WordPress is an ideal CMS to create your own website. The system offers many possibilities and you do not need knowledge of programming languages. However, it can still be difficult if you have no experience with CMS systems at all. Do you want to create a WordPress website? In this article, we’ll explain how to do this in eight simple steps.
When you create a website, you always need a domain name and a hosting package. Creating a WordPress website is no different. The domain name is the address of your website. The hosting package ensures that your website is connected to the internet via a server and therefore visible to others. There are several parties where you can order both a domain name and a hosting package. Some well-known parties are TransIP, Hostnet, Yourhosting and Mijndomein.nl. It is very easy to register a domain name with such a provider that is still free and then choose a hosting package immediately.
Once you have ordered a domain name and hosting package, you can often install WordPress on your domain name via the control panel with one click of a button. However, some parties do not offer this option and then you have to install WordPress yourself by setting up the database and FTP yourself. On the WordPress website you will find the file you need to download and an explanation about the installation.
After you complete the WordPress installation, you can log in with the admin information you provided during installation. You then go to 'Settings' -> 'General' where you can set some general settings. Choose a good website title and subtitle, enter your email address and choose the correct date and time format. In addition, you can also choose the website language and then save the settings.
Creating a WordPress website has the advantage that you can choose a certain template or theme and therefore do not have to design the entire website itself. To set a template, click on 'View' in the menu on the left and choose 'Themes'. You click on 'Add new' and here you can now choose a free template for your website. The easy thing about a template is the fact that you immediately have a design for all pages. You can often make some adjustments if you want to.
Do you want to make the design for your WordPress website? Then you better choose to install a paid theme. At ThemeForest you can find a large number of themes for a WordPress website. A paid theme has many more features than a free template and you have more choices. After you have purchased the theme, you can upload it to your website via 'Themes'.
Via 'Pages' in the menu on the left you can create a number of pages. The pages 'Home' and 'Contact' are recommended for all websites. Do you want to create a WordPress website for your business? Then you can also install an 'About us' page, a page where you show your products or services and a page with the rates you use. You can also choose to install a blog page.
Then it is time to set the page 'Home' so that it will also become visible as a homepage. To do this, go to Settings -> Read. Under 'Home page shows' you check the box with 'A static page' and you choose the homepage under 'Front page'. If you have a blog page installed, you can set it to "Message page." Then click on 'Save changes'. Do you want to create a WordPress website with just news items? Then you can skip this step, because the latest messages will be shown directly on the homepage.
It is not always possible to completely customize the header of your website, but you can at least upload your own logo. To do this, go to 'View' -> 'Theme options' and then upload your logo. Under 'Theme options' you can adjust other settings of the design of your website, if you would like. Then it’s time to make the main menu. You can do this via 'View' -> 'Menu's'. Click on 'Add a new menu' and give the menu a name. Check the pages you want in the menu and click Add to menu. After that, you can change the order by dragging the pages or you can put certain pages among other pages (like a dropdown). Make sure that there is a checkmark at the bottom of the 'Main Header menu' and save the menu.
There are a large number of free and paid plugins available for a WordPress website. If you have chosen a template and want to be able to set up the content of the pages more yourself, it is useful to install the plugin Page Builder by SiteOrigin. This allows you to divide the pages into rows and columns, allowing you to determine the places of the texts and images yourself. Other useful plugins include:
Your WordPress website is almost ready! All you have to do is post the texts and images on the site. You can enter it on the pages you have created. You can also choose to post some blog texts via 'Messages'. Try to include some search terms in the texts to make your website rank higher in the search engines. It is also useful to enter an alt text with the search term in the images you place. Don’t forget to save the pages and messages after entering the texts and images!
Creating a WordPress website is not that difficult. With a simple template you will have your website ready within one day. However, if you opt for a theme and you still want to make a lot of adjustments, you’ll probably be working on this for a little longer. Fortunately, you can make it as difficult as you want. Good luck designing your WordPress website!
