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Building a website from the ground up is more than accessible than ever earlier. You lot don't need a formal degree or a groundwork as a website designer to create an online presence you tin be proud of.

What you lot do demand is a willingness to learn and the right WordPress tutorial to guide you along the way. You handle the former, and nosotros'll handle the latter.

In this free WordPress tutorial for beginners, nosotros'll outline everything you need to know to successfully navigate the WordPress admin dashboard (WP Admin).

From baseline knowledge on content management systems (CMSes) to the more technical nuances of uploading and activating a theme, this WordPress guide will be an indispensable and like shooting fish in a barrel reference material to help you lot build your website.

Table of Contents:

• Understanding WordPress
• Installing WordPress
• Navigating the WordPress Dashboard
• Installing WordPress Themes
• Installing WordPress Plugins
• Creating a New Page or Mail
• Optimizing WordPress Performance
• WordPress Pro Tips and Tricks

WordPress for Beginners: What is WordPress?

The History of WordPress

WordPress has come up a long way since it start launched in 2003. Today, it is the world'due south nearly popular CMS, powering 37.half-dozen% of all websites on the cyberspace.

WordPress was created by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Piddling in response to the discontinuation of b2/cafelog — blogging software Mullenweg had used for photo sharing. The programmer and developer drew inspiration from b2, while also making changes that would shape the more than powerful and easy-to-use WordPress software nosotros know today.

WordPress is built on the programming languages PHP and MySQL and is licensed nether the GPLv2. This general public license makes the WordPress platform free to apply and modify.

What is a CMS?

To fully empathize WordPress as a tool, y'all should be familiar with content direction systems equally a whole. WordPress itself is a popular case of a CMS.

These applications are used to manage, organize, edit, create, and publish content on the internet. CMS is primarily concerned with how web content functions as opposed to how it's designed.

A good CMS makes information technology possible for not-coders to create and manage a website. Despite the learning curve, WordPress is neat for beginners. Those looking to launch a business or personal make online can hands do and so with a broad range of customization capabilities at their disposal.

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

Most users refer to the free, open-source CMS that is WordPress as just that — WordPress. However, beginner WordPress users should pay careful attention to the domain extension.

WordPress.org is the free, open-source CMS tool nosotros're discussing in this WordPress tutorial. WordPress.com is a costless blogging platform.

Both WordPress.com and WordPress.org operate on the same infrastructure, using the core code of WordPress.org. Notwithstanding, that'southward where their similarity ends.

WordPress.com is endemic and operated by Automattic — a for-profit organization. Alternatively, WordPress.org is run by the WordPress Foundation, which is a nonprofit supported by individual contributors and companies (including Automattic).

Technically-speaking, at that place'southward a free WordPress.com program, which is ideal for new bloggers. Only, many users opt for paid plans. The perks of going "paid" include an included blog domain name (for the first year), in add-on to having some of the more technical aspects of your site taken intendance of (eastward.g. the installation of plugins and themes).

WordPress.org on the other hand is self-hosted. This means users ain their websites and have more than freedom over what they can practise with them. As a user, all you lot have to do is download the software and cull your preferred hosting server.

Nearly spider web hosts, including iPage, offering a simple WordPress setup process that will have you upwardly and running in a matter of clicks.

With WordPress.org, you lot take more command over your website. WordPress.org might be the way to go if y'all have specific preferences regarding your web hosting or design. You may want to choose a host (such as iPage) that tin offer hosting that is faster, cheaper, or offers more storage. Equally for design, WordPress.org allows you to cull from a wide diversity of customizable themes.

Note: When using WordPress.org, you're able to download the WordPress software free of charge and host it yourself on a local auto — or with a hosting provider like iPage where the installation is done automatically for you lot.

WordPress for Beginners: Installing WordPress

Before you begin installing WordPress and configuring your website, at that place are several questions to consider:

• What is the purpose of your site?
• Will it serve as an e-commerce platform, blog, business, portfolio — or something else?
• What will you proper name your site? The domain should coincide with the name of your concern, blog, or portfolio as closely as possible — pending availability.

