How to Use WordPress to Make a Website

Quick answer: get a domain and WordPress-compatible hosting, install WordPress, configure the site basics, choose a maintained theme, create your core pages, build the navigation, add only the plugins you need, and test the entire site before allowing search engines to index it.

This guide uses self-hosted WordPress, the open-source software from WordPress.org. It is different from signing up for a hosted WordPress.com plan.

1. Decide what the site must do

Write the goal before comparing themes. A local service website may need service pages, a contact form and a location. A publication needs categories and an editorial workflow. A store needs products, payments, shipping and customer emails.

Create a short scope:

• primary audience;
• one main conversion, such as a sale, booking or enquiry;
• required pages;
• required integrations;
• who will update the site;
• launch date and budget.

This prevents a common mistake: buying a visually impressive theme and then forcing the business into its demo structure.

2. Register a domain and choose hosting

Pick a domain that is short, pronounceable and usable as a long-term brand. Our domain-name guide covers trademark checks, domain history and naming mistakes.

For hosting, verify the current WordPress requirements: HTTPS plus supported PHP and database versions. Also require:

• automatic backups with a documented restore process;
• staging for testing updates;
• SFTP or SSH access;
• an updateable PHP version;
• useful error logs;
• clear renewal pricing;
• support that understands WordPress.

Use our WordPress hosting guide to compare hosting types rather than choosing only by the introductory price.

3. Install WordPress and enable HTTPS

Most hosts provide a WordPress installer. During setup:

1. Use HTTPS from the beginning.
2. Choose a unique administrator username—not admin.
3. Generate a long password and store it in a password manager.
4. Use an email address you control for recovery notices.
5. Do not install the host’s optional plugin bundle without reviewing it.

After login, open Tools → Site Health and resolve critical issues before adding more software.

4. Configure the essential settings

Work through these screens before writing content:

• Settings → General: site title, tagline, timezone and administration email;
• Settings → Permalinks: choose a stable, readable structure such as Post name;
• Settings → Reading: decide whether the homepage shows a static page or recent posts;
• Settings → Discussion: choose whether new posts accept comments;
• Settings → Privacy: assign a privacy policy page.

Do not change permalink structure casually after launch. Existing URLs can accumulate links, shares and search visibility.

5. Choose and install a theme

A theme controls presentation. Forms, SEO data, products, appointments and other business functions should stay in plugins or services so they survive a redesign.

Start with the official theme directory. Check the update date, required WordPress and PHP versions, support activity, mobile navigation and accessibility. WordPress supports both classic themes and block themes; block themes expose templates, headers and footers through Appearance → Editor.

Before switching an established site, review the guidance in our WordPress Themes section. For a new site, install one candidate, import no demo content yet, and test it with a real page.

6. Create the core pages

Most small websites need:

• Home;
• About;
• Services or Products;
• Contact;
• Privacy Policy;
• any legally required terms or disclosures.

In WordPress, go to Pages → Add New, add a title, build the content with blocks, and publish. WordPress distinguishes evergreen Pages from chronological Posts; its Pages documentation explains the difference.

Write page content before polishing the layout. A homepage needs a clear value proposition, evidence, next step and links to the pages that answer detailed questions.

7. Set the homepage and navigation

To use a static homepage:

1. Create and publish a Home page.
2. Create a blank Blog page if the site will publish posts.
3. Open Settings → Reading.
4. Select A static page.
5. Assign the Home and Posts pages, then save.

Build navigation around visitor tasks, not your internal organization. Keep the main menu short. With a block theme, edit the Navigation block through Appearance → Editor. Classic themes may use Appearance → Menus or the Customizer.

8. Install only necessary plugins

Add one function at a time. Typical needs include forms, backups, SEO controls, security hardening, caching and ecommerce. A host may already provide backups or page caching, so confirm before installing duplicates.

For every plugin, check:

• its source and maintainer;
• update and support history;
• compatibility with your WordPress version;
• what data it stores;
• what breaks if it is removed.

Delete plugins you decide not to use. An inactive plugin still leaves code on the server.

9. Add analytics, search controls and backups

Connect analytics only after deciding what counts as success. Track form completion, purchases or bookings—not merely pageviews.

Keep Discourage search engines from indexing this site enabled on private staging, but disable it before production launch. Confirm that the live site has one canonical hostname, a working XML sitemap and no accidental noindex directive.

Run a real backup and restore test. A dashboard message saying “backup complete” is not proof that you can recover the site.

10. Test before launch

Use a logged-out browser and a phone to test:

• navigation and internal links;
• contact forms and delivery;
• account, cart and checkout if applicable;
• page titles and search snippets;
• keyboard navigation and visible focus;
• image size and layout shift;
• 404 and search pages;
• backups and update rollback.

Finally, remove placeholder content, confirm HTTPS redirects, submit the sitemap in Google Search Console and monitor errors after launch. Building the first version is the beginning of website maintenance, not the end.