This article will show you how easy it is to create a beautiful, unique and functional website, that YOU will have COMPLETE control over.

Two years ago I set myself the challenge of creating a unique website, following the discovery of WordPress, starting from a position of knowing nothing about website design.

The information set out in this article is something I was unable to find in one place, at the time. I hope to rectify that situation by making it easier for others to create a website/blogsite, in the light of my experience.

The knowledge I acquired came from a number of online sources; a combination of:

  • websites
  • YouTube tutorials
  • and members of the “Warrior Forum” (a free forum).

Although the “Warrior Forum” is geared more towards people who want to learn more about “Internet Marketing”, there is a section dedicated to “Website Design”. Here you can post questions on any aspect of website design. I invariably got answers back within minutes. I found it a very useful resource.

Visit Warrior Forum

At this stage, my aim, with this article, is to OUTLINE the complete procedure for creating a website with a view to giving more detail, dependent upon the feedback and questions I receive.

OK, so the main headings I’ll be covering will be as follows:

  • Introduction to WordPress.
  • Purchase a domain name (your unique website name/address)
  • Purchase space on a web host (basically a large secure computer to park your website).
  • Download the WordPress software (to your web host. Easy to do).
  • Create your website/blog - pages, text, images, video, navigation.
  • “Plugins”, the power of WordPress.
  • Create a unique theme / template for your website.

Introduction to WordPress

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a “Content Management System” (CMS), a piece of software that allows you to create, edit and manage the content of your own website or blogsite.

This website and all the websites in my Portfolio were created using WordPress.

The big advantage with WordPress is that you don’t need to be a software engineer or a traditional website designer to use the software.

WordPress is continually being modified, improved and updated.

Even better, WordPress is FREE.

There are other Content Management System’s, but WordPress is probably the best known and the most popular.

Why is WordPress free?

Because it’s “Open Source”.

“Open Source” means that a software product is ownership free.

“Open Source” means that nobody owns or makes a profit from WordPress.

“Open Source” means that anyone can access and use the WordPress software for FREE.

“Open Source” means that WordPress was created and is continually being developed by a worldwide group of enthusiastic community volunteers.

Furthermore, anyone can contribute to the development of WordPress, that’s it’s beauty and it’s strength.

Visit WordPress.org

Conventional websites

Before Content Management System’s, if you wanted a website you would have to approach a website designer. He/She would create you a website and charge you accordingly for their services.

Any edits or additions, to your website, would take time and involve you contacting your website designer, who would carry out your instructions and charge you accordingly.

WordPress gives you control

The WordPress website is managed from a “Dashboard”; an online, on screen control panel.

From the “Dashboard” you can:

  • Add, delete and edit website pages (text, images and video).
  • Control the look of your website. Choose from a selection of free templates.

Website and Blog, what’s the difference?

Virtually the same.

A website “page” is used for more “static” content, that is, information that is unlikely to change over a period of time.

Whereas, a blog page (known as a “post”) is more “dynamic”. A “post” is ideal for a more regular, diary entry format of writing. This article is a “post”.

WordPress reflects this difference by allowing you to publish “pages” and/or “posts”.

Create a totally FREE blog/website

You could start by creating a completely FREE blog/website, that is FREE web hosting and a FREE domain name.

How?

Go to WordPress.com

There you can, literally, set one up in minutes.

Advantages

  • It might suit your needs at this stage.
  • You can familiarize yourself with the WordPress “Dashboard”.

Disadvantages

  • Limited in use.
  • Limited number of templates to choose from.
  • Your domain name (website address) would be an extension of the WordPress domain name: “yourblogname.wordpress.com”. Not ideal if you’re trying to promote a business.

So how do I start creating a website with my own domain name?

Purchase a domain name

Purchase space on a webhost

Most web host providers will have a domain name purchase facility as well. Although you can purchase web hosting and a domain name separately.

With web host providers you’re spoilt for choice, literally thousands:

  • The US has the most with 19,057 (as of the date of this article)
  • The UK has 2411
  • Canada 2304
  • Germany 2275
  • The Netherlands 1700
  • and many more in other countries
(Web hosting statistics care of webhosting.info)

For web hosting I use hostgator.com, who are based in Houston, Texas. No complaints to date. Excellent technical support.

Because I purchase multiple domain names, I use namecheap.com, based in Los Angeles (because they’re cheaper than Hostgator).

If you’re only ever going to purchase one domain name, then it’s probably simpler to purchase both from one provider.

Purchase your web hosting

With Hostgator your given a “Control Panel” to manage your web hosting functions.

Purchase your domain name

If you purchase your domain name and web hosting from separate providers your domain name provider will ask for two codes, supplied by your web host. This will tie in your domain name to your web host and is known as “pointing your domain name to the server”.

Download the WordPress software

The Hostgator control panel has a facility called “Quickinstall” that allows you to download the WordPress software quickly and simply, directly to Hostgator and to your new domain name, specifically.

Once WordPress has been downloaded, that’s it. You’re now ready to create, edit and manage your website.

View your new website online

If you now type in your new domain name into an Internet Browser (Chrome, Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari) you’ll already be able to view your website, albeit with the WordPress default template, text and images.

Create your website/blog – pages, text, images, video, navigation

Access the WordPress “Dashboard” for your website

Fortunately, there are plenty of detailed tutorials on the Internet for getting started with and learning how to use the WordPress “Dashboard” and WordPress in general:

  • WordPress’s own website, wordpress.org/Main_Page
  • Websites. Just Google wordpress.
  • YouTube tutorials. Lots of tutorials. This is my favorite medium for learning and acquiring knowledge.
  • Warrior Forum at warriorforum.com

If you have trouble with any aspect of using WordPress and you’re unable to find an answer elsewhere, feel free to email me (at Contact Me) or send me a comment (below). I’ll help you if I can.

