WordPress Tutorial: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re looking for a comprehensive WordPress tutorial, you’ve come to the right place. Learning WordPress empowers you to create professional websites, blogs, and e-commerce stores without technical hurdles.

This guide is perfect for beginners, small business owners, and anyone wanting to build their online presence. In this guide, we’ll walk you through every step, from installation to customization, so you can confidently launch your first WordPress website.

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that allows anyone to build websites easily, even if they have no coding experience. It was launched in 2003 as a simple blogging tool, but over time it has grown into a flexible and powerful platform used to create personal blogs, portfolios, company websites, online magazines, and full eCommerce stores.

Today, WordPress powers more than 40% of all websites on the internet. This makes it the most popular website-building platform globally. Its large community, rich plugin ecosystem and intuitive interface make it especially suitable for beginners who want to build a website quickly and at a low cost.

The Benefits of Building a Website with WordPress

Building your website with WordPress comes with a wide range of advantages that make it one of the best choices for beginners as well as professionals. Below are the key benefits that explain why WordPress remains the most popular website platform in the world.

• Extremely beginner-friendly: WordPress offers a simple and intuitive dashboard, making it easy for first-time users to publish content, upload images, customize design settings and manage their entire website without touching any code.
• Free and open-source platform: The core software is completely free, which lowers the barrier for individuals and small businesses. You only need to invest in a domain name and hosting service.
• Unlimited customization options: With thousands of free and premium themes, you can create any type of design you want. Whether you prefer a clean blog layout, a modern portfolio, a business site or a creative landing page, WordPress has a theme for it.
• Massive plugin ecosystem with endless features: WordPress offers over 60,000 plugins that let you add contact forms, SEO tools, ecommerce features, booking systems, security tools, social media integrations and page builders, making it easy to expand your website as your needs grow.
• Built-in SEO advantages: WordPress has a clean code structure, customizable URL settings, easy metadata editing and supports powerful SEO plugins. These features help your site rank higher on search engines like Google.
• Mobile-responsive website design: Most WordPress themes are fully responsive, ensuring your website looks professional on all devices, including smartphones and tablets.
• Scalable for all types of websites: You can start small with a basic blog and later expand into an ecommerce store, membership platform or online course website without migrating to a new system.
• Strong global community and learning resources: Millions of users worldwide contribute to forums, tutorials, Facebook groups and YouTube channels. This community support makes troubleshooting and learning incredibly easy.
• Frequent updates and strong security enhancements: WordPress releases regular updates to improve performance, security and compatibility. With security plugins and best practices, you can keep your website safe and stable over the long term.

If you’re curious how WordPress compares to other website builders, check out our guide WordPress vs Wix: Which one you should choose?

What You Need Before Starting

Before you start building your WordPress website, there are a few essential things you need to prepare. These elements ensure your site runs smoothly and is ready for installation.

• A domain name: This is your website’s address on the internet, such as yourwebsite.com. Choose a name that’s short, memorable and relevant to your brand or content.
• A web hosting plan: Hosting is where your website’s files are stored. Shared hosting is usually the most affordable choice for beginners, while managed WordPress hosting offers better speed and convenience.
• An SSL certificate: SSL secures your website and displays the “https” padlock in the browser. Most hosting providers offer a free SSL using Let’s Encrypt.
• Basic understanding of how WordPress works: You don’t need technical skills, but having a basic idea of posts, pages, themes and plugins will make the setup process easier.

Looking for the best hosting for your WordPress site in Hong Kong? Check out our list of Top 10 WordPress Hosting Providers For Hong Kong Webs to find the right option for your website.

Setting Up WordPress

In the next sections, we’ll guide you through the entire process of setting up WordPress, getting familiar with the dashboard tools and learning how to build and customize your website before launching it. By the time you finish, you’ll understand why WordPress is such a beginner-friendly platform.

Step 1: Installing WordPress

To set up WordPress, you can follow one of two approaches:

• Quick setup through automatic installation: Many hosting companies now provide a built-in “1-click WordPress install” tool—perfect for beginners. All you need to do is choose a hosting plan, open your hosting control panel, and select the option to install WordPress. Within minutes, your website framework is ready, with no technical steps required.
• Manual setup for more control: If your hosting service doesn’t include automatic installation, you can install WordPress manually. This involves downloading the WordPress package, uploading it to your server via FTP or the hosting file manager, and running the installation script. Although this method takes more time and technical effort, it gives you a clearer look at the structure behind your website and how everything connects.

For a complete, beginner-friendly walkthrough, check out our guide WordPress Installation: Complete Guide for Beginner

Step 2: WordPress for Beginners – the Dashboard

When you log in to WordPress for the first time, you will see the toolbar on the left side of the screen. This panel contains all the tools and settings needed to start building your website. The main dashboard also provides quick access to manage pages, customize your site’s design, view helpful links, and read WordPress-related blog posts.

The Updates tab allows you to check for any available updates for plugins, themes, or the WordPress core. Keeping everything up to date is essential for both functionality and security. If your site is not updated, it could be vulnerable to hackers or may experience errors.