With the in a higher place out of the mode, you can start the WordPress installation procedure.

This can be done in one of two ways:

1. Download free WordPress software from WordPress.org. As of publication, 5.iv.2 is the latest version of WordPress, which includes Gutenberg — the software's new default content editor. WordPress also provides step-past-step instructions for those who demand a more than in-depth, installation-specific WordPress tutorial.
2. Pay for hosting. Most hosting providers, including iPage, accept the hassle out of getting started with automatic installation of WordPress. As an added bonus, both our WP Starter and Essential Plans include pre-installed plugins and themes to assistance yous hit the ground running.

WordPress for Beginners: Navigating the WordPress Dashboard

How to Log Into WordPress

With WordPress installed and gear up to scroll, it'south time to familiarize yourself with the administrator dashboard. If you lot're like most WordPress beginners, you might struggle to find your login folio URL.

The login page is the gateway between your website and dashboard — aka the "admin area." This is where you can work on website content and brand changes to your site's layout.

Accessing the WordPress dashboard is also known equally working on the "backend" of your site.

Logging in Using Your Website's URL

To access the login page of your website, all you take to do is add together the /login or /wp-admin suffix to your website'southward URL.

For example, if your website'due south URL is website.com, yous'll blazon website.com/login or website.com/wp-admin into your browser.

If you've installed a subdirectory with your website (e.g. website.com/wordpress), yous can access the login page for it by calculation the suffix after the address.

For case, using the same website.com name, a sub-directory login folio URL would look similar this: website.com/wordpress/login or website.com/wordpress/wp-login.php.

If y'all have a subdomain (e.m. subdomain.website.com), you lot can access the login page for information technology by calculation the suffix later on the address.

For example, with the same website.com name, a subdomain login page URL would expect like this: subdomain.website.com/login or subdomain.website.com/wp-login.php.

Once y'all're logged in, yous'll be redirected to the admin area of your site located in the wp-admin folder. Both of the aforementioned /admin and /wp-admin suffixes will give you direct access to the wp-admin binder. It will also check to see if yous were previously logged in and whether your session is all the same active.

If you're even so logged in and your session is active, you'll exist directed to the WordPress dashboard. If not, you'll be redirected to the login page.

Logging in Through iPage

At iPage, we make it very simple for customers to access their WordPress dashboard. To get started, you start need to login to your iPage account, click on "Manage Site" under the "WordPress" carte. This volition automatically log you in to your WordPress admin page.

Remembering Your WordPress Login Page

If yous take a difficult time remembering your login folio, here are a couple of quick tips:

• Bookmark your login folio
• Add a WordPress link to your website's footer
• Select "Remember Me" on the login page

You lot tin add a link to your website's footer in one of 2 ways:

1. Add the WordPress login link to your carte. Go to Appearance > Menus in your WordPress admin area and select the Link tab. In one case yous're there, add your WordPress login link and text, and click Add together to Bill of fare.
2. Employ the default widget, chosen Meta, which adds a link to the login page using your site's RSS feeds and the WordPress.org website. Go to Appearance > Widgets in your WordPress admin area and drag the Meta widget to the sidebar earlier adding the login link.

If you lot select "Remember Me" on the login page you tin can directly access the WordPress admin area without logging in for up to 14 days or more, depending on your browser's cookie settings. But make sure to log out if you're using a shared computer.

Introducing the WordPress Dashboard

When logged into your WordPress dashboard, you'll spend nigh of your time with the left-manus navigation card. This is where yous tin access most of the features necessary for maintaining your website's backend.

Main Menus

• Top Navigation or Tool Bar

This section contains links to the nigh commonly used administrative functions and resources. It as well gives y'all access to your user proper name and countersign information.

