It is difficult to create a website. While you want your visitors to love your website, you don’t want it to be complicated or take too long.

You may have come across WordPress several times while searching for a solution. The problem is that you don’t know what WordPress is or how it can benefit your business.

This beginner’s guide will teach you everything you need. Let’s get to it without further delay!

What is WordPress?

WordPress is an open-source, free content management system (CMS). WordPress is a great tool for people who don’t have any programming experience and want to create websites or blogs. It’s free to install, modify, and adjust.

WordPress powers both the frontend and backend of your website. This is the visible area that visitors see when they visit it. WordPress eventually makes it possible to build a website for anyone, even non-developers.

A brief history of WordPress

Mike Little and Matt Mullenweg created the first WordPress version in 2003. It was originally a relaunched version of an earlier project called b2/cafelog. This website was initially developed by Michel Valdrighi who is now a contributor to WordPress. Matt saw an opportunity to enhance the functionality of a website’s core code without having to modify its source code. This is how WordPress was created.

After many iterations, WordPress1.0 was released to the public in 2004. It was codenamed Davis because Matt is a fan of jazz musicians like Miles Davis. This version was similar to today’s platform and featured multiple categories for grouping your website content, comment moderation, and comment moderation.

WordPress has a large and growing community of bloggers, developers, and designers. WordPress introduced Gutenberg, a new editor in 2017. This redesign improved the user experience. The new WordPress 5.0 (Bebo) version includes a better showcase theme. The platform will continue to be used by major industries.

7 reasons WordPress is a good choice

WordPress powers more than 37% of websites. Yes! WordPress is likely to power more than one-fourth of the websites you visit. Here are some reasons to use this amazing platform.

WordPress is free and open-source.

WordPress is an open-source platform licensed under the General Public License. This means that it’s not owned by any one entity. To make WordPress better, hundreds of developers and users collaborate to improve it. Open source is about continuous improvement, accountability, and free use for all.

WordPress.org offers the actual WordPress platform for free installation and use. You will have to pay for web hosting as well as a domain name.

WordPress is simple to install for beginners

WordPress is easy to learn, even if it’s your first time using a CMS or building websites. You don’t need to be a programmer or computer engineer to use WordPress. All levels of experience are welcome.

It is easy to use and very intuitive. You only need to choose a theme and install one or more plugins before you can start creating pages and other content. You can now complete web development tasks that used to take hours.

WordPress is SEO-friendly

Search Engine Optimize (SEO) aims to get your website the traffic it deserves via Google, Bing, etc. WordPress has many powerful SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and All in One SEO Pack.

WordPress creates title tags for your pages and posts and meta description automatically. This will allow search engines to find your count and get you indexed, potentially moving up the rankings.

WordPress is safe

Most businesses are concerned about security. You’ll need to be able to rest assured that your data, and those of your customers, will be safe.

WordPress is one of most secure CMS platforms, provided you keep your passwords safe and keep plugins up-to-date. WordPress offers many features that can help protect your website. These include the ability to log out inactive users and add two-factor authentication.

WordPress supports all media types

WordPress does not limit users to any particular media type. You can use any combination of images, text, and videos to enhance your website. It’s important to remember that the platform allows you creativity in this highly competitive marketplace.

WordPress has thousands of themes, plugins and templates.

You can use themes to modify the design of your website, and plugins to add new functionality or features to it. There are over 5,000 WordPress themes available for free and more than 50,000 plugins. Premium options are also available. There are many options!

There are many great free options available for any type of feature you wish to add to your website. This contrasts with other CMSs where you can only get the best “extras” behind paywalls.

WordPress is a large and friendly platform.

We have already talked about the popularity of WordPress. It is important to mention that WordPress has a vibrant community, not just developers. You can participate in the larger WordPress community by joining your local WordPress Meetup, WordCamps or other events.

You can find a lot of WordPress-related online communities by doing a quick search. This means that if you have any questions or concerns about the CMS, there are plenty of people you can ask for help. WordPress has a reputation for being friendly, helpful, and innovative.

What kind of websites can WordPress create?

WordPress is a blogging-focused platform that was initially small. WordPress is a powerful platform that allows you to create any kind of website.

Here are just a few examples of the types of websites WordPress is best for:

• Blogs. WordPress was born in the blog space and has many features to help you do this. They are more mature, sophisticated, and polished. There are many tools available to help you quickly grow and manage your WordPress blog.

