Looking for ways to start a website?
Or do you feel like you don’t have enough time to start your website?
Or is it you have a website and want to make it better but not sure how?
You have come to the right place!
You coming to a website designer’s website is the best place to get information on everything from how to start a website to finding the best tips and tricks in building and making your website the best!
This is post about starting your WordPress website for beginners! This is to show you the steps to build your website! I will also add a few tips in here that other blog articles don’t tell you when it comes to building your website!
So even if you aren’t new to the website building world; you can still learn a few tips from me in this post to make your website the best it can ever be! Or better yet; give me a shout out on a free consultation to go over your website and give you a few pointers! (add the call to action button for your free consultation)
Step 1: Choosing A Name for Your Website
Already have a name? Skip to step 2.
When it comes to choosing a name for your website, you want to make sure it is available. Go to NameSilo And you can also choose a different website where your potential clients/customers can double check for their name) to make sure your domain name for your website is available. You can always start with your personal name for now. Once you know your domain name is free, it is time to purchase your domain name!
Step 2: Buy Your Website Domain Name
There are several domain registrars to buy your domain name. I really recommend NameSilo due to their renewal price is affordable and their free privacy for domain owner information.
But first, “Why do I need to buy a domain name?” you ask.
First, let’s define domain name. A domain name is your website address and your digital footprint for your business.
One reason to buy a domain name: it is YOUR unique digital identity meaning if you go to a website builder and build your website without making sure your domain name is free; someone else could buy it, and you just wasted time building a website and may have to start over again if you can’t afford to buy that domain name from that other person.
Another reason to buy a domain name: to make you look professional, serious, and credible. It also protects you and your rights of trademarks and copyrights as well as increase your brand awareness and search engine positioning.
Now that we have defined domain name and understood the reasons, it is time to buy your domain name.
Go to your chosen preferred domain registrar to purchase your domain name. Enter your personal information and payment information. Record your login information as you will need to log in to direct your domain to your chosen website builder and email service, too. Search for your domain name and if available at your affordable price, buy it.
Tip #1: When buying your domain name, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Some domain registrars may give you discount when you buy for more than one year.
Tip #2: You want to choose a “.com” or a “.net” as these are the preferred searched websites and makes you even more of a legitimate business. I also suggest if you are able to buy your chosen domain name for your website to also purchase the domain name of your full personal name. You never know you could start another business or have another website for passive income!
Tip #3: Now what if you are having problems with your chosen name not being available, you can always put “a,” or “the” in front of your domain name to see if it is available.
Step 3: Purchase Hosting
Hosting is important when it comes to your website. Hosting makes your website and all your information that you want to share visible for the world to see!
Again, there are several web hosting providers that are costly but well worth having. I have two recommendations:
- Just starting your business with low budget: Go with NameCheap Hosting for your first year to adjust with your budget.
- Just starting your business with no cost worries: definitely go with Siteground; they have the best uptime and good cPanel. (put your affiliated link but make sure you have a disclosure at the end stating you have an affiliated links). Tip #4: cPanel is the control panel to manage a web hosting account. Without cPanel, you can’t manage files, database, SSL, email accounts, and more in your hosting. Other control panels have some of cPanel features too, but they are not up to par like what Siteground offers.
Step 4: Setting Up Your Website
If you have chosen your hosting, it is time to install your WordPress website builder. Depending on your hosting, , most web hosting providers have a WordPress auto install option. If you chose Siteground as your web hosting provider, you will have your website up in running in 5 minutes from how easy the setup is through Siteground!
Check out the video of how quick and easy it is for WordPress installation.
Tip #5: A professional website designer like me can secure your WordPress installation manually!
(make a 5 minute video of WordPress installation)
Step 5: Customizing Your Website
Once you have WordPress installed, it is time to have some real fun: designing your website to fit your brand and you! You want to choose a theme that makes you happy because you know if you are happy to see your website every time you look at it then you know your clients or customers will be just as happy and joyful to see it too!
Tip #6: No theme is the best. You can choose premium themes from Themeforest, for example, or just search with related keywords to your niche. If you are on a low budget, you can try using any free theme of your choice inside your WordPress admin Dashboard.
Customizing a theme does take some time and you are going to want to set aside a good chunk of time to devote to it.
Tip #7: Most themes do come with tutorials to make for an easy set up.
But if you are not excited, having a hard time, or it is taking too much of your time in customizing a theme for your website, you can always hire a website designer like me to do it for you!
Step 6: The Important Essentials to Every Website
Every website needs important key essentials that include a home page, about page, contact page, and, of course, a blog page! You can have other pages that can be about anything you want and is an easy process to set up!
A home page welcomes your people to your website and here is definitely where you want to make the best first impression of what your website and brand is all about.
An about page gives people who is behind this website, meaning you of course! People just want to know the what, who, when, where, why, and benefits of your offer, your brand, your blogs, and you.