Actually the “Dashboard” is pretty user friendly, with a navigation column on the left and a “viewing pane” to the right of it.

Familiarize yourself with the navigation headings. Some you’ll use more than others.

A suggestion to get you started

Create and publish a “page” with the heading “Site under construction”:

  • Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
  • Go to “Pages” in the navigation column and click on “Add New”.
  • Type in ”Site under construction” in the box “Enter title here”. No need for any text in the page content area.
  • Click the blue “Publish” button on the right.

It’s that simple to publish a page (and a post).

To set this page as your “Homepage”:

  • Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
  • Go to “Settings” in the navigation column and click on “Reading”.
  • Under “Front page displays” select “A static page”.
  • In the drop down menu next to “Front page” select the “Site under construction” page.
  • Click on the blue “Save Changes” button at the base of the page.

Now go and view your website on a browser (or refresh the homepage if your website is already open). and you will see that the homepage now reads ”Site under construction”.

Add your website name to your website

In order to add your website name to your new WordPress website/blog:

  • Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
  • Go to “Settings” in the navigation column and click on “General”.
  • At the top you have “Site Title” and “Tagline”. This site’s title is “Redbird Website Design”. My tagline is “Working together to promote your business”. Type in your ”Site Title” and “Tagline” in the boxes provided.
  • Click on the blue “Save Changes” button at the base of the page.

Refresh your website.

Now your website is starting to take shape.

“Plugins”, the power of WordPress

What is a “Plugin”?

A Plugin is an add-on software package that can extend the functionality of your website/blog. Most Plugins are FREE (Put it this way, I’ve never paid for a plugin yet).

Plugins allow you to customize your website/blog, quickly and simply, to perform a variety of additional functions, without having to employ the services of a computer programmer.

Want to add a professional looking photo gallery with a slide show function?

Easy, there’s a plugin for it. Check out my Photo Gallery and Slideshow (this plugin is “NextGEN Gallery”).

The list of plugins is comprehensive. As of the date of this post there are 21,868 Plugins available.

Most functions have more than one plugin solution. So if one plugin doesn’t suit your requirements, you can try another.

Check out the WordPress Plugin Directory and see what’s available.

So how do I find and download a plugin for my website/blog?

  • Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
  • Hover over “Plugins” in the navigation column and click on “Installed Plugins” (to view existing plugins installed).
  • Click on the “Add New” button at the top of the page or in the navigation column (the menu under “Plugins”).
  • Type in the name of the plugin you require or type in key search words in the box under “Search” and press the “Search Plugins” button to reveal a list of relevant plugins.
  • Each plugin has a description plus a users star rating to help you make your choice.
  • Once you have decided on which plugin you want, click on “Install Now”.
  • Click on “Activate” to activate the plugin.

Create a unique theme / template for your website

When you download WordPress, the software package comes with a default template/theme – “Twenty Twelve”.

You also have a vast selection of other templates to choose from, some free and some that have a premium charge. It may be that you find one that suits your needs exactly.

The problem I found with the free/premium charge templates was/is that I was unable to customize them to suit my needs/tastes – in terms of:

  • Physical layout.
  • Colours.
  • Font styles.
  • Font sizes.
  • Etc.

The solution

The “Artisteer” website template creator

at www.artisteer.com

“Artisteer” gives you complete control over your WordPress template design.

OK, apart from “domain names” and “web hosting”, the “Artisteer” website template creator is the only thing I’ve had to pay for. But at $130, for one year, I consider it an investment and money well spent.

You can try out Artisteer with a 30 day FREE trial.

With the free trial you’re restricted to not being able to save your designs, although you can export designs to try them out on your website/blog. The free trial export template contains a watermark that says “Trial”.

Even if you only ever create one template with Artisteer, it’s still much cheaper than what a conventional website designer would charge for his/her services.

Although Artisteer has a lot of functions I found it user friendly and fairly simple to use and master.

All the websites I have created, apart from “Story Time with Auntie Mary” had their templates created using Artisteer and are definitely unique.

Exporting your Artisteer template design to your website/blog

  • When saving a “New” Artisteer design for the first time, save it as a “WordPress” project.
  • Once you have created your Artisteer template, click on “File”, select “Export” and export as a “WordPress Theme”.
  • Important. Ensure you export your design as a .zip file (enable “ZIP archive”).
  • Export and save your design to your own computer.
  • Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
  • Hover over “Appearance” in the navigation column and click on “Themes”.
  • Click on “Install Themes”.
  • Click on “Upload”.
  • Click on the “Choose File” button and select your template file (Note that you are being told to “Install theme in a .zip format”).
  • Click on the “Install Now” button (it takes a few seconds to install).
  • Click on “Return to Themes page” and you will see that your new template/theme has been downloaded.
  • Click on “Activate” to install your new template as the current theme.
  • Open your website in a browser or refresh your website if already open to view your website with the new theme/template.

Now you have your own website:

  • with a unique theme
  • completely under your control
  • and at a budget price.

I hope you found this article useful and helpful.

As I said previously, “At this stage, my aim, with this article, is to outline the complete procedure for creating a website with a view to giving more detail, dependent upon the questions/feedback I receive”.

Please feel free to Contact Me with your questions or leave a (constructive) comment, below.

Martin Safford, Proprietor and Designer