• Online portfolios. You can display your achievements and work, or showcase past projects and skills with the right WordPress theme. You can either choose a theme that has a gallery or install plugins to create portfolio slideshows and carousels.

• Websites for businesses. No matter how big or small your business is, you can easily share contact information, provide information, integrate your branding and promote an online presence. WordPress makes it easy to create a website quickly and expand it as your business grows.

• E-commerce websites. There are many WordPress tools that can help you manage an online store, such as the WooCommerce plugin. You can manage product orders, payments, and delivery in the backend while your customers have a pleasant shopping experience on the frontend.

• Membership sites. WordPress plugins can be used to create membership websites. This allows you to limit premium content to members and monetize your efforts. Manage payments, create member levels and track signups.

• Community hubs. It is easy to create knowledge bases, fan sites and wikis or other areas for like-minded individuals to connect online.

• Affiliate websites. WordPress offers many solutions for creating an affiliate marketing website or monetizing your site in other ways.

If you’re not sure what kind of website you want, you can always start small then grow over time. It’s easy to start with a blog and then turn it into an affiliate site or business website whenever you want. It’s also possible to make a website that serves multiple purposes, such as an E-commerce site with an accompanying blog and a storefront to promote products or services.

Who uses WordPress?

WordPress is used widely by individuals and large businesses alike. WordPress is used by many celebrities, blogs, news outlets, Fortune 500 companies and music websites. Some of the most well-known brands include NBC, USA Today and Time as well as Spotify, Spotify, TechCrunch and even Pioneer Woman.

You can find out more about the WordPress site showcase. It will amaze you at the number of websites and people who have used WordPress to power their sites.

WordPress.org and WordPress.com differences

You may be new to WordPress.com or WordPress.org. This section will help you choose the right one for you and explain the differences.

First, let’s define them. Let’s take a look at WordPress.org and WordPress.com to see what they really mean.

WordPress.org is also known as self-hosted WordPress. It’s a free, open-source website platform. To build a website completely yours, you can install it on your web host. Although it doesn’t cost anything, you will need a hosting account (also known as a web server) in order to use it. This often comes with a fee.

WordPress.com refers to the hosted version. It is free and easy to use. You don’t even need an external hosting account or domain name. Access WordPress.com and sign up to create your blog or site.

When people refer to “WordPress”, they usually mean the self-hosted WordPress.org. Self-hosted WordPress.org is the best choice if you really want to own your site.

Let’s take a closer look at the differences.

First, theme customization. WordPress.org allows users to upload custom themes, experiment with other themes, and even modify existing themes to their liking. WordPress.com doesn’t allow you to do this. Only themes from the WordPress theme directory can be used unless you upgrade.

Secondly, plugins. Any plugin can be installed to allow you to add functionality or new features to your WordPress.org website. WordPress.com does not allow commercial or custom plugins. This could limit your WordPress use as a CMS.

Thirdly, maintenance. WordPress.org is your platform. WordPress.com handles everything.

Fourthly, control. WordPress.org gives you full control of your database, files, domain, and URL. All files, codes and data will be available for editing or modification. WordPress.com is not a website that you can control. Your data is not always accessible. If they feel your website violates their Terms and Conditions, they can remove it at any time.

Fifthly, monetization. WordPress.org is open to you. There are no restrictions. WordPress.com is not able to do this except with the premium plan. WordPress.com can display its own ads on your website if you choose to sign up for the free plan. You cannot disable them.

Lastly, cost. WordPress.org is completely free. However, if you wish to make your website visible to the public, web hosting and a domain are required. WordPress.com also offers premium and free plans. The premium plans cost $4-$45 each month.

This table will help you distinguish WordPress.org from WordPress.com.

	WordPress.org	WordPress.com
Definition	Site hosted by you + your domain name	WordPress + WordPress.com subdomain hosts site
Customization of the theme	Full	Limited
Plugins	All plugins permitted	No plugins allowed
Maintenance	Manual	Automated
Control	Full	Very little or none
Monetization	Full	Limited
Cost	You can get a domain name and web hosting for free.	Premium and free plans

Both WordPress.org as WordPress.com offer their own pros and cons. It all depends on what you need from your website, what your budget is and what type of website you want.

Here are some tips to help you make a decision.