A contact page is the best place for people to contact you.
Every website should have a blog page to give a central location of all your blogs.
Tip #8: If you plan to collect emails for an email list, do any affiliate marketing, or have ad, it is absolutely IMPORTANT to have a privacy and disclosure policy.
Here are the steps to adding pages:
In the WordPress Dashboard’s sidebar, click “Pages” then click “Add New.”
(Show a WordPress screen shot of this; pointing where to click.)
A new screen shows to allow you to add title, text, and images to build the page that you want. Once you are all done building your page and your page is the way you want, click “Publish.”
(Show a WordPress Screen shot of this.)
Publishing allows people to visibly see it on your website!
Step 7: Installing Key Plugins
“Why do I even need plugins?” you think.
Well plugins are for extension of features which don’t come with base WordPress. You can choose which features you want or don’t want your website to have as well as what best fits your brand and you for your website. Some examples of plugins include social media plugins, security plugins, SEO (search engine optimization) plugins like Yoast, and much more.
Tip #8: Here are a few plugins that I recommend:
- WP Cerber Security, Antispam, & Malware Scan for website security.
- WordPress fastest cache for caching.
- Yoast SEO for SEO & XML sitemap.
Tip #9: Something to keep in mind when installing plugins: if WordPress preloads a lot of plugins, it will slow down your website. You don’t want to add unnecessary plugins or a lot of plugins for your website. ONLY add the necessary ones.
Many websites will mention plenty of other plugins, but again it is what your business, brand, and you need for your website.
Tip #10: Other plugins can be found in theme options like Google Analytics and social media buttons. Again the more WordPress preloads a lot of plugins; a lot slower your website will be.
Step 8: Start Creating Content for Your Website!
Now it is time to add content to your website!
You may be asking, “Why do I need content for my website?”
Content attracts your clients/customers, but you have to utilize keywords to your niche or expertise. This is a different topic; for now, I would like to show you a bit of a tour of your WordPress dashboard in order to understand how to post a blog or change the title of your site.
Changing Your Site’s Title
First things first, you need to change the title of your website to what you want to call your website which is connected to your domain name that you bought in the very first step.
To change the title, click “Settings,” then click “General.”
(Show a WordPress screen shot of this; having an arrow where to click.)
“General Settings” is a great place to change many items like how your date displays and many more.
Adding Blog Posts
This section is only if you plan on starting a blog.
In the WordPress Dashboard’s sidebar, click “Posts” then click “Add New.”
Here you create your blog’s title, text, and images. Once your blog is completed, choose the right category. If you don’t see the category you want, click on “Add New Category.” If you don’t choose one and it is not bad if you don’t, your blog will be added to the “Uncategorized” category.
(Show a WordPress Screen shot of this.)
Step 9: Time to Promote Your Website!
Let the world know all about your website through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat like social media platform.
Not saying you have to have all these social media platforms as that gets to be too time consuming for many people. Unless you have a social media manager to run all your social media platforms, you may want to stick to a few you are either familiar with or have more followers in.
Every time you create new content or a blog post, share it with family, friends, and followers on the social media platforms mentioned earlier!
There are plenty of other ways to increase your website traffic but that is for another blog article.
Step 10: Keep Growing Your Business and Website!
If you don’t already have one, then get an awesome logo made!
Yet again, I am sure you are asking, “Why the heck do I need a logo?”
Logos make your website look professional and attractive! If it is unique and one of a kind, logos help people remember your business if they want to find you!
You can create a logo yourself in Canva or hire a web designer like myself to design one for you. I also have plenty of great designers to refer you too as well!
Lastly and more importantly, how serious are you about building the greatest website?
Well the only way you will find out is by installing Google Analytics, as it will help you see how many people are visiting your site, how long they stay, what pages get the most views, and a bunch of awesome other statistics!
Google Analytics helps you understand the people who visit your site and what you can focus on to keep them either coming, staying, or buying!
You have officially just made your website!!!!
Remember, it will take time, so yes the famous saying comes in here to remind you that “Patience is a virtue.” From consistent amazing content and building an audience through social media platforms, your patience with be a virtue when the people start coming in by the thousands!
Now get out there and get noticed!
Website Making Checklist
- Choose a name for website
- Purchase your domain name
- Purchase your website hosting
- Install WordPress depending on your hosting provider
- Pick a theme
- Adding Key Essential Pages
- Home Page
- About Page
- Contact Page
- Blog Page (If you plan to blog.)
- Installed Key Plugins
- Website Security
- WordPress Fast Caching
- Yoast SEO
- Created Content
- Promoted Website
- Through Social Media Platforms
- Find other ways to promote through other online groups
- If haven’t make an awesome, professional logo
- Keep at it with patience!
Disclosure: We earn commissions from some of the services/products recommended on this site. When you click on our affiliate links and end up purchasing from Siteground, NameSilo. What ever I recommend here is my personal opinion after using these services personally.
