Wondering how to design or make a website? What skills do you need in order to create a good website for the audiences online to view?
You are now reading the right post as we will further explain how you can create a website. This tutorial applies to everyone, it doesn’t matter even if you’re a beginner, as long as you are able to understand the practical skills in creating a website, then your website will be presented the way you wanted it to be.
Have you ever created a blog for fun? Remember when there was this one time where blogging among the youngsters, especially teenagers actually became a trend? That was when we ended up learning the basic HTML codes on our own and suddenly we felt like we were an expert; those were actually good times and it was a great exposure to the creation of a website.
In the digital age of technology today and how the use of the internet has evolved, many businesses and organisations set up a website to represent their brands. The blogging platform that was popular back then was Blogspot, but today WordPress is widely used among many businesses as it is more user-friendly and easier to use.
There are numerous other online platforms where you can create a website. You can simply search for them online and see which platform you prefer the most.
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Why do most people use WordPress?
Recent research data stated that 52% of websites use WordPress as their platform. Unlike other website building platforms, WordPress is completely free and you can easily create your own site without paying any cent. Below are other reasons why people opt for WordPress better than other platforms:
1. You don’t have to learn to code that much
WordPress already sets everything up for the users. The website designs and layout are all one click away; you don’t have to key in all the code from scratch.
2. User-friendly
Being a user-friendly platform makes the steps easier. It only requires you to go to the relevant tab, click and start doing the processes you have to do.
3. Best platform for beginners
Forget about the difficulties you might be facing because, with WordPress, you can learn how to create a website without guidance. It’s not as simple as 123 but if you are savvy enough when it comes to learning technical skills, it will not be hard for you to fully understand how WordPress works.
Is creating a website difficult?
You don’t necessarily have to have a background in programming or design in order to build a website unless you want to create an original template and layout from scratch.
But today we have been blessed with website building platforms where you can easily create the website without even focusing too much on the coding. Sounds fun? It is! There is not much of a challenge you have to think of.
Why you should learn on your own?
1. Cheaper option
Instead of hiring expensive website builders, it is more convenient if you can learn how to do the basic steps on how to design a website. Also worth mentioning that website builder/developer is expensive. Save your budget and start learning how to create a website on your own today!
2. A path for newer skills
It will be easier for you to manage your own site as you know all the details and technicalities. It will be valuable knowledge for you to learn because the skills of creating a website can be applied anywhere, be it for your own company or business you’re working with.
4 Simple steps in creating a website for beginners
This comprehensive WordPress tutorial takes four steps and you need to follow each step to create your own website. After you’ve decided which website building platform to use, you may start by referring to the steps below:
1. Get a domain name and web hosting
To build a website, you will need two important things which are:
- Domain Name (a customised web address, eg: YourSiteName.com)
- Web Hosting (a service that connects your site to the internet)
Why do I need a domain name?
A domain name is needed to represent your brand, company or organisation. Using a free domain typically includes the name of the website building platform you’re using (eg: YourSiteName.wordpress.com). For a more professional outlook, it is best to use your own domain (eg: YourSiteName.com). You can find hosting providers that offer domains free for one year, after that, you will be charged a reasonable amount which will cost around $15 per year.
Why do I need web hosting?
When you upload images or other files to your site, you will need a hosting where you can store the images and files you are going to put on your site. If you do not have web hosting, your website will be visible on the internet for the public to view.
2. Set up your website
Once you have already completed the first step, it’s time to set up your website accordingly.
Easy Installation
If you are using a web hosting other than WordPress, you will still need to install WordPress to the hosting. It is easy as it does not require much process for you to have WordPress installed.
Most hosting companies usually provide integrated 1-click-installation for WordPress, which makes it super convenient for you.
Manual Installation
If the hosting you are using does not have 1-click-installation, the only choice left is to install WordPress manually. You can follow the steps below:
- Download WordPress here
- Create a new folder on your desktop or laptop and unzip WordPress in it
- Look for a file named wp-config-sample.php and rename it to wp-config.php
- Open the wp-config.php (with notepad) and fill the following lines:
- define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘database_name_here’); – Database name (if you don’t know it, ask this from your hosting support)
- define(‘DB_USER’, ‘username_here’); – Your hosting username
- define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘password_here’); – Your hosting password
After you are done filling the gaps, save the file.
