Our easy and simple WordPress guide will show you all the basics you need to get started with WordPress!
What is WordPress?
WordPress is one of the most popular website designers in the world! It serves 64% of all Content Management System (CMS) sites. Our step-by-step guide will show you how to use WordPress, so if you’re wondering how to create a website that’ll impress every visitor, you’ve come to the right place.
Why use WordPress? It’s the market leader, meaning that you will have a large community of fellow website designers to draw advice from. It also gives a lot of great integrated features like Search Engine Optimization (SEO), widgets for every occasion, and block-based design. If you’re looking for a powerful program that can cater to your every need, look no further. Although it can be a bit intimidating to start, WordPress has a great wealth of features available so it’ll earn its keep.
Getting Started!
To register: Go to WordPress and create a username and password! You’ll need an active email to register, so that’s the starting point.
To create a domain: Choose any free YourAddress.wordpress.com web address if you wish. For a custom address that doesn’t include WordPress, you’ll need to register with a Business subscription plan.
To create your profile: Set up a profile with your personal information and upload an image to act as your avatar (Gravatar, in WordPress’ words). Click on the round icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen and then click on My Profile to enter your information and upload an image. Get fun with it!
Add your site’s title: Your username will be used to set your site’s title by default, but it’s changeable in the settings.
- My Sites
- Customize
- Site Identity to name your site
Visit the Reader: It’s the first place you’ll be taken, and it’s what WordPress considers the hub. Familiarize yourself with this menu, it’s your new home!
Explore the My Sites menu: Click on My Sites, which is in the top left corner of the screen. You’ll see a menu pop up that allows you to create new pages and blog posts and play around with the elements of your site. 
Check out the available themes: A theme is a layout and style for your website. WordPress.com has hundreds to choose from, and you can tailor all of them to suit your needs.
- My Sites
- Themes
You can use the Live Demo feature to preview a theme and decide whether to keep it or not!
Next Steps!
Customize your header: The header can be changed on most themes, so use this feature to add a drop of personalization! To access the editor:
- My Sites
- Customize
- Header Image
Use widgets to add functionality: Widgets give you access to a whole host of new features, like animated pictures, sidebars, updating blogs, and more! To access this, follow these steps:
- My Sites
- Customize
- Widgets.
Use Custom Fonts and Colours: A personalized color palette can often result in a more memorable web experience! Try these features by:
- Go to My Sites
- Customize
- Colors & Backgrounds.
To try out some new fonts, go to:
- My Sites
- Customize
- Fonts.
Finish Up!
Publish your masterpiece by heading to:
- My Sites
- Blog Posts
- Add.
Add a title and your website is good to go! Enjoy!
To publish a new page on an existing site:
- My Sites
- Site Pages
- Add.
You’re good to go! Enjoy WordPress!
FAQ:
How do I solve the “your php installation appears to be missing the mysql extension which is required by wordpress” error (how to update php in WordPress)?
This happens when you’re running an older version of PHP (7+ won’t work), or the PHP configuration is incorrect. The quickest way to solve this issue is to simply redownload PHP while re-importing your files (copy and paste them into the same location on the new version).
How to backup WordPress site?
The easiest way is to use an automatic backup tool like Bluehost. A manual backup takes a lot longer, but is achievable. WordPress has a great guide on manual backups here.
How to duplicate a page in WordPress?
There are many third party plugins that can be used to duplicate a page. Check out Duplicate Page!