• The Main Navigation or Left Nav

This is on your left-hand side. It provides yous with the links you need to make all sorts of changes to your website. If you hover over a menu item, the sub-menu displays with additional items

• Chief Working Area

This is where the fun happens. Yous will exist spending a lot of time hither.

"Welcome to WordPress" Section

At the top of the admin page, on the Dashboard tab, y'all'll detect the "Welcome to WordPress" section. It's here that y'all can chop-chop access everything you demand to go started as a WordPress beginner, including writing your first blog postal service, calculation an Virtually page, and viewing your alive site.

If the Welcome to WordPress section isn't visible, information technology may take been removed unintentionally. Simply click Screen Options in the upper righthand corner of your dashboard and check Welcome.

"At a Glance" Console

Beneath the "Welcome to WordPress" department is the "At a Glance" panel. This displays the number of posts, pages, and comments you have on your site. It also shows you the theme you're using, likewise equally the electric current version of WordPress you lot're operating on.

"Activity" Panel

Moving downward the dashboard, under "At a Glance", is the "Activity" panel. Here yous'll exist able to track the contempo activity on your website, such as published posts and recently added comments.

"Quick Draft" Panel

Near the "At a Glance" and "Activity" panels is the "Quick Draft" console, which can be used when you need to write a quick mail. Continue in mind that yous won't be able to access formatting features in full when in Quick Draft fashion.

"WordPress Events and News" Section

Lastly, below the Quick Draft console, is the "WordPress Events and News" department. This is where you lot'll be able to track the latest on WordPress events and meetups in your area.

The dainty thing about the WordPress admin dashboard is that it'south fully customizable. You tin hands hide panels you lot don't use by collapsing them or visiting "Screen Options." Panels tin also be dragged and arranged across your dashboard in a way that makes sense to you.

WordPress for Beginners: Installing WordPress Themes

What are WordPress Themes?

WordPress themes allow you to change the await and feel of your website without personally altering core code. They consist of different types of files (e.1000., HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript) working together to produce a unified blueprint.

At that place are literally thousands of themes — both free and paid — to choose from. Each one offers a different set of features and functions to accommodate your needs.

Like your WordPress dashboard, themes can also be customized through the use of plugins. Yous tin can likewise brand modifications past adding code to the functions.php file or through the use of a child theme.

Themes are classified every bit parent or kid themes. Parent themes incorporate all of the original theme files, whereas child themes function equally sub-themes. They but inherit the functionality, features, and way of a WordPress parent theme. Child themes be so that you lot can make changes that won't go wiped away if you install an update to the parent theme.

Gratuitous vs. Paid WordPress themes

WordPress users can all agree on the need for a multitude of theme options. Nevertheless, they differ in their opinions about whether free or paid themes are better. Let's consider the pros and cons of each.

When working with complimentary themes, the biggest pro — naturally — is toll. If you don't like the theme upon download, you oasis't lost any money considering of your decision.

In terms of quality, complimentary WordPress themes, especially those available through the WordPress repository, undergo stringent review before receiving approval. They're oftentimes uniform with gratuitous repository plugins too.

The main con of free themes is they are limited in terms of features. They likewise come with little to no back up in the event that bug arise — which can exist especially frustrating considering they can also be poorly coded.

You become what you (don't) pay for.

With paid themes, the pros include a more robust feature set, frequent updates, and attainable support. These themes are oft referred to as "premium themes" for a reason. Unfortunately, premium comes at a price, often resulting in monthly or non-refundable one-fourth dimension payments.

Uploading and Activating a WordPress Theme

Take your time to sift through themes earlier pulling the trigger. Every bit a WordPress beginner, information technology'due south a good idea to exam drive a couple of free themes before moving on to a paid theme.

Once you lot have a theme in hand, in that location are two popular means to become about uploading information technology to your website.

1. Installing a Free WordPress Theme

To choose a theme from the WordPress repository, you tin can filter based on four categories: Featured, Pop, Latest, and Favorites. You can likewise search for a particular theme past name (if you know it), or filter by features to discover themes that work for more specific needs.

