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What is WordPress and How to Use It

WordPress is the leading website creation tool worldwide, powering over half of the web’s content. This open-source content management system (CMS) is versatile and user-friendly, making it ideal for users of all skill levels.

Launched in 2003 as a blogging platform, WordPress has evolved into a comprehensive tool for building various types of websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. Its intuitive interface, extensive customization options, and strong community support make it one of the most popular website builders today.

Currently, WordPress powers 63.1% of all websites built on a CMS and 43.1% of all sites on the internet. Its popularity is a testament to its simplicity, versatility, and robust global community. With a wide array of themes and plugins, WordPress is perfect for launching personal projects or online businesses.

However, with many website-building platforms available, newcomers might struggle to decide whether to use WordPress or other solutions. If you want to learn WordPress, this article will help you get started by exploring what WordPress is and how to use it.

Differences Between WordPress.org and WordPress.com

It’s crucial to understand that WordPress comes in two versions: WordPress.org and WordPress.com. Though they share the same name, their functionalities and usage are distinct.

01). WordPress.com

It is a hosted service where WordPress manages technical aspects such as hosting, security, and updates.

Also, it offers both free and paid plans, with varying levels of features and customization.

02). WordPress.org

This is a self-hosted version where users download the WordPress software and install it on their web hosting server.

It provides complete control over the website and its functionalities, allowing for more extensive customization.

Which one is the best?

It depends on your goal.

For more robust projects, e-commerce, and larger sites, WordPress.org is ideal. Its customization options and free use of source code make it a compelling choice. However, it does require investments in hosting and domain registration. Despite these costs, it’s worthwhile if you want to maximize the software’s potential with minimal limitations.

On the other hand, if you are working on a more personal project and not focused on monetization, WordPress.com may be the better CMS option. This version is suitable for those wanting a basic website or blog with some features.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific goals and circumstances.

What Types of Websites Is WordPress Good For?

Many people use WordPress to create a wide range of websites, such as:

1. Personal Blogs

Originally a blogging platform, WordPress offers powerful features for writing blog posts, categorizing content, and managing comments, all through a user-friendly interface.

2. Portfolios

Freelancers and creatives can showcase their work using portfolio themes and gallery plugins designed for WordPress.

3. Business Websites

It supports essential business features like contact forms, appointment bookings, and customer testimonials, making it suitable for both enterprises and small businesses.

4. Online Stores

Plugins like WooCommerce transforms WordPress into a comprehensive eCommerce platform, offering tools for product listings, shopping carts, and secure payment processing.

5. Membership Websites

With built-in user management features and specialized plugins, WordPress can facilitate paywalls, subscription models, and member directories.

6. News Websites

WordPress supports intuitive publishing, easy content editing, and efficient user role assignment, making it ideal for news delivery.

7. Charity Websites

WordPress integrates donation buttons, event calendars, and volunteer management systems, perfect for non-profit organizations.

8. Forums

WordPress forum plugins enable topic discussions, user profiles, and community engagement.

9. Online Courses

Learning management system (LMS) plugins offer course creation, student tracking, and integrated payment systems.

10. Accommodation Websites

Ideal for hotels and vacation rentals, WordPress plugins can streamline operations like reservations, room inventories, pricing, and guest communications.

11. Event Websites

Various plugins aid in creating event listings, selling tickets, promoting sponsors, and providing interactive venue maps, with social media integrations to publicize events.

12. Job Boards

HR professionals can create company career pages using job board plugins to manage job listings, applications, and candidate profiles.

Key Features of WordPress

1. User-Friendly Interface

It has an intuitive dashboard where users can manage all aspects of their website, from creating pages and posts to customizing themes and plugins.

2. Themes

WordPress has thousands of free and premium themes that determine the design and layout of a website.

The themes can be customized to suit individual preferences.

3. Plugins

 Plugins extend the functionality of WordPress websites.

There are over 50,000 plugins available, covering various needs such as SEO, security, e-commerce, and more.

