WordPress is considered to be the most used content management system in the world. With close to half a billion websites using WordPress, it is obvious that it is extremely popular. The fact is that the platform sees over 400 million unique visitors every month. WordPress is the leading open-source platform which offers businesses with the opportunity to create and launch the perfect website.
If you are considering launching a WordPress site, this post is just for you. It takes a close look at the steps involved in kick-starting your website. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.
- Choose the Domain Name
The first thing that you need to do when you decide to launch a WordPress site is pick a domain name. It is impossible to create a site without it. The domain name is what searchers would type to view your website. It is important that you pick the right domain name. Go for something that represents the brand, is easy to spell, sweet, and short.
For instance, if you already have a brand name, it is crucial to pick a domain name that includes it. When you set your brand name as the domain name, your target audience will have an easier time searching for your business. As the internet is home to millions of websites, it is best to choose a creative domain name that is completely unique. You can even select a domain name with your hosting service.
- Select a Web Hosting Service
Speaking of hosting service, you need to select a web hosting service to launch a WordPress website. Once you have chosen a domain name, you need to look for a trusted hosting service. If you do not know what is web hosting, it is a service which every website requires for a place on the web. Basically, web hosting service allows you to rent a space for your website on their server. This allows searchers to look up your website. If you do not have a web host, your website would not appear.
With a web hosting service, your website would stay up no matter the surge in traffic. It is a good idea to choose a web hosting service that offers added security and customer service as you might end up running into trouble. The following should be considered when looking for a web hosting service.
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Free SSL Certificate
- Unmetered Bandwidth
- Free Site Transfers
- Free Domain Registration
- Easy WordPress Installation Capabilities
- WordPress Hosting Options
- Affordable Hosting Service
- Install WordPress
After you have purchased the web hosting service and selected a domain name, it is about time that you installed WordPress. The following steps will help you understand the process.
- Log into the control panel of your hosting service using your login credentials.
- Scroll down to look for the software section.
- Next, click on install.
- The hosting service should direct you to the new page and you will come across WordPress.
- Select WordPress
- Choose the new domain name from the next page and select “Next”.
- Enter basic website details as requested and proceed by clicking “Install”.
Finally, you will come across the page that will let you know that the installation is successful. Now, you can login and the hosting service should direct you to the new WordPress account where you will need to enter your login details to access your WordPress dashboard.
- Select a WordPress Theme
After installing WordPress and accessing your dashboard, you must select a theme and activate it. There are plenty of free and premium themes that you can choose from. They are easy to install and you can customize them as required.
When you hover around different themes, you can move the cursor over each theme to try out the Live Preview feature. It will provide you with an idea about how your website would look if you selected the theme. The Live Preview will help you decide which WordPress theme to go for. Then, you can always customize the theme as needed.
- Install WordPress Plugins
To make the most of WordPress, you need to install plugins. There are thousands of different plugins to choose from. They help enhance the design of your website and enable you to perform various functions. For instance, if you want to include your social media links but do not want to code, you can simply add social media plugins as they will be pre-coded. This means that you do not need to know any coding.
Regardless of what you want to do with your site, there is bound to be a plugin for that. You can look up plugins by heading over to the plugins section from your dashboard. It will provide you with access to all the plugins available on WordPress. It does not get better than this.
Once the plugin has been activated, WordPress will guide you regarding its setup and configuration. Browse through thousands of WordPress plugins to decide which one to go with. There are some powerful plugins that you would need to purchase. However, they are well worth the cost.
- Customize and Publish the WordPress Site
Finally, you will get to customize and launch the WordPress website. Before you can launch the site, you have to customize it. You will need to make changes to your theme, add pages to the site, write blog posts, and the like.
Learn how to add new pages to your WordPress site and ensure that the site has been fully customized before pressing “Publish”. Then, you can share the site with your friends and customers. That is about it.
Conclusion
Launching a WordPress site has never been this easy. However, if you do not have the time, you can always hire a website development company to help you out. It will help you save time and ensure professional results.