Are you interested in launching a WordPress website? You don’t need to be a big commercial business to find success with the platform. WordPress is the top choice for everyone, from small bloggers to big retail shops.
But where do you start? What’s the first goal to build and launch a WordPress site?
Wonder no more because we’re here to lay out every step for you. Read our guide below to learn everything you need to build and launch your site in no time:
1. Domain
Once you’re done with the conceptual stages and pre-planning, it’s time to build your WordPress website. The first real step to launch your site is to get a domain.
If it’s your first website, you can use the free domain offered by WordPress. However, for professional use, you should purchase one. You can get a domain along with your hosting package, which we’ll tackle next.
How much does a domain cost? It depends on the service. You can find domains as cheap as $8/month and others for $25 or more per month.
2. Hosting Your WordPress Website
This is perhaps the more important aspect of launching your WordPress site. Without a host, your site can’t go live.
You could run a server yourself but that’s expensive and it requires a ton of maintenance and skill. It’s smarter to pay for a host server.
That said, don’t pick the first offer available. You have to consider a few factors, such as the following:
- How much is the service?
- How good is their security?
- How often do they conduct downtimes for maintenance?
- How much storage and bandwidth do you get?
Of course, you also need to consider how much the hosting service costs. It’s also important to note the type of hosting. A shared server is cheaper but you’ll get higher page speed with a private server or a VPS.
3. Design Template
You can’t launch a website without proper design. While you can build one from scratch or use a WordPress website builder, like Divi, it’s often better to start with professionally-made WordPress website templates.
Pre-built WordPress templates already feature all the essentials: SEO-friendly design, modern design trends, optimized for mobile viewing, all the essential pages like an About page, and more. Don’t worry about your site looking like others — the experts behind the template can help you customize the template further.
4. Better Security
Got a pretty site and you’re ready to add content to it? Before you start blogging or adding inventory to your online shop, make sure you update it for security purposes.
Your first step is to make sure your site features HTTPS instead of the old HTTP. The added S stands for security and Google may rank your pages lower if you don’t have it.
A secure WordPress website can keep your files and the private information of employees and clients safe. Better security ensures you won’t suffer from ransomware attacks too.
Securing your site also builds trust and credibility. Who wants to go to a website that compromises their credit card information, after all?
5. Essential Plugins
It’s important not to install too many plugins but you will need some essential ones to get the most out of WordPress. It’s an open-source platform, after all, enabling anyone to make and add custom plugins to perform a task exactly the way they desire.
Of the different plugins, you’ll want a few to boost SEO. RankMath is a good starting choice. Other good choices are Gravity Forms, SEMRush Content Analyzer, and Elementor Page Builder.
Keep in mind you shouldn’t flood your site with too many plugins. Having too many might cause your site to slow down. Some plugins might conflict with each other or with your design template.
6. eCommerce Additions
That last plugin, WooCommerce, is a mandatory addition for people hoping to launch an eCommerce site with WordPress. It allows you to conduct online transactions, manage an inventory, and include a shopping cart for online shoppers.
Without an eCommerce plugin and an appropriate theme, your site will be nothing more than a blog or personal website. You can’t conduct business without these tools.
The WP Forms plugin is important for online commerce too. Other choices for eCommerce include Shopify, WP EasyCart Shopping Cart, and WP eCommerce.
7. Social Media Integrations for Your WordPress Website
The final step is to make sure you have some level of social media integration. Don’t forget that Facebook alone has over 2.5 billion active users. WhatsApp, also owned by Facebook, has over 2 billion active users.
Get the essential widgets, plugins, and software to integrate your WordPress site to the social media platforms that work best with your identity. A tool like HootSuite, for example, allows you to pre-plan and schedule all your Facebook posts a month ahead.
Social media marketing doesn’t directly boost SEO but you can’t ignore it either. Without social media integration, it’ll be difficult to gain traffic, boost brand awareness, and communicate with your site visitors or followers.
What’s Next?
Now you’re set to launch your WordPress site. The next step, however, might be more important: adding content.
You need to consistently and constantly make sure there’s something new on your site. It could be new blog posts, new products, new pages, or featured videos. If you don’t, your site will gather dust and people will stop visiting because they no longer expect interesting content.
It’s also important to regularly audit and repair your site. Look for broken links, 404 error pages, images or videos that don’t load, and slow pages.
Launch the Best WordPress Website Now!
Complete these 7 steps to launch the best WordPress website today! Don’t rush it. Plan, consider your options and follow these steps to build the most beautiful and profitable site you can.
Don’t panic if you don’t know where to get good pre-built templates or who to approach for security. We’ve got your back in both regards. Get in touch with us here and let us help you out!