4. SEO-Friendly

It provides a solid foundation for search engine optimization (SEO).

It has built-in features enabling effective on-page optimization, including clean permalink structures, easy content creation, and alt texts.

SEO plugins can further enhance a site’s visibility on search engines like Google.

5. Responsive Design

Most themes are mobile-friendly, ensuring websites look great on all devices.

6. Community Support

A large and active community of developers and users provides support, tutorials, and resources for WordPress users.

7. Full Ownership of Your Site

It gives users full control over their website’s content, design, and functionality.

Users can make any changes they want without platform limitations.

There are no restrictions on monetizing your site, allowing for various methods to make money online, such as displaying ads, becoming an affiliate, and selling products or services.

8. Scalable

The self-hosted WordPress platform offers a highly scalable environment for websites.

Users can choose any hosting provider and plan that best suits their current needs.

If web hosting resources are outgrown, users can upgrade their plan or switch to a different web host, ensuring the website can grow and evolve as the business or audience expands.

How To Use WordPress

There are several ways to create your dream website using WordPress. Although the software is user-friendly, it can be scary for those who are unfamiliar with the process. We’ll look at how to use WordPress.

#1: Select a WordPress plan.

To begin, decide whether you want to use WordPress.org (sometimes known as self-hosted WordPress) or WordPress.com. 

Getting Started with WordPress.com

Sign Up. – Go to [WordPress.com](https://wordpress.com) and create an account.

WordPress.com offers five predefined plans. Select a plan that meets your needs, whether free or premium. 

#2. Set up your domain name and hosting provider.

If you choose to utilize WordPress.org rather than WordPress.com, you must first select a hosting provider and register your domain name before you can begin developing your website.

Before we get into how to do those chores, I think it’s crucial to understand the distinction between your domain name and hosting provider.

Consider your domain name to be your website’s home address; that’s how visitors find it on the Internet. Your domain name will look like this: www.example.com. 

Your hosting provider is similar to a house in that it stores your website files. Without a hosting provider, your website would not have enough space on a server to “live.” Top WordPress hosting services include WP Engine, Bluehost, Rocket.net, Dreamhost, and Kinsta. 

How to Choose Domain and Hosting Providers 

WordPress.org needs you to purchase a domain and use a third-party hosting provider for your website. WordPress.com offers personalized domain options based on your plan but handles hosting for you.

Your hosting provider is vital since it affects your website’s performance, security, and dependability. 

We have a complete guide on choosing the best web hosting provider to assist you find the best option for your needs. All of these providers fulfill it’s three fundamental hosting requirements: 

PHP version 7.4 or above. 

MySQL 5.7 or above or MariaDB 10.4 or higher. 

HTTPS support 

When selecting a hosting company for your WordPress site, make sure they match all of the following requirements.

Getting a domain name is as simple as looking for one and purchasing it from your preferred domain registrar. Many web servers also provide domain registration services, and some even offer a free domain name for the first year.

If you’re new to WordPress and already have a domain name, you may easily transfer or map it to your WordPress website. 

#3. Install WordPress. 

If you use your hosting provider (rather than WordPress.com), you’ll need to install the WordPress software from [WordPress.org] and install it manually to connect your new domain to your website.

To make things as simple as possible, most web providers provide one-click WordPress setup tools. I believe it’s also worth noting that some WordPress hosting firms will pre-install WordPress as part of the account setup procedure. 

#4. Choose Theme

Select your theme to personalize your website’s design. With a wide variety of themes and templates available, each offering various layouts, colors, fonts, and visual options, you can easily find one that matches your preferred aesthetic.

Avoid using the default plain theme that automatically applies upon installation. Instead, explore the range of free or paid themes to discover one that suits your style. These themes are versatile and come with importable “starter sites” that allow you to quickly set up a beautiful website with just a few clicks.

