VOLL Web Studio / How to build site in WordPress
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.
Choose web hosting and a domain name
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.
| Criterion for comparison | Free | Paid subscriptions |
| Price | No charge | From £45 to £432 per year. There are several options from simple personal to ecommerce |
| Domain | You choose the name yourself, but “wordpress.com” is appended to it | You choose not only the name but also the extension. For example, “.org”, “.com”, and “.net”. |
| Templates | There are, but they are limited in number. The average is 150 basic topics | A large number of templates, including more complex ones. Quantity: from 350 |
| Customisation options | You cannot create your own unique theme. Editing options are minimal | There are customisation options and advanced plugins are supported |
| Builder advertisement | Yes, you can’t take it away | No |
| Technical support and counselling | Access to tutorials and forums | Consultation with managers |
| Store | 1 GB | From 6 to 200 GB |
| SEO service | Basic analytical tools only | A wide range of SEO tools, including Google Analytics |
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.
Find and install a WordPress theme
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:
- Start WordPress.
- Open the admin panel.
- Go to the “Appearance” section.
- Select the “Themes” subsection.
- Click on the “Add new” button.
- Choose the most suitable variant from the proposed list.
- Click on the “Install” button.
- 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:
- Start WordPress and log in.
- Open the admin panel.
- Go to the “Appearance” section and then go to the “Themes” tab.
- Select the option to add a new theme and then tap on the “Upload” button.
- Click on “Browse”.
- Find the zip archive file in the list.
- Click on the install button.
- 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.
Install plugins
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:
- Go to the control panel.
- Use the menu to find the “Plugins” section.
- Select the option to add a new plugin.
- 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.
| Category | Name | Description |
| Customisation | Beaver Builder | Builder for editing templates and HTML/CSS files |
| Elementor | A builder that helps you easily add/move elements, edit the design and add widgets. It has a built-in collection of templates | |
| Perfomance | W3 Total Cache | Provides caching of all site data |
| SEO | SEOPRESS | Gives a set of analytical tools, and allows you to configure H1/H2/H3, keys and meta tags. automatically generates resource maps |
| All In One SEO | Allows you to easily set up SEO and optimise your website for search engines | |
| Security | Ithemes Security | Dozens of options to improve security. Includes vulnerability detection and attack prevention |
Configure WordPress settings
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.
| Name | Description |
| Slogan (identification tab) | A phrase that captures the essence of your platform. Used for branding and improving SEO performance |
| Name (identification tab) | Primary Name. Can be a repeat of your brand name or be similar to a domain name |
| Logo (identification tab) | Brand visual display. Will be displayed next to the header on all pages |
| Favicon (identification tab) | A small image that will be visible in the browser. This is how visitors can distinguish a tab with your site from others |
| Home Page (home page setting section) | You need to choose which page will be the main page |
| Blog (home page setting section) | Here you select the section where the posts/news will be displayed in chronological order |
| Permalinks (section of the same name) | Option for SEO optimisation. You choose the format for displaying links. It can be simple, numeric, with name, date and so on |
Design Your Homepage and Create More pages
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:
- Open the side menu.
- Go to the “Pages” section.
- 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.
Set up your menu
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:
- Authorise on WordPress.
- Open the control panel.
- In the Appearance section, find the “Menu” tab.
- Add pages from the suggested list.
- To change the order/create a hierarchy, click and hold on specific pages.
- 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.
Add Your Social Media Presence
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”.
Promote your site
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.
FAQ
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How many plugins are acceptable to use?
The recommended number is up to 20. A larger number will significantly affect performance. Often 5-10 plugins are enough.
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What to write on a website blog?
Depends on the topic and type of your site. Often this section publishes current news and informative articles that will be of interest to your target audience.
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Can I change the subscription type in WordPress?
Yes, you can do this at any time. Open the site settings and go to the “Plans or Billing” tab.
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What basic themes are most commonly used?
Astra, Neve and OceanWP are popular. They are quite simple and versatile.