• WordPress.com is the best place to start a personal website, whether you are looking for a hobby site or a way to share your thoughts. It’s free to get started and there is no need for any maintenance.

• WordPress.org is the best place to launch a serious website such as a business website or project site. WordPress.org is the best option if you are looking to monetize your site or have unlimited customizations.

Five steps to get WordPress up and running

We hope you are convinced that WordPress is worth your time. As you read this, WordPress is probably something you have chosen or are thinking about choosing. Perhaps you don’t know where to start. This section will guide you step-by-step on how to start your WordPress website.

As we mentioned above, WordPress.org and WordPress.com have big differences. We’ll be sharing tips and tricks for.ORG.

Step 1. Choose the best hosting plan for your website

To save and access your site’s files and data, you will need to have access to a web server. This allows your site to be transmitted across the internet to everyone who visits it. This is done by purchasing a hosting plan.

There are many options available depending on what type of website you create. These are just a few:

• Hosting shared. This is a cost-friendly option with enough resources to host new websites. Shared hosting usually offers WordPress installation with one click, reasonable bandwidth and storage. Sometimes, you can even get a domain name for free or Google Adwords coupons.

• Managed Virtual Private Servers (VPS) Although you still share a server, the server has been divided into sections so that each user can have their own server. This allows for greater privacy, security and site operation.

• Managed WordPress Hosting. Managed WordPress Hosting – The hosting company will take full responsibility for your server. Many managed hosts offer flexible hosting plans that allow you to start small and grow your business as you need it.

Step 2. Choose a domain name

Domain names are technically the URL part that identifies IP addresses (which identify computers or devices on a network) as well as web pages. It’s basically your web address. It’s important to choose a domain name that is both descriptive of your site’s purpose, and easy to remember for visitors.

A suffix is a suffix that is added to domain names, such as www.org or www.com. Any domain name that isn’t already taken can be registered for an annual fee. Some hosting companies will offer domain registrations for free the first year. Hosts will automatically verify that the domain is still available during sign-up. You can purchase domain names directly from popular registrars such as NameCheap and GoDaddy.

Step 3. Customize your website

This is crucial because your website should look professional and be easy-to-use. It should also be relevant to your site’s purpose. There are many niche WordPress themes.

Two great places to look for different themes are:

• WordPress.org theme directory free themes

• ThemeForest Premium themes

After you have chosen the right WordPress theme, click on Appearance > Templates > Add New to install it on your website.

• If the theme is free on WordPress.org, search for it.

• If you have purchased a premium theme, upload a zip file

After you’ve activated and installed your theme, many developers allow you to further customize it using the WordPress Customizer. The Customizer can be accessed by going to Appearance >Customize.

Step 4. Add plugins for more features

You will likely need to activate and install different plugins depending on the way you use your site. Plugins come in many sizes, from small features like a contact page to large features like the ability to turn your site into an E-commerce store.

There are thousands of premium and free plugins, but we have separated them into two categories.

• No matter the purpose of your website, these plugins are essential.

• You can find niche-specific plugins that provide specific functionality for your needs. They are not necessary for all websites, but they might be helpful to your site.

These are the basic plugins we think all WordPress websites need:

• Backup plugin. To keep your data secure, it is important to regularly back up your website. UpdraftPlus is a free option, while VaultPress is a premium option.

• Security plugin. Security plugin. You might also consider downloading Sucuri and Wordfence, both free.

• SEO plugin. An SEO plugin will help you rank higher on Google. Yoast Search Engine Optimization and Rank Mathematics are two good options.

Click Plugins> Add New to install a WordPress plugin. You can also browse plugins purchased from other websites by clicking the Upload plugin button.

Step 5. Start creating content

This is the end of the foundation for your website. Now you have WordPress installed and your theme setup. You can now add plugins to help your site succeed. Now you can start creating your content. Start by looking at your website’s core pages. These include your homepage, About page, Contact page and contact page.

If you have a blog, you can also start writing your first post. Your blog posts will be published on the Blog page once you click the Publish button.

The bottom line

WordPress is very popular as it can be used for many different applications. It can be used by both beginners and experienced developers to create small blogs and business websites, as well as other incredible things. It’s also very easy to use.

We hope you found this article helpful in answering your questions about WordPress. WordPress can be used to its full potential. Give it a shot and let us know your thoughts.