The Non-Tech Savvy Guide to Setting Up a WordPress Website

Creating a website of your own can’t be a difficult task when you have something as convenient as WordPress.

With over 400 million users visiting the site every month—it is simple, flexible, and scalable to build a WordPress website. That’s why it works for personal websites, eCommerce stores, large companies, and more.

Do you want better on-page SEO and security? Do you need eCommerce tools? Whatever you need, you can find a great plugin in WordPress for it.

Finding and setting up the best WordPress hosting requires some patience, and we’re here to help. We’ve gathered all available information about WordPress and web hosting as well as how to build a WordPress website in no time.

Let’s begin!

Web Hosting vs. WordPress Hosting: What’s the Difference?  

In Crazy Domains, you have two different options to harness the power of WordPress: Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting.

With Web Hosting, you can host any kind of website — including WordPress. You have the advantage of using enterprise servers for maximum performance and scalability. This delivers the performance and security you need for your site.

WordPress Hosting unlocks even more features, including WordPress staging, transfer, security, support, and more.

So which should you choose?

Companies with dedicated IT staff can take advantage of our Web Hosting service. Those without IT or newer businesses should use the WordPress Hosting service.

Now, we’ll take a look at the difference when you create a WordPress website with each hosting package.

Method 1: Web Hosting

1. Select and purchase your domain name and hosting.
   1. You can also transfer your existing site and domain.
2. Install WordPress using Crazy Domains’ One-Click Installation.
3. Design your WordPress website.
4. Choose additional features.
   1. Regardless of anticipated traffic, it’s worth it to upgrade your speed. This will improve site functionality and SEO.
5. Customise your site using Themes.
6. Add pages like About, Contact, etc.
7. Install plugins to get more out of WordPress.

Method 2: Dedicated WordPress Hosting

1. Choose the right plan for you. You have three options between personal, business, and ultimate use.
2. Select your domain name.
3. Choose additional features.
   1. Regardless of anticipated traffic, it’s worth it to upgrade your speed. This will improve site functionality and SEO.
4. Import your website — or use the one-click WordPress install.
5. Design your WordPress website.
6. Customise your site using Themes.
7. Add pages like Home, About, Contact, etc.
8. Install plugins to get more out of WordPress.

Let’s go into more detail on how you can make your site look amazing.

More About the One-Click Installation

Crazy Domains uses a one-click installation for WordPress, which makes it easy to get started. You’ll find the installation button in your Crazy Domains dashboard.

Follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Crazy Domains Hosting account.
2. Go to the control panel.
3. Click on the WordPress icon.
4. Choose the domain where you want to install your new website.
5. Click the Install Now button. Now you’ll be able to access your WordPress website.

Design Your WordPress Site  

Now you have a clean WordPress website. But you don’t want it to look like everybody else’s.

Customise it with themes, plugins, and other tools.

1. Sign in to your WordPress dashboard

You can access your WP dashboard at https://yourdomainname.com/wp-admin.

2. Choose your favourite theme

1. 1. 1. Go to Appearance > Themes.
      2. Choose from the list of themes displayed. Here’s a list of the top 33 from 2021.
         1. Take some time to see what works best. You may want a paid theme or use one of the free options.
         2. Search for specific keywords and filters to match your site’s function and style.
         3. Lean towards responsive themes. This means they are compatible with all devices.
      3. Once you’ve found a theme you like, select Install Now followed by Activate. This will install the theme on your site.
      4. You can change themes at any time you like. This won’t affect the data on your pages.

3. Add content and pages

Once you’ve installed your themes, it’s time to add some of the main pages we discussed earlier.

1. 1. 1. Click the sidebar in the WordPress Dashboard for Pages > Add New.
      2. Add text, images, and more to build the page you want. Don’t forget to hit Save!
      3. Add your pages to your site’s navigation bar.
         1. Go to Appearance > Menus in the sidebar of the WordPress dashboard.
         2. Find your new page and add it to the list. Click the box next to it, then choose Add to Menu.

4. Start your blog

Blogs are an excellent way for you to be a credible source of information and grow your audience.

Create blog posts through the Posts feature in WordPress:

1. Go to Posts > Add New.
2. Write your post! Make use of WordPress’ rich text editor and add images, videos, blockquotes, and more.
3. After writing your blog post, add its corresponding categories and tags.
4. Add a featured image that matches your content.
5. Check how your post would look on your site by clicking Preview Changes.
6. When you’re satisfied, hit Publish.

READ: Why You Should Blog: 7 Compelling Reasons to Write Online

5. Choose your static page

The static page serves as your WordPress site’s home page.

By default, your static page is your blog page. But ideally, your static page should contain all that your audience should know about your business.

1. To set your static page, do the following:
2. On your WordPress dashboard, go to Pages > Add Page.
3. Create your desired homepage. Think about what you want your audience to know first about your business.
4. After creating your homepage, go to Settings > Reading.
5. Choose your homepage as your static page.

6. Install your plugins

Plugins are extensions that expand the capabilities of your WordPress website. There are over 25,000 plugins you can use to add amazing features to your site. Best of all, you can install them in a snap.

Plugins do everything. You can create photo galleries, customise submission forms, add security, and more.

To install a plugin, go to Plugins > Add New. Search for what you need. After finding one you like, click Install.

Here are some plugins for you to start with:

• Yoast SEO: Power SEO tool to optimise pages for better search rankings.
• WooCommerce: Ecommerce is essential for everything online stores need.
• Constant Contact: Email marketing tools for better engagement.
• Akismet Anti-Spam: Prevent spam and other attacks.
• Google Analytics Dashboard by ExactMetrics: Understand your web traffic and campaigns from inside WP.

READ: WordPress Plugins: Easy and Quick Tools to Convert Your Website into a Mobile App

Takeaway

With WordPress, you get everything you need for a business website — ease of use, functionality, scalability, and security, among others.

If you need a no-fuss way to set up your first website, WordPress is a good choice.