Once you've landed on a free theme, go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard. Once there, click on Add New.

2. Installing a Premium WordPress Theme

If you're purchasing a premium WordPress theme, download and relieve it to your computer. Yous'll then need to upload information technology through your dashboard.

Go to Appearance > Themes and click on Add New > Upload a new theme. Select Cull File to upload the paid theme from your reckoner and click Install Now. Once installed, choose Activate to push the theme alive on your site.

WordPress for Beginners: Installing WordPress Plugins

What Are WordPress Plugins?

I of the things that distinguishes WordPress from other blogging sites is the ability to extend core functionality through the use of plugins. You don't have to be a coder to make a website feel like your own.

Plugins are software programs that allow you lot to add together new features to your website without having to touch the lawmaking. They exist for just about any piece of functionality you can think of — from social media sharing to improving website security and search engine optimization (SEO).

Several thousand plugins — both gratuitous and paid — can be downloaded through the WordPress plugin directory. Many users get by with free options simply, equally is truthful with themes, information technology's important to make sure that whatever you lot're downloading comes from a reputable developer.

Installing WordPress Plugins

At that place are ii primary means to install WordPress plugins.

one. Installing a WordPress Plugin Using the Directory

If you lot're downloading a plugin through the WordPress plugin directory, you lot can easily install it from there. Simply go to Plugins > Add New to search for the plugin you'd similar to use. Select the plugin you want and upload it.

2. Installing a WordPress Plugin Using WordPress

If you're buying a paid plugin, you tin hands upload information technology into WordPress manually. Download your plugin from the called third-party provider and unzip the file.

Become to Plugins > Add New and click on the Upload Plugin option. Choose the corresponding file from your estimator and click Install Now.

Subsequently the plugin is successfully installed, you'll see a confirmation pop-up appear. On the message, click Activate Plugin to start using your new plugin.

Essential WordPress Plugins for Beginners

Every website is different. What 1 website might need to succeed could vary widely from what is essential to another website.

For example, a web log volition likely crave unlike plugins than an due east-commerce site. A blogger might prioritize SEO-based plugins earlier they opt for something that protects user data and site security.

Here are a handful of pop plugins to consider for your own website:

Yoast SEO

Yoast is the near popular SEO plugin for WordPress. Information technology's bang-up for those looking to better their search rankings and ameliorate content readability.

W3 Full Enshroud

W3 Total Cache helps increase page speed by reducing page download times, improving overall site operation and search rankings.

JetPack

Another must-accept plugin, JetPack is mostly free to employ and offers various functions, including site security, improved site functioning, and social sharing.

Google XML Sitemaps

With the Google XML Sitemaps plugin, you can improve SEO and aid search engines hands index your content.

Smush

I way to ameliorate site speed is to shrink images used across your site. Smush is a popular image compressor plugin that will help you resize and optimize images for prime functionality.

Contact Class 7

Your website visitors need a way to get in touch with you. Make it piece of cake for them by adding Contact Course 7. Contact Form seven lets you easily add together simple contact forms to your website.

WordPress for Beginners: Creating a New Page or Post

When your WordPress website has been updated with your chosen theme and plugins in identify, adding content is the next big thing to do. Content, in this case, takes the shape of pages and posts.

A page is a predefined postal service type. It refers to static content that does not live on your blog. Some examples of pages include the Homepage, an About page, and a Contact page.

A post, on the other hand, is content you write to be published on your WordPress blog. These could also be referred to as blogs or articles.

The Difference Between Pages and Posts

Here are some points to go along in mind when distinguishing betwixt pages and posts.

Posts are considered timely content, which is why they will appear chronologically in your WP admin area. They can too be categorized using tags for easy searching and can be included in RSS feeds.

Since pages are more than static in nature, they're organized hierarchically with subpages.

For case, an About page may have multiple subpages, including an About the Company or Well-nigh the Team folio. You cannot use tags (or categories) to pages.