Before updating any plugins, themes, or WordPress itself, make sure to back up your website. Most reputable hosting providers include free backups, but depending on your host, you might need a backup plugin. A reliable option is UpdraftPlus, which can automatically create daily or weekly backups to prevent data loss.

Posts

The Posts tab is where you can create new blog posts or edit existing ones. You can also manage categories and tags for your blog, which helps keep your content organized, improves SEO, and makes it easier for visitors to find the content they are looking for.

Media

WordPress includes a built-in Media Library, where you can upload, organize, and edit images and other media files for your website.

Pages

The Pages section lets you add new pages to your website. While creating a page is similar to creating a post, there are key differences. Pages typically appear in your site’s main navigation, making it easy for visitors to browse important content. Unlike posts, pages do not use categories or tags.

Comments

The Comments setting controls the discussion on your posts. By default, WordPress adds a comment section to each post, allowing visitors to share their thoughts. Comments can increase engagement and encourage interaction among readers. However, they are most effective when properly moderated to prevent spam and maintain a positive environment.

Appearance

Many of WordPress’s most useful tools are found under the Appearance tab. Here, you can install and customize themes, add widgets to display important content, create navigation menus, and more.

The available options depend on the theme you choose. For example, full site editing block themes like Twenty Twenty-Three are limited to themes and the editor, while premium themes like Divi often offer additional features, including the ability to edit theme files directly.

Plugins

WordPress allows you to extend your website’s functionality through plugins. Plugins can add features such as live chat with visitors, site performance tracking, and hundreds of other capabilities. The Plugins tab shows a list of plugins currently installed on your website, allowing you to view, manage, or delete them.

The Add New option lets you search for and install additional plugins from the WordPress repository with just a few clicks. Depending on your theme and setup, a plugin editor may also be available for developers to modify the code of activated plugins.

Users

The Users section in the WordPress dashboard lets you manage everyone who has access to your site. You can add new users, edit existing ones, or remove them, as well as assign roles and permissions.

The Profile option allows you to update each user’s avatar, bio, and contact details. A useful tip: you can enhance user management with membership plugins like MemberPress, which let you restrict content based on membership levels.

Tools

The Tools section of the WordPress dashboard provides features to help you manage and maintain your website. Here, you can explore available tools, import or export posts, pages, and media using an XML file, monitor your site’s performance and security, and export or erase users’ personal data to comply with GDPR regulations.

Settings

The Settings section in WordPress lets you configure important aspects of your website, including your site’s title and tagline, homepage, default media sizes, privacy settings, and more. These options can be complex, so we’ve linked some helpful guides below to walk you through each step.

Step 3: WordPress for Beginners – Themes

A WordPress theme defines the appearance of your website. When visitors arrive, you want them to quickly find the information they need while being visually engaged. Choosing the right theme for your website’s goals is therefore essential.

Once you’ve selected a theme, there are two ways to install it: you can search for and install a free theme from the WordPress directory.

Begin by going to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard. Then click Add New Theme to start installing a new theme.

When using SiteGround, you’ll have the option to choose from recommended themes (1), browse themes from the WordPress directory (2), or upload a theme (3). Depending on your hosting provider, the options may look different but work in a similar way. If you want to find a theme by keyword, simply type your search terms into the search bar (4).

After choosing your theme, click the Install button to begin the installation process.

Once the screen refreshes, click the Activate button to apply your theme and make it live on your website.

Want to make your WordPress site look professional? Learn how with our WordPress Themes step-by-step guide (from installation to customization)

Step 4: WordPress for Beginners – Plugins

Like themes, plugins can be installed in two ways: by searching the WordPress repository or uploading a premium plugin. To begin, go to Plugins > Add New in your dashboard.

Installing a plugin from the WordPress directory works much like installing a theme. Simply search for or browse the plugin you want, then click Install to download it to your site.

Click the Upload Plugin tab to add a plugin manually, then select the plugin file from your computer.

After uploading the plugin, click Install Now. Once the installation is complete, click Activate to enable the plugin on your site.

To enhance your website’s functionality, check out our list of Top 10 Must-Have WordPress Plugins that every site should consider.

Step 5: WordPress for Beginners – Adding Content

With your theme and plugins installed, it’s time to start adding content. The main areas to focus on are posts, pages, and media.

Add a Post to WordPress

• Click the Add New button to create a new post in WordPress.
• Next, enter a title for your post. Click on the title area and type in your text.
• To add content, click the plus (+) icon either at the top left of the screen (1) or within the page editor (2).
• After adding your content, assign it to a category (1), add any relevant tags (2), and then click the Publish button (3) to make your post live.

Add a Page to WordPress

• To create a new page on your website, go to Pages > Add New in the WordPress dashboard.
• As with posts, give your page a title (1) and add content (2).
• After adding all your content, click the Publish button to make the page live on your website.

Step 6: WordPress for Beginners – Customization

Before launching your website, there are a few final steps to consider. These include adding custom CSS, configuring SEO settings, integrating social media, and adjusting your theme’s options. The exact settings available will depend on the theme you have installed.