1. Order a domain name and hosting package
When you create a website, you always need a domain name and a hosting package. Creating a WordPress website is no different. The domain name is the address of your website. The hosting package ensures that your website is connected to the internet via a server and therefore visible to others. There are several parties where you can order both a domain name and a hosting package. Some well-known parties are TransIP, Hostnet, Yourhosting and Mijndomein.nl. It is very easy to register a domain name with such a provider that is still free and then choose a hosting package immediately.
2. Install WordPress on your domain name
Once you have ordered a domain name and hosting package, you can often install WordPress on your domain name via the control panel with one click of a button. However, some parties do not offer this option and then you have to install WordPress yourself by setting up the database and FTP yourself. On the WordPress website you will find the file you need to download and an explanation about the installation.
3. Adjust the general settings
After you complete the WordPress installation, you can log in with the admin information you provided during installation. You then go to 'Settings' -> 'General' where you can set some general settings. Choose a good website title and subtitle, enter your email address and choose the correct date and time format. In addition, you can also choose the website language and then save the settings.
4. Choose a template or theme
Creating a WordPress website has the advantage that you can choose a certain template or theme and therefore do not have to design the entire website itself. To set a template, click on 'View' in the menu on the left and choose 'Themes'. You click on 'Add new' and here you can now choose a free template for your website. The easy thing about a template is the fact that you immediately have a design for all pages. You can often make some adjustments if you want to.
Do you want to make the design for your WordPress website? Then you better choose to install a paid theme. At ThemeForest you can find a large number of themes for a WordPress website. A paid theme has many more features than a free template and you have more choices. After you have purchased the theme, you can upload it to your website via 'Themes'.
5. Create new pages
Via 'Pages' in the menu on the left you can create a number of pages. The pages 'Home' and 'Contact' are recommended for all websites. Do you want to create a WordPress website for your business? Then you can also install an 'About us' page, a page where you show your products or services and a page with the rates you use. You can also choose to install a blog page.
Then it is time to set the page 'Home' so that it will also become visible as a homepage. To do this, go to Settings -> Read. Under 'Home page shows' you check the box with 'A static page' and you choose the homepage under 'Front page'. If you have a blog page installed, you can set it to "Message page." Then click on 'Save changes'. Do you want to create a WordPress website with just news items? Then you can skip this step, because the latest messages will be shown directly on the homepage.
6. Design the header
It is not always possible to completely customize the header of your website, but you can at least upload your own logo. To do this, go to 'View' -> 'Theme options' and then upload your logo. Under 'Theme options' you can adjust other settings of the design of your website, if you would like. Then it’s time to make the main menu. You can do this via 'View' -> 'Menu's'. Click on 'Add a new menu' and give the menu a name. Check the pages you want in the menu and click Add to menu. After that, you can change the order by dragging the pages or you can put certain pages among other pages (like a dropdown). Make sure that there is a checkmark at the bottom of the 'Main Header menu' and save the menu.
7. Install the necessary plugins
There are a large number of free and paid plugins available for a WordPress website. If you have chosen a template and want to be able to set up the content of the pages more yourself, it is useful to install the plugin Page Builder by SiteOrigin. This allows you to divide the pages into rows and columns, allowing you to determine the places of the texts and images yourself. Other useful plugins include:
- ZenCache - improves loading time
- WordPress SEO - enter meta title & meta description
- Google Analytics - for measuring visitor numbers
- AddThis - adds social media buttons
- Contact Form 7 - add a contact form
8. Place the texts and images
Your WordPress website is almost ready! All you have to do is post the texts and images on the site. You can enter it on the pages you have created. You can also choose to post some blog texts via 'Messages'. Try to include some search terms in the texts to make your website rank higher in the search engines. It is also useful to enter an alt text with the search term in the images you place. Don’t forget to save the pages and messages after entering the texts and images!
Creating a WordPress website is not that difficult. With a simple template you will have your website ready within one day. However, if you opt for a theme and you still want to make a lot of adjustments, you’ll probably be working on this for a little longer. Fortunately, you can make it as difficult as you want. Good luck designing your WordPress website!