Starting a website used to be hard. You needed to know code or hire expensive developers. But today, thanks to WordPress, anyone can build a professional website in a fraction of the time and without any technical skills.
This guide shows you how to create your first WordPress site and start blogging. We’ll cover everything from picking a domain name to publishing your first post. By the end, you’ll have a working website that looks great and functions well.
What is WordPress and why should you use it?
WordPress is an open source website building software that’s easy to use, regardless of your tech experience. It powers more than 43% of all websites on the internet, including everything from small personal blogs to business sites, e-commerce stores, enterprise websites, and major news outlets. And though there are paid options and upgrades, it’s very feasible to build a successful website completely for free.
Here are just a few of the reasons it’s so popular:
- It’s extremely user-friendly: Thanks to the block editor, you can build beautiful, engaging websites by simply dragging and dropping elements into place — no code required.
- It’s flexible: Thanks to a huge library of themes and plugins, you can add virtually any type of functionality you’d like.
- It’s scalable: There are no restrictions on how large you can grow — and it’s built to help you do just that!
- It’s open source: With open source software, there’s no gatekeeping. You have full access to the software’s source code, which means that you can make any edits you’d like, create anything you can imagine, and maintain full control over your own website.
WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org: Which one to choose
There are two versions of WordPress and, while they’re both built around the same core software, they’re designed for different use cases.
| Feature | WordPress.com | WordPress.org |
| Hosting | Included | Self-hosted (you choose a provider) |
| Ease of Use | Very beginner-friendly | Steeper learning curve |
| Customization | Limited (no custom plugins on free plan) | Unlimited (install any theme/plugin) |
| Monetization | Restricted on lower-tier plans | Full control |
| Best For | Businesses and bloggers looking for managed infrastructure | Serious bloggers, businesses, online stores |
WordPress.com is a hosted service. WordPress takes the majority of the setup and management off your shoulders, including updates, backups, security, and technical maintenance.
This is a great option if you prefer a “set it and forget it” approach but, as with anything, isn’t right for every situation. For example, if you want to have full control over security, site management, and customization, you’ll likely want to go with WordPress.org.
There is a free WordPress.com plan, but it doesn’t allow you to install plugins and includes several other restrictions that affect the customizability of your site.
WordPress.org allows you to install core WordPress software on any hosting provider you’d like. You’re responsible for setup and maintenance, but you’ll have full control over themes and plugins, can customize your site, and more at no cost. Note, however, that you will need to find a hosting provider separately.
This guide focuses on WordPress.org since it gives you more control and flexibility. If you choose WordPress.com, refer to their documentation for setup instructions.
1. Purchase a domain name and hosting plan
Before you can install WordPress, you need two things: a domain name and web hosting.
Your domain name is your website address — what visitors will type into their browser to get to your site. Choose something short and memorable and, if possible, include your business name or topic of your site. Avoid things like hyphens and numbers that make your domain name harder to remember and type.
You can purchase a domain name through your hosting provider or a third party.
A web host stores your website files and delivers them to visitors when they type in your URL. It affects everything from your site speed to security, so it’s important to choose the right provider for your needs.
Many hosting companies offer one-click WordPress installation, which makes setup much easier and faster. Need some help deciding? See our guides to:
- The best affordable hosts
- The best managed WordPress hosting providers
- Recommended hosting providers
Many hosts also include a free domain name for the first year, which can save you $10-15.
2. Install WordPress on your hosting account
Most quality hosting companies offer one-click WordPress installation. While the exact process will vary based on your host, it typically involves providing simple information like your domain name, setting a username and password, and entering your email address.
Installation only takes a few minutes and you’ll receive an email when it’s complete.
3. Access your WordPress dashboard and basic settings
Once WordPress is installed, you can access your dashboard. Go to yoursite.com/wp-admin and enter your login details.
The dashboard is your control center. This is where you’ll create pages, write posts, and manage your site. Take a few minutes to explore, using our guide to the WordPress Admin Dashboard.
Then, update your basic settings. Go to Settings → General. There, you can update your site title and tagline, set your timezone, and choose your date and time format.
Next, go to Settings → Permalinks, where you can control how your page URLs look. While your choice will depend on your website, “Post name” is a good default for clean URLs.