Creating Posts and Pages

The process for creating posts is actually quite like to the process used to create pages. The main difference is the link path you'll follow.

To add pages in WordPress, you lot'll need to become to Pages > Add together New. To add posts, go to Posts > Add New.

Whether it's a folio or a mail service, yous'll need to make full in the title and relevant content fields. If yous have Gutenberg installed, your page editor will look slightly dissimilar than previous WordPress versions. You can utilize blocks to insert text, photos, videos, and more than.

With the archetype page editor, you'll directly type into the text boxes or select Add together Media to insert images, videos, or other media files. If you're more comfortable with HTML, you can also switch to the "Text" tab editor and format your text there.

One time you've added all of the necessary content, check the "Condition" and "Visibility" toolbars on the right side of your dashboard.

This toolbar will offer a number of functions:

• Save Draft saves your folio or post without publishing it.
• Preview allows you to see what your page or post volition expect like when it's live on your website.
• Condition helps y'all determine whether your folio or mail service is a draft or published.
• Visibility allows y'all to control who can run into your page or postal service (eastward.yard., Public, Individual, or Password-protected).
• Publish will make a page or post visible on your website. You can also set a page or post to be published at a scheduled fourth dimension in the future.

WordPress for Beginners: Optimizing WordPress Operation

Speed tin play a major role in your website's overall customer and user experience. The longer visitors have to wait to admission your content, the less inclined they'll be to stick around and appoint with it — specially when viewing on mobile.

To avoid slow response times across your WordPress website, consider investing time in optimizing your website'due south speed and other functioning factors.

Site Speed

Keeping page load times low is of import because page speed is a cardinal SEO ranking cistron. To give your website a heave, consider using a site speed plugin like W3 Total Cache.

You should too make certain your images are optimized for quick loading. High-resolution prototype files are normally the principal culprit behind slow loading times. A plugin like the aforementioned Smush tin can assist with image compression.

Another mode to amend your site speed is to regularly clear your website'southward memory. Delete unused themes and plugins to help clear your media library.

Site Security

As the world's largest CMS, WordPress can't afford to be without a reasonable level of built-in security. However, that doesn't make it any less decumbent to hacking and issues of cybersecurity.

Like site speed, site security impacts SEO. So much then, in fact, it'south a primary reason for the majority of site hacks that have place.

To aid improve site security, one of the easiest things yous can exercise is alter your default username. "Admin" is the default username ready across all WordPress installations. To add a layer of security to your login credentials, brand certain to set a new, unique username.

You should also alter your login folio URL. A plugin like WPS Hide Login can help you lot practise just that.

If you'll be treatment payments on your site for e-commerce or content-based products, you lot should also take precautions that protect customer data. Get an SSL certificate for your customers' sakes.

Regular maintenance and website direction will besides help with security. Make sure you're keeping your WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated with the latest versions. Perform regular backups as well.

In the consequence that someone does hack and crash your website, you'll be thankful to have a backup on hand for quick restoration. UpdraftPlus and Backupbuddy are popular plugins for backups. Yous should also check with your hosting service for automatic backup addition options.

WordPress for Beginners: WordPress Pro Tips and Tricks

While you don't take to exist a professional web developer or content creator to brand the most of WordPress, you tin always benefit from expert advice.

These are the best tips and tricks for WordPress from top WordPress experts effectually the globe:

• Accept advantage of theme documentation and demo imports
• Use a staging website to exam changes
• Backup and secure your WordPress website
• Heighten the Gutenberg cake editor (or revert to the classic editor)
• Audit your plugins
• Proceed your software up to date.
• Optimize your social media share image
• Set your timezone
• Decide whether or not to let comments
• Make sure search engines tin can find your website
• Utilize widgets to enhance your WordPress website

1. Theme Documentation Is Your Friend

Many WordPress beginners find the perfect theme, and so, later installing it, find that it looks nothing like the theme demo. Refer to a theme's documentation for instructions on how to go far look like the demo that y'all fell in love with.