• Adding Custom CSS: You can use custom CSS to style various elements of your website. Depending on your theme, there are different places to add these snippets. For basic themes, use Appearance > Customize in the WordPress Customizer.
• Auto-Update Plugins: WordPress includes a feature to enable automatic plugin updates. While convenient, this can sometimes cause issues if a plugin update fails, and it may be unclear what went wrong.  Using an activity log plugin like WP Activity Log can help track changes and troubleshoot problems more easily. To turn on auto-updates, go to the Plugins section in your WordPress dashboard and click Enable auto-updates for any plugin you wish to update automatically.
• Configure Your SEO: One of the final and most crucial steps before launching your website is setting up SEO. Using an SEO plugin like Rank Math is a great choice. It provides a step-by-step setup process with helpful tips and suggestions to improve your site’s SEO performance.
• Add a Site Title and Tagline: Your website’s title helps visitors recognize your site, while the tagline provides a brief description. It’s best to choose a unique title and tagline rather than repeating the title, as this gives a clearer idea of your website’s purpose. To update them, go to Settings > General, enter your preferred title and tagline, and then save your changes.
• WordPress Reading Settings: There are two key settings to check here: selecting a home page (1) and making sure the “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” checkbox (2) is unchecked. You can display your latest posts on the homepage or choose a static page. If the discourage option is checked, search engines will block your site from being indexed, so be sure to leave it unchecked before launching. Click Save Changes (3) when you’re done.
• Configure Theme Settings: Before launching your website, it’s important to present your brand correctly. Add your logo, connect your social media accounts, and choose your colors and fonts. Each theme is different, but most allow these adjustments in their theme settings.
• Back Up Your Site: The final and most crucial step before launching your website is to back it up. Creating a backup ensures that all your site’s files are preserved in case anything goes wrong during the launch. Most managed hosting providers, such as SiteGround and WP Engine, include backups in their hosting plans. Depending on your host, you may also want to install a reliable backup plugin to safeguard your site.

Step 7: WordPress for Beginners – Taking Your Website Live

The final step is to launch your website. If you built your site on a temporary domain with SiteGround, you’ll need to connect a proper domain first. Sites created in a development environment may require different steps. Once your website is live, make sure to check the following:

• Conduct a speed test and implement any necessary optimizations.
• Test all forms; if issues arise, consider installing an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP.
• Perform a post-launch backup to secure the most recent version of your site.
• Ensure your website is secured with an SSL certificate. For SiteGround, follow their SSL setup guide.
• Submit your XML sitemap to Google.
• Double-check all SEO metadata.
• Set up analytics and integrate it into your site using a plugin like MonsterInsights.

If you want a more detailed, step-by-step guide on building a WordPress website from the very beginning, check out our full tutorial: How To Build A WordPress Website From Scratch

How Much Does a WordPress Website Cost

The cost of building a WordPress website can vary widely depending on your needs and the type of website you want. Here’s a breakdown of potential expenses:

• Domain Name: Typically $10–$20 per year for a standard domain like .com.
• Web Hosting: Shared hosting can start as low as $3–$10 per month, while managed WordPress hosting may cost $20–$50 per month.
• WordPress Theme: Free themes are available, but premium themes can range from $30–$100 as a one-time fee or annual subscription.
• Plugins: Many plugins are free, but advanced functionality like e-commerce, SEO, or membership features may cost $50–$200 per year.
• Custom Design or Development: Hiring a professional developer or designer can increase costs significantly, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on complexity.
• Maintenance & Security: Regular backups, updates, and security measures may add $50–$200 per year if using premium services.

For more detailed costs based on location, check out our article How much does a WordPress website cost in Hong Kong?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is WordPress and why should I use it?

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that allows you to create websites and blogs easily. It’s beginner-friendly, flexible, and has thousands of themes and plugins to expand functionality.

2. Do I need coding skills to build a WordPress website?

No, coding skills are not required. WordPress comes with a visual editor, pre-made themes, and plugins that let you build a fully functional website without writing code.

3. Which plugins are essential for a new WordPress site?

Some must-have plugins include SEO plugins (Rank Math or Yoast), caching plugins (WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache), security plugins (Wordfence), backup plugins (UpdraftPlus), and contact form plugins (WPForms). For a full list, see: WordPress Plugins: Top 10 Must-Have Plugins For Your Site

4. How can I make my WordPress site secure?

Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated, use strong passwords, install a security plugin, enable SSL, and regularly back up your website.

5. Can I move my website to a new host later?

Yes. WordPress websites can be migrated to another hosting provider using migration plugins or by manually transferring your files and database.

Conclusion

WordPress is a powerful and flexible platform that allows anyone to create a professional website with ease. Its user-friendly interface, extensive themes, and plugins make building and managing a website simple, whether for a blog, business, or online store. Creating a blog with WordPress is particularly easy and effective, helping you share ideas, engage with readers, and grow your online presence. With the tools and knowledge from this guide, you’re ready to start your WordPress journey.

At Arestós, we specialize in building, customizing, and maintaining WordPress websites that help businesses grow online. Our team can create a fully responsive, SEO-friendly, and visually stunning website tailored to your brand’s needs.

Ready to launch your WordPress website? Contact us now and let we turn your vision into reality.