WordPress is known for powering around 40 percent of the websites on the internet. It means that on average WordPress powers, one out of every four websites you visit. There are many reasons behind the popularity of the WordPress platform. One of them is that it is free and open source. Although if a person can code, it will help them in the future yet, coding is not mandatory for building a website. For a long time, people believed that only coders could develop a website. However, most WordPress users do not know how to code and program even after years of using WordPress. We have compiled a complete guide to help you achieve this goal. And, with time and practice, you will be able to succeed.
1. WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS)
Before learning how to become a WordPress professional, it is essential that you understand what WordPress actually is and what does it do. WordPress is a content management system (CMS). So, what is a CMS, then? A content management system is software that helps in creating, managing, and modifying content on the website. The content can be in the form of videos, images, links, and files. CMS itself is a tool that helps you in developing a customized website without writing any code. CMS has a back end and a front end, and it will change the outlook of the website at the front end for the visitors of that website. CMS allows its users to use various templates and themes to change the look and feel of a website. TheDock – Full Site Editing in WordPress done right is an excellent example of the practicality of CMS. Without having to write any code, you may edit or even design countless themes for your website. WordPress is not the only CMS but, it is one of the best CMSs, you can choose for your website.
2. org VS. WordPress.com
There are two versions of WordPress. These are WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
WordPress.com is managed hosting provided by WordPress itself. On the other hand, WordPress.org is a self-hosted version. Mostly, developers recommend WordPress.org because of its flexibility and out-of-the-box features. However, depending on your needs, you may even pick WordPress.com. So, let us make a side-by-side comparison to give you an idea of which version will suit you the best.
Installation and Hosting
You do not need to install WordPress.com because it is already installed on the website. However, it is more expensive when it comes to professional hosting as compared to WordPress.org. On the other hand, for WordPress.org, you will have to learn how to install it.
Domain Name
Acquiring the desired domain name can be quite expensive at WordPress.com as compared to WordPress.org.
Storage Space
You can easily get hosting for WordPress.org, which gives you unlimited storage. But, WordPress.com gives you limited storage of only 3 GB on the free version.
Maintenance
We can say that WordPress.com is for those people who do not want to get their hands dirty with custom functionality. Therefore, maintenance of WordPress.com is far easier than WordPress.org. However, WordPress.org is a better option for people who want to control the functionality of their website.
Cost
If you do not plan on running a commercial website on WordPress.com, you still have to pay at least $8 per month. For domain, the pay can be $15 per year. It will bring your total to a minimum of $111 per year. If you choose WordPress.org for running your website, you will pay $35 for the first year. After that, it will be $50 for every subsequent year.
3. A Few Basic Things
Overall, WordPress is a user-friendly website. You can customize it any way you want. For instance, you may use different plugins and themes to give your website a certain function and look, respectively.
WordPress Pages VS. WordPress Posts
It can be tough to distinguish these two from one and another. Both have their own benefits. Posts are timely content that is regularly updated. However, just a page is static content. For instance, a post will engage the viewers for a few hours or days. But visitors will visit the website pages such as the shop page, about us page, contact info page without any time limits. Posts are ideal for engaging with your audience as compared to the pages.
WordPress Theme
It will provide your website with top-tier styling. You may choose different colors, fonts, positions for your widgets, as well as page layouts. Therefore, we can say that a theme provides the framework for a website.
WordPress Plugin
The plugins help in increasing the functionality of the website, such as by adding a survey form. These plugins have various functions like the backup plugin will help you in storing your data. Similarly, a security plugin will help you in securing the data. It will also enable you to protect your website from any threats and breaches.
4. Coding
Over time, you will get a command over the WordPress platform. In such a case, you may opt to learn programming to customize your own solutions. You may learn HTML, JavaScript, CSS, or PHP (the main language of WordPress itself) for it. After that, you can customize plugins and themes for your website.
There are countless reasons why you may be developing your website. It can be for a business, awareness campaign, or even just a personal blog. In today’s world, it is essential that you stay connected with others through the internet. If you plan on building a website for monetary benefits, we would advise you that you develop it yourself. It is always economical when you do things yourself as compared to when you have someone do it for you. With the use of the internet, you can easily find numerous blogs, videos, and lectures on how to develop your website on your own. There are immeasurable opportunities that await you in the world of website development. With time, you can also learn to incorporate coding language in your website development and be a complete WordPress pro.