5. Now log into your hosting FTP (download FileZilla for that). The FTP address is usually ftp.yourdomain.com, username and password are the same that you used to register to your host domain.
6. If there is any file named “index”, you can delete it. After that upload all the files from your WordPress folder to your FTP server.
7. Once you have completed the previous steps, go to the URL: yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php
After that, you will see a page with a form for you to fill in.
3. Design your website
Once you have got everything settled, you will see a basic and clean website. This is where your creativity in designs should be used.
Choose a theme
You can select and choose your own design template for the website. Even WordPress has different design templates as a part of your options. You can also customise your own website design, but if you have basic HTML code knowledge, it will be easier for you to design your site.
How to choose a theme you like for the website
- Login into your WordPress dashboard. If you’re not sure how to type in: https://yoursite.com/wp-admin (just replace “your site” with your domain).
- Be prepared to use your platform as an “Access free theme”
- Install the new theme
When you have finished doing the steps, you will need to activate the website.
Another thing to note is that: Changing themes will not delete your existing posts on the site. You can change your theme multiple times, so you don’t have to worry about missing posts, pages and content.
4. Add content
This is probably the last awaited step. With your theme installed, you are ready to start developing content on the site. These are some of the common things you can do once your website is ready:
- Adding and editing pages
- Adding pages to the menu
- Adding and editing posts
- Customisation and more edits:
- Changing the post’s title and tagline
- Disabling comments for posts and pages
- Setting up a static front page
- Editing sidebars
5. Add plugins
WordPress Plugins are similar to applications for your website. They let you to customise and add functionality to your WordPress site. Consider contact forms, photo galleries, and other such features.
Moreover, by going to the Plugins page in your WordPress dashboard, you may install plugins. There are now over 58,000 free WordPress plugins available. Paid plugins are also available from third-party websites and developers.
Here are some popular plugins:
- PushEngage: This allows you to interact with people after they leave your website, which helps to improve website traffic
- UpdraftPlus: Create automated scheduled backups of your website
- WooCommerce: This allows you to easily create an online store and sell actual goods
- MonsterInsights: Link your website to Google Analytics to observe how people find and utilise it so you can keep them coming back
FAQs On Building A Website
Is creating a website using WordPress the only option?
No, there are several alternative website builders available, including Web.com, Wix, GoDaddy, and others. However, we feel that WordPress is the finest and most user-friendly platform for creating a website. Other industry professionals agree with us, which is why WordPress is used by over 41% of all websites on the internet.
How do I start selling my products?
An online store may be quickly added to your WordPress website. While there are many alternative eCommerce systems available, such as Shopify and BigCommerce, we recommend utilising the WooCommerce WordPress plugin. Additionally, it provides you with more user-friendly features at a lower cost. This is why WooCommerce is the most widely used eCommerce platform.
Can I switch from WordPress or another website builder where I began my site by mistake?
You may always switch to WordPress for your website. Beginners frequently make the mistake of choosing the wrong website builder, only to discover that those platforms lack all of the capabilities they want. The most essential aspect is to ensure that your permalinks aka the URL structure- transition smoothly so that you don’t lose any SEO rankings.
What can I do to increase my internet visibility?
The most essential piece of advice we provide to small business owners is to start developing an email list as soon as possible. After visitors and consumers leave your website, email marketing helps you to keep in touch with them. It has a demonstrated return on investment of 4300%.
Congratulations! Now that you have completed the four simple steps, you can start launching your website. It takes time to get used to everything, especially when you’re not used to it.
Practice makes perfect! Everyone has their own baby steps. Keep checking out your website and find ways on how you can improve your website for others to see. However, the option to have professionals such as Mapletree Media do the gritty job for you is very much favoured! You have far more things to prioritise than learning how to build a website which is where we come into the picture. Our team of skilled professional developers and designers will provide you a high-quality website to suit any need.
Contact us for more information