To browse and install a theme that fits your needs, navigate to your admin dashboard and click on “Appearance” then “Themes.” From there, click on the “Add New Theme” button to explore the available options or search for a specific theme.

a screenshot of adding new themes for your WordPress website

Once you have selected the perfect theme, follow the customization steps provided. Most themes can be customized by accessing the “Appearance” and then “Customize” sections. If you opt for one of the newer “Full-Site Editing” themes, customization can be done under “Appearance” and then “Editor.”

#5. Add posts and pages to your website. 

When you add content to your website, you can choose between posts and pages: 

Posts are great for creating blog posts or similar content. They will automatically appear at the top of your blog listing page with a publish date.

Pages are better suited for static content without a specific publish date, such as an “About” or “Contact” page. You can add links to these pages on your site’s navigation menu.

For more advanced customization, you can create your custom post types. However, it’s recommended to become familiar with WordPress software before attempting this.

To add a post, go to the admin dashboard, click Posts, and then Add New Post. 

a screenshot of how to navigate and add posts to your WordPress dashboard

Simply start typing to add text, and use blocks to add images or other elements. Save your changes as a draft or publish it immediately.

Adding a page follows a similar process. Click Pages in the admin area, then Add New Page. Use the block editor to add content and publish it when you’re finished.

#6. Customize your website

Customize your website further by adjusting the site title and tagline under Settings > General. 

a screenshot of navigating to settings. Here you can edit your WordPress website

You can also customize your reading sections under Settings > Reading by setting a static homepage.

a screenshot of how to navigate to reading under setting

Customize your navigation menu to help visitors easily find information on your website. Go to Appearance, then Menus, to create and customize your navigation menu.

These options are just a starting point for customizing your website. Explore more settings and customization options in your dashboard for further enhancements.

#7: Add plugins to enhance your WordPress website.

Plugins are essential tools that allow you to add new features and improve the functionality of your site. There are thousands of free and premium plugins available for various purposes such as SEO optimization, event scheduling, translation, and more. Some popular plugins include All in One SEO, The Events Calendar, Yoast SEO, TablePress, The SEO Framework, and Weglot.

To install a new plugin, go to the Plugins section in your admin dashboard. Click on the Add New Plugin button and search for the desired plugin. Once you find it, click Install Now, wait for the installation to complete, and then click Activate. If you have a premium plugin in a Zip file format, you can also upload it by clicking on the Upload Plugin button.

a screenshot on how to add new plugins to your WordPress website

Make sure to activate the plugins after installation to enable their functionality on your website. With the right plugins, you can enhance user experience, improve SEO, and add new features to your site. Explore the various plugin options available to find the ones that best suit your website’s needs.

#8. Optimize your website to increase page speed

Improve your website’s speed by optimizing it. Website performance is crucial for a positive user experience. If your page loads slowly, visitors will likely leave and go to another site. Quality web hosting can help, as well as implementing performance best practices like page caching, code optimization, and image optimization. A helpful tool for implementing these strategies is the WP Rocket WordPress caching plugin. 

#9  Manage your website

Last but not least, make sure to regularly update its core, themes, and plugins for security and performance, and back up your site to prevent data loss.

Tips for Maximizing Your WordPress Experience

✔Choose a Reputable Hosting Provider

When using self-hosted WordPress, selecting a reliable hosting provider is essential for enhancing site performance and security.

✔Stay Updated

Keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins up to date regularly to prevent any vulnerabilities.

✔Secure Strong Passwords

Ensure all user accounts, especially the admin account, have strong and unique passwords for added security.

✔Backup Your Data

Make use of backup plugins or hosting services that offer automatic backups to protect your information.

✔Optimize for Speed

Improve your site speed by using caching plugins, optimizing images, and selecting a lightweight theme.

✔Expand Your Knowledge

Take advantage of the wealth of online resources available, including tutorials, forums, and WordPress documentation.

To summarize, WordPress is a versatile and user-friendly platform suitable for individuals of all technical levels. Its adaptability, scalability, and strong community support make it a top choice for both beginners and seasoned web developers. Whether you are creating a personal blog, business website, or online store, it provides the necessary tools and features to bring your ideas to fruition.

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