WordPress is now the most popular content management system (CMS) on the internet powering over 41% of all websites. And if you’re just starting out with WordPress, don’t worry. It’s really easy to get going. With step-by-step WordPress tips, even beginners can start creating their own website or blog.
WordPress is so user-friendly, you don’t need to know how to code, but to make the most out of the CMS, you need to know how to use it. We’ve put together these 10 step-by-step WordPress tips for beginners to help you kick-start your WordPress journey.
1. Choose the Right WordPress Plan and Hosting
To start using WordPress, the first thing you need is good hosting. WordPress.org recommends a few hosting providers that are optimized for WordPress. A hosting provider like Bluehost can help you get started with WordPress. They offer automated WordPress installation and provide a ton of support for new users. Alternatively, you can choose from several other WordPress hosting providers.
Once you have chosen your hosting provider, you need to select the right WordPress plan. If you are using WordPress for the first time, it’s best to start with a free plan on WordPress.com. The free version of WordPress gives you basic functionality, but you can also upgrade to a premium package to access additional features and benefits.
2. Choose a Good Theme
The theme of your website is the first thing that your audience will notice. Therefore, it’s essential that you choose one that looks professional and fits the style and tone of your website. There are tons of free and premium WordPress themes available online, but it’s essential to find one that’s optimized for speed and search engines.
If you are a total beginner and haven’t used WordPress before, you can use a pre-built theme for your website. You can download quality themes from WordPress.org or sites like ThemeForest. These themes come packed with features to help you get started.
3. Install the Right Plugins
Plugins are add-ons that extend the functionality of your WordPress site. They help you add customized features to your site that may not be included in your theme. WordPress plugins can be as big or small as you need them to be. Plugins can range from social media sharing buttons to a membership plugin.
To get started with plugins, you need to install them on your WordPress website. You can download free plugins from the official WordPress repository. Once you have downloaded a plugin, you can activate it by clicking on the “activate” button. As a beginner, it’s important to only install plugins that you need as too many plugins can slow down your website.
4. Create Pages and Posts
To create content on your WordPress website, you need to create pages and posts. Pages are static pages on your website, such as the “about” page, whereas posts are dynamic and are located in your blog feed.
To create a page or post, navigate to the “Pages” or “Posts” section from the WordPress dashboard. Then click the “add new” button to get started. Once you’ve added some content, you can also preview it to see how it will appear on your website.
5. Use Proper Headers and Paragraphs
Headers and paragraphs create structure in your written content. For example, header titles indicate the main points of a blog post or page, and help readers find information faster. Paragraphs help separate long blocks of text and make content easier to read.
To add headers to your content, simply highlight the text and select the header level you want from the drop-down menu in the visual editor. This will automatically add the header formatting for the text you’ve highlighted.
Similarly, to create paragraphs, you just press the enter key. WordPress automatically creates a new paragraph when you do so.
6. Add Media Content
Media content including images, videos, and audio files can help make your website richer and more engaging. WordPress makes it easy to add images and other media content to your posts and pages.
To add media to your posts or pages, click the “add media” button and select the file you want. Then choose the size and positioning of the media in your post.
7. Use Categories and Tags
WordPress allows you to organize your content using categories and tags. These help readers find content that interests them and are important for SEO.
Categories are broad topics that you can assign to a post or page. For example, if you run a fitness website, you can create categories of the different types of workouts you cover. Conversely, tags are more specific and can be used to identify specific elements of a post or page. For example, if you wrote a blog post on a particular piece of fitness equipment, you can add a tag for that equipment.
8. Add Links in Your Content
Links add context to your content and help readers find additional information on the topic. You can add links to your content by highlighting the text, clicking on the hyperlink button, and entering the URL you want to link to.
Internal links also help improve your website’s SEO, as they help search engines understand the hierarchy of pages on your site. When you link to other pages and posts on your site, you’re also helping readers find related content.
9. Optimize Your Site for SEO
Getting your site ranked by search engines like Google is key to attracting traffic to your site. To improve the SEO of your site, you need to optimize your content including page titles, Meta descriptions, and keywords.
You can use a plugin like Yoast SEO to help you optimize your content. The plugin helps evaluate your content and provides suggestions on how to improve it for search engines.
10. Regularly Update Your Site
Finally, it’s important to ensure your website is up to date. WordPress regularly releases updates to fix bugs and improve speed and security. You should also regularly update your theme and plugins to ensure you have the latest features.
Updating your website not only ensures you have the latest functionality, it also helps to keep your website secure.
Conclusion
With these 10 step-by-step WordPress tips, beginners can start their journey of creating a website and publishing content. Remember, while the CMS is user-friendly, there is always more to learn in WordPress. But with continued experimentation and practice, you can quickly become a WordPress expert.