting account and upload the extracted WordPress files to your desired location.
  3. Create a Database:
    • In cPanel: Go to MySQL Databases. Create a database, a database user, and assign the user to the database with all privileges.
  4. Run the WordPress Installer:
    • Visit your domain name in your browser: This triggers the WordPress installer. Follow the on-screen prompts, entering the database information you created.
READ
What You Should Never Share on Social Media: Protecting Your Privacy and Security

Step 3: Choose a WordPress Theme

A theme is like your website’s outfit – it determines the look and feel. WordPress has thousands of free and paid themes. Here’s how to find one:

  1. In Your WordPress Dashboard: Go to Appearance -> Themes -> Add New.
  2. Browse and Preview: Use the filters to narrow down your search and preview themes before installing.

Step 4: Customize Your Design

It’s time to personalize! Your theme will have customization options. Play around with:

  • Colors & Fonts: Make them match your brand, if you have one.
  • Logo: Upload your logo or create a simple title image.
  • Widgets: Add sidebars and footers for extra functionality.

Step 5: Create Essential Pages

Most websites have a few key pages:

  • Homepage: Your website’s welcome mat.
  • About Page: Tell your story.
  • Contact Page: Let people get in touch.
  • Blog (optional): Share your expertise or updates.

Step 6: Install Useful Plugins

Plugins are like apps for your website, adding tons of functionality. Here are some beginner-friendly essentials:

  • Yoast SEO or RankMath: Helps optimize your site for search engines.
  • Contact Form 7 A simple contact form plugin.
  • WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache: Helps speed up your site.

Step 7: Launch Your Website!

Once you’re happy with the look and content, hit that publish button!

Bonus: Marketing & Maintenance

  • Share on Social Media: Tell the world about your cool new site.
  • Basic SEO: Use your chosen SEO plugin to optimize your pages.
  • Regular Updates: Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated for security.
READ
What You Should Never Share on Social Media: Protecting Your Privacy and Security

Congratulations!

You’ve officially created a WordPress website – give yourself a pat on the back. Remember, websites evolve, so keep learning, experimenting, and adding new content!