A website is essential if you’re looking to establish an online presence for your small business. And with WordPress, building a professional-looking website may seem challenging. But it’s easy if you put in the time.
Of course, knowing some code like HTML, CSS, and PHP can make life easier.
We’ll give you some pointers on making a WordPress website, or we can help you with one of our packages.
This guide is not exhaustive, but it should give you a good idea of what to expect.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source (free) content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage your website’s content easily.
With its user-friendly interface and the ability to integrate with a MySQL database, even non-technical users can use WordPress effortlessly. It offers various stylish themes and patterns to make your website stand out effortlessly.
With this platform, you can build anything you want, from a blog to an online store.
Even though the software for WordPress is free, you’ll still need to pay for a domain, hosting, and third-party apps (plugins) to operate your online business successfully.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com: Understanding the Key Differences
WordPress.org and WordPress.com are two different ways to use the popular content management system and may be confusing initially.
Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
WordPress.com
Think of WordPress.com as renting an apartment. You have limited control over what you can do with the space and are subject to the landlord’s rules.
With WordPress.com, you don’t have to worry about hosting or maintaining the software, but you also don’t have complete control over your website.
It’s also possible to get a free basic website with a domain and hosting on WordPress.com, such as mybusinessname.wordpress.com. Since you’re operating a business, you would want to avoid going this route.
WordPress.org
In contrast, WordPress.org is like owning a house. You have greater control over what you can do with the space but are responsible for hosting and maintaining the software. With WordPress.org, you can customize your website to your heart’s content and make it your own.
So which one should you choose? It ultimately depends on your needs and preferences. If you want complete control over your website and are okay with hosting and maintenance, then WordPress.org could be your better option.
On the other hand, if you value convenience and ease of use, then WordPress.com might be the way to go if you are okay with some limitations.
Most bloggers and businesses go the WordPress.org route, including us at Dragonfruita.
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Now here’s a brief guide to creating a WordPress website for your small business
Step 1: Choose a Domain Name and Web Hosting Provider
Your domain name is the address of your website, so choose one that is memorable and easy to spell. Next, you’ll need to choose a web hosting provider with reliable service and support.
We recommend not buying a domain and hosting with the same provider for security reasons. Namecheap and Cloudflare are reputable domain registrars.
For hosting, the cheapest plan is not always the best. Too many websites are often shared on the same server hogging up resources and leading to a slow website. And customer support isn’t great.
We have our domain with Namecheap and our hosting with Kinsta. WPEngine is also another superb WordPress hosting provider.
If you are on a tight budget for a hosting provider, Flywheel and SiteGround may be suitable.
Step 2: Install WordPress
With your domain and web hosting provider in place, you can install WordPress. Many web hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation, but if that’s not available, you will have to download and install WordPress manually.
Step 3: Choose a Theme
WordPress offers a wide range of free and premium themes that can give your website the look and feel you want. Choose a theme that best represents your brand and appeals to your target audience.
Step 4: Customize Your Website
Once you’ve chosen your theme, you can customize your website with your logo, color scheme, and other branding elements. You can also add pages, posts, images, and videos to make your website engaging and informative.
There are also drag-and-drop theme builders, including Divi and Elementor. The builders help design a WordPress website faster with little to no coding involved.
Step 5: Optimize Your Website for Search Engines
To ensure potential customers easily find your website, you must optimize it for search engines. This involves using relevant keywords in your content, optimizing your images, and ensuring your website is mobile-friendly.
You can optimize your WordPress website using an SEO plugin. Rank Math is the best option.
Final Thoughts
With these steps, your small business can have a WordPress website up and running quickly. To make it look professional, ensure you have a business name and logo that captures your brand’s audience while utilizing color theory.