Finally, check Settings → Reading. The options here determine what visitors see on your homepage — your latest blog posts or a static page. You can also choose to allow search engines to index your site. If you’re not ready to go live, you’ll likely want to select Discourage search engines from indexing this site. But remember to uncheck this when you’re ready!
4. Choose and customize a theme
Your theme affects how your website looks, along with things like performance and ease of use. There are a number of questions to ask yourself when making a choice:
- How much built-in functionality do you need? Typically, the more tools included, the heavier (and slower) the theme is.
- What is your budget? There are a wealth of both free and premium themes.
- Do you need any specific functionality from your theme? This might include e-commerce integrations, event page templates, etc.
- Does it have good reviews? Read through customer reviews before you download anything to see what real users think.
- Is it updated frequently? Frequent updates are an indication of quality, support, and security.
- Are their templates and block patterns included? If you’re just starting out, page templates and block patterns give you a head start with designing your site.
For a full list of considerations, see this guide to choosing a WordPress theme.
You can either choose a free theme from the WordPress theme library or purchase one from a reputable third-party website. Once you’ve chosen a theme, go to Appearance → Themes in your WordPress dashboard, then select Add Theme. There, you can upload a ZIP file (for third-party themes) or search using the WordPress theme library. Click Install → Activate.
Finally, go through your theme settings and configure them to meet your needs. This may involve uploading your logo, choosing the colors for your site, and picking global page layouts. This process will vary dramatically depending on your theme, so check the theme’s documentation for full instructions.
5. Install essential plugins
Plugins add new features and functionality to your WordPress site without requiring you to work with code. You can search the WordPress.org plugin directory for options that meet your specific need or download tools from third parties. Here are some of the most common plugins sites need:
- A forms plugin: Use tools like Jetpack Forms to collect newsletter sign-ups, questions, and requests.
- A security and backups tool: Plans like Jetpack Security can provide robust protection for your site, including features like spam prevention, real-time backups, a web application firewall, and malware scanning.
- An SEO plugin: Optimize your website for search engines thanks to plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math.
- A performance tool: Help your site load quickly every time with tools like Jetpack Boost.
- An ecommerce platform: Sell anything online, from physical and digital items to subscriptions, memberships, and bookings with WooCommerce.
To install plugins, go to Plugins → Add Plugins in your dashboard. Search for the one you want to add or upload a ZIP file. Then, click Install Now → Activate.
Each tool has its own setup process and instructions for use. Check the plugin documentation for full details.
6. Create key pages
The exact pages you need for your site will vary, but most sites should have:
- A homepage: This is often the first page visitors will see on your site, so think through the information that will be most valuable to them. Explain your site in a nutshell and potentially include information about services, your blog posts, upcoming events, or whatever makes sense for your situation.
- An About page: Tell visitors who you are and what your site is about. Keep it personal and conversational.
- A Contact page: Include a contact form and other means of getting in touch. If you have a physical location, add your address.
- A Privacy Policy page: This is especially important if you collect any visitor information. Many countries require privacy policies by law.
The WordPress block editor makes creating pages simple, while still providing full customization. First, go to Pages → Add Page in your dashboard. This will open a blank page where you can add your page title. Then, build out the page using blocks — content elements like paragraphs, headings, images, and columns.
To do this, click the blue + icon at the top left of the editor to open the Block Inserter. There, you can scroll through all the available blocks, search for something specific, or even add pre-designed sections called block patterns.
Once you’ve found a block you want to use, simply drag and drop it into the page. Settings will be different depending on the element you’re working with, but in this example, we’ll use an Image block.
When you add the block, you’ll first see an option to add an image from the media library or from your device. Then, you can use the toolbar that appears on top of the block to apply a filter, change the alignment, add a caption, and more.
You can also click the Settings icon in the top right to show more options. There you can add alt text, change the image resolution, add a border, and more.
Continue adding blocks to the page, dragging and dropping them until you have a layout that you love. You can click the View icon at the top right, which will provide options to preview your page on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
When you’re ready, click the blue Publish button to make the page live.
For more details, see:
- Our guide to the WordPress block editor, which walks you through all the details about creating pages
- A helpful video on the Site Editor, which allows you to set global styles and edit templates for categories, pages, posts, and more
- Our tutorial on creating a navigation menu, which shows you how to build and edit your website’s main menu so visitors can access your content easily
7. Publish your first blog post
Whether blogging is the primary purpose of your site or you want to publish content to showcase your expertise, a blog is a vital component of a successful marketing strategy.