2. If All Else Fails, Exercise a Demo Import

If a theme'south documentation is too complicated to follow or non detailed enough, and you tin can't go support from the developer, do a demo import. Yous tin do this manually by following instructions from your theme developer or using a plugin like Theme Demo Importer or One Click Demo Import.

3. Create a Staging Website to Test Out Changes

When your WordPress website becomes popular and receives lots of traffic, yous'll want to avert making live edits to your website in case yous make mistakes that causes a crash or makes your website wait bad.

Build a WordPress staging website to examination out changes before you make them alive on your official website.

4. Backup Your WordPress Website

Just like you'd fill-in data on your phone or computer, you lot should support your WordPress website to avoid losing precious images, content, analytics, and search engine optimization (SEO) juice. You tin manually support your website using WordPress.org's instructions or by using our own Site Fill-in & Restore solution here

5. Increment Your Website's Security

All websites are susceptible to hackers. Protect your WordPress website from attacks and malware by using a security plugin. Akismet is a popular option for increasing WordPress website security . At iPage, we provide SiteLock which scans your website from malware, hackers, and viruses by performing daily security scans.

half-dozen. Learn How to Install the Archetype Editor

If you're a total WordPress beginner, yous may have never used the classic editor. Since the Gutenberg cake editor launched in 2017, it's become the default editor for WordPress. Nonetheless, you might want to attempt out the minimalist classic editor to exam its functionalities.

You tin switch to the archetype editor at whatsoever time by adding the Classic Editor plugin to your website.

7. Enhance the Gutenberg Block Editor

If you're a fan of the Gutenberg block editor, you lot can make it even more powerful with plugins and block-supported themes. Atomic Blocks, for example, is a plugin that lets you create custom buttons, layouts, and more. The GeneratePress theme is built around blocks that let you easily customize your website.

8. Bear Plugin Audits

Audit your plugins from time to fourth dimension to make certain they're up-to-date. Plugins that are out of date or no longer being updated by the programmer are susceptible to cyber-attacks. Acquit a plugin inspect semiannually and consider using a WordPress maintenance company to help with updates.

9. Keep Your WordPress Software Current

On the same notation, brand certain you lot're using the latest version of WordPress to avoid malicious attacks and to ensure your website can run the newest versions of themes, plugins, and widgets.

Only like iPhone users need to update their iOS software to download the latest apps, WordPress users have to update their WordPress software to run the latest plugins and add together-ons on their websites.

10. Optimize Your Featured Prototype for Social Media

Did yous know the featured image you designate for a WordPress page or post is the aforementioned image that automobile-generates when you lot share a link to that page on social media?

That's why it's essential to choose a featured epitome that will represent your page well on your website and social media.

xi. Decide Whether or Not to Let Comments

Did yous know that yous can disable or enable company comments on your pages and posts? Rather than sticking to the default settings, strategically make up one's mind whether or not to allow comments.

In general, people don't put comments on pages, as these contain evergreen content. However, people usually allow comments on blog posts so that visitors can add together to the discussion.

Go on in heed that allowing comments on your website pages will attract spam. Therefore, if you decide to enable them, moderate comments before they're published and use a tool like Akismet to block spam preemptively.

12. Make Your WordPress Website Visible to Search Engines

The virtually common SEO fault yous can make on WordPress (and the easiest fault to prepare) is making your website invisible to search engines.

If your website isn't appearing in Google search, get to WordPress Settings > Reading. Ensure the box that says "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" is unchecked.

Terminal Thoughts: 2020 WordPress Tutorial for Beginners

WordPress comes with a bit of a learning curve. Nevertheless, the time it'll have to navigate the terminology and dashboard is nothing compared to the long-term benefit of having a stellar, optimized website that works for you and your goals. With the in a higher place WordPress tutorial in manus, you'll be well on your way to building an online presence y'all can exist proud of.

To help you in the creation procedure, consider partnering with a hosting solution optimized specifically for WordPress. Get started with iPage today.

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