How to build site in WordPress

Creating a platform through WordPress is a convenient solution for those who do not have programming skills. This platform provides access to ready-made templates and a large number of tools for customising the site. You can use both the free basic version and buy a subscription with advanced functionality. We will tell you in detail how to develop a website in WordPress and what to pay attention to.

Every website has a domain – this is its name, which will be seen by visitors in the browser. And for your resource to be displayed on the Internet, you need to purchase a subscription from a hosting provider.
If you decide to build WordPress site, you have two options. The first one is to work through the online platform WordPress.com. In this case, you can buy both the domain name and hosting service from them. This is the easiest option. The tariff plans are divided into 2 types, more about their features – in the table.

That is, the free tariff is a solution for beginners and is more intended for personal purposes. Paid versions are recommended for commercial sites. They have more options for personalisation, a choice of extensions and no ads. So they are more trusted by visitors.

But working through WordPress.com is not the only solution. The second option is to download WordPress.org software. This will give you more control, but you need to find a hosting provider yourself, purchase a tariff, set up DNS records and register a domain name.

A theme is a template that will reflect the architecture and appearance of your website. If you opt for a free subscription, you need to choose a design from the available options. For example, there are some universal and maximum simple free themes. Sites with such templates will load quickly. From you, on the other hand, minimal customisation will be required. To choose a theme from a free package, you need:

1. Start WordPress.
2. Open the admin panel.
3. Go to the “Appearance” section.
4. Select the “Themes” subsection.
5. Click on the “Add new” button.
6. Choose the most suitable variant from the proposed list.
7. Click on the “Install” button.
8. Confirm activation.

If you want a more personalised and unusual template, premium themes are the way to go. You can find and buy them on various marketplaces. For example, StudioPress, MOJO and ThemeForest. But, if you have chosen a free WordPress site, then you will not be able to add extra themes. Only the basic set is available. Guide on how to add a new theme:

1. Start WordPress and log in.
2. Open the admin panel.
3. Go to the “Appearance” section and then go to the “Themes” tab.
4. Select the option to add a new theme and then tap on the “Upload” button.
5. Click on “Browse”.
6. Find the zip archive file in the list.
7. Click on the install button.
8. Activate your theme.

After that, you can move on to editing. WordPress in the paid versions offers many tools, from the basic Gutenberg editor to Cascading Style Sheets. So you can change colours, indents and fonts, as well as add new styles.

To improve the design, security, SEO, performance and other features of your website, you can install additional plugins. This option is only available in the paid version of WordPress. No programming experience is needed to use the plugins. How to install them:

1. Go to the control panel.
2. Use the menu to find the “Plugins” section.
3. Select the option to add a new plugin.
4. Click on the install and then activate button.

Although plugins are effective tools to improve the site, you should not install too many options. This will lead to a slowdown in the work of your resource. In the table below we will consider Web Development services that may be useful.

The next step is to make basic customisations. This is how you can personalise the site and set the overall hierarchy. The settings are located in the “Appearance” section. We have put the basic settings in the table below.

The homepage is the face of your website and brand. You’ve already chosen the general theme, but now you can move on to more detailed settings. On the top bar, you’ll find the “List” section, which will give you access to the basic elements. This includes the header and footer with contact details, these will be displayed on all pages of the site. There is also a “Content” item that shows all the content on the homepage.

You can edit all the captions, just click on the template text and type a new one instead. You can also replace images by going to specific blocks through the “List” option, and add new content. Make sure to save all changes.

Next, you need to move on to creating new pages. It is better to think about the architecture of the site in advance. How to create new pages:

1. Open the side menu.
2. Go to the “Pages” section.
3. Select the “Add New” option.

Create the desired number of pages. You can then proceed to edit them. It is easy to find the “All pages” section via the menu and select the desired page from the list. After that, all that remains is to click on the edit button. More options will be available if you use the plugin builder. When you have made all the changes, click on the publish button.

Ease of navigation is an important criterion for a website. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the creation of the main menu. You need to add previously created pages to it. How to do it:

1. Authorise on WordPress.
2. Open the control panel.
3. In the Appearance section, find the “Menu” tab.
4. Add pages from the suggested list.
5. To change the order/create a hierarchy, click and hold on specific pages.
6. Save your changes.

To make this menu the primary one, you need to open the ‘Menu Settings’ section. You should check the box next to ‘Primary’ in the ‘Display location’ section.

If your brand has social media/ messenger pages, you can add links to them. This will help improve communication and promote the site. You can add icons through the menu, the required block is called “Social Icons”.

Create a WordPress site – that’s not all. Next, you need to move on to promoting your resource to ensure stable traffic. A few recommendations from the employees of the Digital Marketing Agency:

• Add a link to your website to all marketing materials;
• Create pages on all the top social networks;
• Use Google Ads, Bing Ads, LinkedIn Ads, and Facebook Ads;
• Prepare email newsletters with a link to your resource;
• Order advertising from bloggers and platforms with similar themes.

SEO optimisation will help to increase the success of your advertising. Use analytics tools, add keys and make regular changes.