To create a blog post, go to Posts → Add Post in your WordPress dashboard. You’ll see that you’re once again in the block editor.
First, add a title. It should grab attention and, ideally, include keywords people might use when searching for your content online.
Then, add blocks to create your post, similar to the way you created your pages. Break up long blocks of text with bullet point lists, subheadings, and images to make your content more engaging and easier to consume.
Pro tip: If you have a blog post written in third-party software like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, you can copy and paste it into WordPress and it will automatically convert the content into blocks.
Now, open the Settings panel on the right and select the Post tab. There, you can set a featured image and add categories and tags to organize your content.
When you’re ready, click Publish.
Need some writing help? You can automate content creation with the help of Jetpack’s AI Assistant, a tool that generates content drafts, suggests headlines, creates tables, translates text, and helps fine-tune your writing to match your brand voice. Learn more about Jetpack AI Assistant here.
8. Maintain and grow your WordPress site
Building your site is just the beginning — regular maintenance is critical to keep your site secure and running smoothly. Here are a few tasks to add to your to-do list:
- Update WordPress regularly: New versions of plugins, themes, and WordPress core include security fixes and new features.
- Monitor your site performance: Use tools like Jetpack Stats and Google Analytics to track visitor behavior. See which content performs best so you can make the most of your time and marketing dollars.
- Keep creating content: Regular blog posts keep visitors coming back, show your expertise, and help with search engine rankings.
- Engage with your audience: Respond to comments on your blog, share your content on social media, and build relationships with other bloggers in your industry.
- Keep on eye on site activity and spam: Use tools like Jetpack Security to monitor what users do on your site, protect forms against spam, and keep an eye out for vulnerabilities and suspicious actions.
Read our 13-step guide to WordPress maintenance for more details.
Frequently asked questions about WordPress
How much does WordPress cost?
While you will need to pay for hosting and a domain name, WordPress software is free. There are premium themes and plugins available, but they aren’t required to build a beautiful, functional website.
If you choose to go with WordPress.com, the hosted version of WordPress, paid plans start at $4.00 per month.
Is WordPress difficult to learn?
No. WordPress was built so that anyone, regardless of their experience, can build and manage a great website. It’s very user-friendly and enables you to create and design an entire site without having to work with code.
Can I make money with a WordPress site?
Yes. You can sell products, offer services, display ads, create membership sites, and more. WordPress supports all major payment systems and ecommerce plugins.
Do I need to know HTML or CSS for WordPress?
No. WordPress has a visual block editor for creating content, which enables you to build a complete website without writing any code. Learning basic HTML and CSS can help you make advanced edits, but isn’t necessary.
Is WordPress good for SEO?
Yes. WordPress is built with clean code that search engines love. SEO plugins make optimization even easier.
How often should I update WordPress?
Update WordPress whenever new versions are released, which usually happens every few months. You can turn on auto updates to make the process easier.
What happens if my WordPress site gets hacked?
Great security tools, like Jetpack Security, can protect your site from hacks. If someone does get in, however, you can restore a backup, lock down your site, and remove any harmful code. For more information read our post on fixing a hacked site.
Can I use WordPress for an online store?
Yes, you can absolutely use WordPress to run an online store. WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns WordPress into a full ecommerce platform. You can sell physical products, digital downloads, services, and more.
How many visitors can WordPress handle?
WordPress scales well. Small sites can handle thousands of visitors daily on basic hosting. Larger sites will need better hosting but can serve millions of daily visitors.
Can I change my WordPress theme later?
Yes. You can switch themes at any time. Your content stays the same, but the design will change. Some custom development work might need adjustment with new themes.
Is WordPress mobile-friendly?
Most WordPress themes are responsive by default. This means they automatically adjust to different screen sizes. Responsive themes help your site look good on phones, tablets, and computers.
Your WordPress success starts now
You now have everything you need to create a professional WordPress site. Take things one step at a time — start with the basics and add features as you learn.
Remember, every successful website started with someone clicking “Publish” for the first time.
WordPress gives you the tools. Now it’s time to build something great.
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