You’ve decided to carve out your own slice of the world wide web and fulfill your dream of doing what you love…
However, setting up your first website can be daunting and you may not be sure where to begin.
That’s where we come in!
This guide will help you build your very first WordPress website, step by step.
We want you to spend less time building your website, and more time building your business.
Ready? Let’s get started!
Note: This page contains affiliate links. And while we do get a small commission when you purchase through one of these links, it doesn’t cost you anything additional to use that link, and of course, we only recommend the products that we love and have used ourselves.
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How To Start Your First WordPress Site: The Easy Guide
Step 1 | Get your domain name and hosting
If you’re just starting out, understanding the industry lingo can be totally confusing, so we broke it down for you in an analogy:
Your website host is the land on which you’ll build your house (where your website files will be stored).
Your domain name is your home address.
Your website is the home of your business on the web.
It’s important to choose a domain name that is:
- Aligned with your brand and core purpose (what you do or sell)
- Easy to remember (a domain name with fewer syllables is usually better for memory recall)
Your next step is choosing the host for your website. There’s a lot of options out there for hosting, but we recommend Bluehost because of their reliable service and affordable plans from as low as $2.95/month. You also receive a free domain when you purchase your hosting.
Illustration credit by Bluchic
Here’s a Step-by-Step Guide:
1- Go to Bluehost and click the “Get Started Now” button.
2- Select the hosting plan that you need. The basic plan is a great option for starter.
3- Next, you need to choose a domain name for your site.
4- Once you’ve entered a domain name, you’ll fill in your personal information and select your hosting package (with pricing options at 12, 24 and 36-month terms).
We recommend going with the 36-month plan for the best value (the longer term you purchase, the lower the monthly rate will be). Click the “Submit” button.
5- Next, you’ll be asked to create a password for your account.
Step 2 | Install WordPress
After creating a password, WordPress is automatically installed in your Bluehost hosting and ready to go without lifting a finger! Yep, it’s that easy!
PRO TIP: After the installation, you can log in to your WordPress Dashboard by adding /wp-admin to the end of your site’s URL (e.g. http://yourwebsite.com/wp-admin). Bookmark it in your browser for quick & easy access.
Step 3 | Choose Your WordPress Theme
With your domain name secured and your hosting in place, it’s time to style your site! There are many free WordPress themes available, but the benefits of purchasing a premium theme can include:
- More features for additional customization
- Access to knowledgeable WordPress developer support for any technical difficulties during setup
- Exclusive plugins to extend the theme’s functionality
- And much more!
Browse our theme shop for a chic feminine WordPress theme that is easy-to-use and elevate your business, instantly!
We have themes designed for bloggers, businesses, and online shops. Whatever you’re launching, you’ll find the perfect theme at Bluchic!
Step 4 | Install Your Theme
Next, you can install your Bluchic WordPress theme by login to your WordPress admin dashboard.
Go to Appearance » Themes » Add New » Upload Theme. Choose the theme zip file from your computer, install and activate it.
Step 5 | Add Website Content
Now it’s time to create pages and blog posts. To write your first blog post, go to Posts » Add New in your WordPress dashboard. Tip: Check out this post to learn more about WordPress dashboard and how you can use it as a business owner or blogger.
Congratulations – it’s launch day!
And now, finally, you have a website that works for your business. You’ve put in the hard yards and you should be incredibly proud of yourself.
Building a WordPress website doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming. The best time to get started isn’t next week, tomorrow, or even later. It’s right now.
Don’t forget to download the checklist to help you start your WordPress website!
Get your FREE checklist to
start your first WordPress website!
Enter your info below and we’ll email you the free checklist.