With almost every website using some sort of content management system (CMS) or word press, it is now easy to get started with your own site. Gone are the days when you had to pay someone else to set up an online space for you to showcase your creative skills or business!
Word Press has become one of the most popular CMS’s due to its ease of use. Almost anyone can start their own website using this software! It is totally free to use, which makes it even more attractive.
There are many ways to learn how to use word press efficiently. This article will go over several beginner level tips that can help you begin creating websites from scratch. We will also look at some simple steps to gain access to all features and functions of word press so that you can create and edit pages, posts, and blogs without any limits.
This article will not be specific to word press, but rather general strategies that can be used anywhere there is a cms. So, if you are already somewhat familiar with making sites, then read on!
We will take a closer look at some apps and services that make it super easy to publish articles on word press and to easily add images and other media. These tools can also help in designing your theme and editing colors and styles.
How to learn WordPress
The best way to learn how to use word press effectively is by doing.
Set up your website with a hosting service
If you are looking to start an online business or just want to create an easy way to update your personal profile, then choosing a free word press web host is the best option.
Most people begin by creating an account at a free web hosting site like WordPress.com or Squarespace. These two sites both have apps that make it very simple to upload and edit your websites.
By using their software, you do not need to know any technical jargon to publish and update content. There are also many plugins (add-on tools) available for both sites that can help you run your website more efficiently.
Register your website with WordPress
If you want to start creating blogs or sites using WordPress, then you need to register yourself as an individual contributor (or “user”) first. This will give you access to all of the features of the platform, but not hosting.
To get started as a user, you can head over to wordpress.org/register and choose one-month free membership. After that, paid plans are available!
As you progress, advanced users may ask you to become a developer so you can create additional functionality or even hire freelancers to do it for you. But before you advance as a developer, you must be able to use the software proficiently by accessing its settings and features.
Learn WordPress
One of the most common questions people have is how to learn word press. It is very easy to get started with WordPress, you do not need hosting to create your own website!
WordPress was originally designed as a blogging platform, but it has since grown into a content management system (CMS) that allows for many different types of websites.
It is free to use, which is why it is such a popular choice for beginner web designers. However, if you would like to add some additional features to your site or start charging for services, then you will want to purchase a premium plan.
There are several ways to learn word press, here we will go over three of them: YouTube videos, blogs dedicated to learning word press, and reading material.
Install themes
One of your first actions as a word press beginner is to start picking out templates or styles you want to use for your site. The easiest way to do this is to go onto Google or Youtube and search “free wordpress themes” or something similar.
You can find lots of sites with free designs that people have made, and it is very popular to add these fonts, colors, and images to most new word press accounts.
These are called WordPress theme assets or template parts. By downloading one of these pre-made themes, you get all of these asset files built in!
The best way to learn how to install a theme is by going through their installation process. This usually involves clicking on the link to download the file, then installing it using an app like Theme Forest or Elegant Themes.
Both of these sites offer limited access to the themese so you will not be able to edit anything yourself, but they make it easy to install and use.
Practice editing templates
One of the most common ways to learn wordpress is by practicing how to edit your website’s theme or template.
Themes are like skins for your site. They determine what colors, fonts, and layouts you have access to.
By learning how to customize these settings, you can give your site new styles or keep this one stock but make small changes to it.
This is particularly helpful if you are not a designer who has knowledge of creating their own themes. You can still get creative with things!
There are many free resources online that offer themable test sites where you can experiment. Some even allow you to create your own!
These test websites usually have easy settings to start from, so it is very simple to work towards designing your own.
Learn to use Photoshop or other graphics software
Even if you do not have your own website, using WordPress makes it easy to create an online presence that can easily be accessed through a mobile device or computer.
Most people who start their own websites use either Google’s free platform called Blogger or Microsoft’s paid service, which is also quite popular.
Both of these allow you to upload pictures and videos, as well as edit them in Adobe Photoshop or similar apps before uploading to your site.
There are many ways to learn how to use Photoshop outside of creating logos and images for your website, so don’t worry about limiting yourself! Take some time to explore all of its features.
Learn to use SEO
When you are starting out as a blogger, learning how to do search engine optimization (SEO) is very important.
SEO is an integral part of blogging that helps your website get more exposure by “optimizing” your content for both Google and Bing.
By optimizing your content, it becomes easier to find you through searches online. This way, people will be able to easily access your site!
There are two main reasons why SEO is so crucial to have as a beginner blogger. The first is that most major blogs gain some sort of privilege or credit from an algorithm that rewards bold keywords in content.
The second is that even if someone doesn’t know who you are yet, they may look up your business or personal page using a search tool like Google or Bing. If they see that yours is well optimized, they may click on your link to visit your site!
But what about all those other ways to increase traffic to your site? Starting off with SEO can totally take away one of the biggest sources of new readers.
Take a training class
One of the best ways to learn any new skill is by doing, which in this case is learning how to use WordPress. There are several great sources that offer free or low cost courses to learn WP beginner level skills.
There are many web hosts that have beginner classes available as well as organized meetup groups where you can get help from other users. By actively attending these events, you will be exposed to helpful information and tips while getting practice using the software.
By taking your time to really read through the materials and ask questions if needed, you’ll pick up some good info quickly. The community around word press is extremely supportive so do not hesitate to contribute!
We recommend hosting with a trustworthy provider that offers quality services to ensure your site has proper functionality and looks amazing without spending too much money.