How to Build a WordPress Site: A Beginners Guide to Building Your Own Website
If you’ve spent time researching blogs to write for your website, you’ve probably come across the term “blogging platform”.
Other than being a bit of a cliche, the reason behind this is that there are so many of them! When it comes to choosing one over another, there are a lot of factors to consider.
The layout? Privacy options? Character limits? And… how does a WordPress site work? Each platform has its advantages and disadvantages, which makes it difficult to know which one is right for you. Let’s take a look at what they all have in common and where they differ from one another.
What is a WordPress Site?
A WordPress site is a website that uses the WordPress blogging platform. It’s a CMS (content management system) that lets you create, manage and design your own website without needing to hire a web designer.
With WordPress, you can create a fully-customized website without the technical knowledge required to code. WordPress sites are extremely popular because they are easy to use, come with plenty of free and premium features, and can be used to create just about any type of website or blog you can imagine.
There are many WordPress hosting providers, including WordPress.com, which are free and make it even easier for you to create a website. You can also find many free WordPress themes to use as a starting point for your website, or purchase premium themes from designers who specialize in WordPress. You can also hire WordPress developers to help you create a custom design from scratch.
WordPress: The Popular Choice
WordPress is the most popular blogging platform in the world, but it’s also a full-blown CMS. With the right theme and plugins, you can create just about any website you want including eCommerce stores. It’s extremely easy to use and offers a ton of flexibility as far as design options go. Plus, it’s free to use if you want to host your site on WordPress.com.
If you want to host your site on your own domain, then you’ll need to pay a monthly fee of around $30-$40. There are also several premium WordPress hosting providers that offer more features for a monthly fee.
What isn’t great about WordPress is that you have less control over your content and design compared to some of the other blogging platforms. It’s also important to note that some blogging networks may not allow you to use WordPress for various reasons.
Other blogging platforms you can use with WordPress
While WordPress is the most popular blogging platform in the world, there are other blogging platforms that you can use with WordPress. These include:
Blogger
Blogger is a free blogging platform owned by Google that lets you create and publish posts to a website or blog.
Squarespace
Squarespace is an all-in-one hosting, designing, and eCommerce website platform.
Wix
Wix is another one-stop-shop website builder with both free and paid options.
Self-hosted websites
While WordPress com is hosted on its own servers, self-hosted websites are hosted on your own computer or server. This requires you to have server space and technical knowledge to set everything up and get it running. While this is the most flexible option, it requires more effort and cost on your part.
Disadvantages of WordPress
One of the most significant drawbacks of WordPress is that you don’t have as much control over your design and content compared to some of the other platforms. While you can host your site on your own domain and install a self-hosted WordPress.org site, you will be limited in your customization options.
You can use a premium theme and/or hire a designer to help you create a custom design for your site, but it will come with a cost. Other drawbacks to using WordPress include:
- Limited customization options - WordPress allows you to tweak certain elements of the design, but not to the extent that you can with some of the other platforms.
- Issues with speed
- Many WordPress sites are slow as they are very heavily trafficked as the most popular blogging platform in the world. You can use a caching plugin to speed things up, though this won’t eliminate the problem entirely.
- Not ideal for eCommerce stores - While WordPress can be used to create eCommerce stores, it is not the best choice for this. You’re better off using a platform like Squarespace or Shopify if you want to create an online store.
Disadvantages of Other Blogging Platforms
You might be drawn to the customization options that come with some of the other blogging platforms, but it’s important to note a few of their drawbacks to make sure they’re right for you.
Blogger
While Blogger comes with many more customization options, it’s also managed by Google. This could be good or bad depending on your perspective.
Squarespace
While Squarespace offers the ability to create eCommerce stores with ease, they also charge a pretty penny to get the most out of their service. Their entry-level plan starts at $12/month, while their most expensive plan is $48/month.
Wix
While Wix offers a lot of customization options, it’s not as beginner-friendly. You have to know your way around code and have design experience in order to get the most out of their platform.
Self-hosted websites
While you will have the most control over your content and design with a self-hosted website, setting it up and maintaining it can be challenging if you’re a beginner. You’ll also need to host your site on a server that can handle the expected traffic. This can be expensive and time-consuming.
Conclusion
Choosing which blogging platform to use when you build your website can be tricky. Fortunately for you, though, we’ve broken down the advantages and disadvantages of each so you can make an informed decision. While WordPress is the most popular blogging platform, it’s not the only one out there. Other blogging platforms like Squarespace and Wix can be more customizable, but they also come with a higher price tag. There are countless advantages to building a WordPress site, including:
- It’s free - WordPress.com is free to use and you can find plenty of free themes to use as a starting point.
- A ton of free resources
- You can find many free tutorials and guides online to get you started.
- A seemingly endless selection of hosting options
- There are tons of web hosting options you can choose from, including WordPress.org self-hosted sites.
- An endless amount of themes and plugins to choose from
- WordPress is used by so many people that there are tons of free and premium resources available to help you get the most out of your website.
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