Ah, WordPress! In the last couple of years, web design has advanced by leaps and bounds. Before, it would practically be impossible to build a website if you did not have a basic comprehension of the functionalities of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Today, however, you can come up with a snazzy brand new website in a flash and it is all thanks to CMSs (content management system) like WordPress.
WordPress is for individuals that are looking to create a website fast and have never done so before. It is ideal for the small business owners that understands the value of an online presence; for the fashion stylist that is desperate for an online portfolio; for Aunt May May who is thinking of starting a canning business but doesn’t quite know what a plugin is or what it is for; anyone and everyone is welcome to create a WordPress website.
Why WordPress?
That’s easy. WordPress is the number one choice for most businesses, brands, and individuals because it is free to install, set up as well as upgrade. It also helps that WordPress has become one of the most powerful yet user-friendly CMSs yet. Here are some more reasons why you should consider WordPress for your website above any other CMS:
It is open source
This means that when you create a website using WordPress, you can edit and redistribute it as you like. If you need to make amendments to your website or change something to suit a specific scenario, you can do so easily owing to its open-source code.
The plugins
A key driver of WordPress’s popularity is its selection of plugins. There are so many WordPress plugins available for users; all they have to do is pick those that match their specific needs. Most of these plugins are free or cost very little and are easily installed for improved website functionality.
The variety of themes
One of the best things about WordPress is that it gives users a variety when it comes to themes. The themes are well designed and easy to install with the simple click of a button. These themes make it easy to create a professional-looking website in minutes.
Flexibility
WordPress may have started as a blogging platform, but it can be used to build any website under the sun from an eCommerce site to a fashion portfolio.
5 cools ways to make a great WordPress website
Whether you are designing a website from scratch to provide a service or product or to launch your new eCommerce venture, here are 5 cool ways to make a great WordPress website:
Fully understand the purpose of your website
Before you even decide what themes or plugins you want to include in your site, you first need to decide the purpose of your website. Some of the things that you need to think about include:
- Are you creating a website to promote your services or products?
- Is your website strictly for making sales online?
- Are you creating a blog or magazine that you can monetize?
- Are you a non-profit organization interested in promoting an important cause or event?
- Are you a freelancer or agency interested in looking for new clients?
Figuring these things out will help you decide what essential elements should be included in your website. It will also ensure that you stay on track, as it can be very easy to stray from your website’s original objective.
Come up with a great website/domain name
If you have already made up your mind to create a website, you must have already come up with a great name. For your website to be successful, it must stand out from your competitors, which means that originality is key.
The website name that you pick will also double up as your domain name. As such, you must be very careful to pick a name that will drive customers to your site. A great website or domain name is one that:
- Can be branded easily
- Short and simple so that it easy to memorize
- Includes keywords related to your niche or business. For instance, if you are selling CBD oil, for example, it is a good idea to include the keyword CBD somewhere in your name.
Find a great WordPress theme
Finding a theme for your WordPress website is probably one of the most exciting things about designing your own website from scratch. So, what is a theme, you ask? A theme is basically a template or a fully designed dummy site that you tweak to suit your brand or business. Once you tweak your desired theme, you can then proceed to populate it using your content.
WordPress is full of countless themes that you can demo to decide which one will best fit the vibe of your website. Picking a theme is straightforward as theme developers nowadays focus on creating themes for particular industries and markets.
If you are not sure which theme to pick, it helps to browse around for a little inspiration. For instance, if you are interested in creating a gambling website, looking around other existing gambling sites such as NJGamblingFun.com, a wordpress site, which can help you decide what theme to go with.
Set up your site navigation
Once you have selected a theme, you will also need to determine the layout of your site, its navigation and all the important bits and pieces of information & pages you would like to include. It is essential to organize your website well so that it is easy for your visitors to navigate. Some common components that you will need to consider include:
- The Homepage
- Your About page
- Contact page
- Blog posts
- Landing page
Create or upload your content
Though WordPress has made it incredibly easy to design a website without any coding knowledge, creating content and doing it consistently is a whole other challenge. You can create the most beautiful website in the world, but it will not matter without sufficient or branded content. Content is paramount because it is necessary for your website to show up on SERPs or search engine result pages.
Content is not only great for SEO, but it is also vital for your web visitors. Content provides visitors with vital information needed to help them make purchase decisions. As such, you must create content that matches your brand or business; and you must do so consistently to start realizing results.
Final Thoughts
What’s so great about WordPress is that it has been designed with every user in mind; the online tinkerer or DIY-enthusiast that prefers to build their own things themselves from scratch. WordPress has been and will continue to be invaluable for businesses and brands in the future.