WordPress Tutorial for Beginners
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
This tutorial is for absolute beginners who need a step by step guide on how to get started with WordPress. This tutorial uses SiteGround as the web host. There are affiliate links here that I make commission from. Everything I sell, I use for myself and my clients.
Beautiful WordPress sites are within your grasp, but we gotta get the
basic setup out of the way first. With WordPress, you can have any type
of online business or presence you could wish for and since the basic
setup applies to nearly all of them, this tutorial is a great place to
start.
It is likely, if you are brand new to setting up your own website, that you will have more questions as your business will require more than this basic tutorial has to offer. Please reach out. I’m super happy to help!
James Toon
Text me: +1 (352) 469-6224
SiteGround has the absolute best customer service and a delightfully easy to setup WordPress interface.
2. Click "Get Started" under WordPress Hosting.
3. Click “Get Plan” under the “StartUp” plan option.
4. Enter your desired domain name.
5. Click “Proceed”.
6. See if your domain is available.
7. If it is available, skip to step 14.
8. If it is not available and you need more options, open a new tab and go to godaddy.com.
9. Enter the domain name you wanted.
10. Click “Search Domain”.
11. Scan through the options to find a domain you like.
12. Go back to the browser tab where siteground.com is still open (hopefully).
13. Type in the new domain name or click the drop-down for more extension options.
14. Click “Proceed”.
15. Create your new SiteGround account.
16. Add contact information.
17. Add payment information.
18. Click the “Domain Privacy” check box.
This is optional, but I would not skip this. If you opt-out of domain privacy, anyone can see the real contact information for this new URL and your email will get nuked with solicitations.
19. Check the box to agree to terms and conditions.
20. (Optional) Check the box to accept offers.
21. Click “Pay Now”.
22. Complete the pay portal.
23. Go back to the front page of siteground.com.
24. If you aren’t logged in, click “Login”.
25. Enter the email address you used to register your SiteGround account.
26. Enter your password for this SiteGround account.
27. Click “Websites”.
28. Click “New Website”.
29. Click “Select” under “Existing Domain".
30. Pick the new domain you just purchased.
31. Click “Continue” .
32. Click “Select” under “Start New Website”.
33. Click “Select” under “WordPress”.
34. Set up the login for your new WordPress site.
35. Enter an email you want to use to access the WordPress site.
36. Enter a password that is “Good” or better.
37. Click “Continue”.
38. Click “Finish”.
39. Now we wait.
40. Click “Log In Admin”.
41. Click “Start Now”.
42. Pick a theme. For this tutorial I am picking the first one, but there are thousands to choose from.
43. Click “Continue”.
44. “Contact Form” will already be “Selected”. Click “Continue”.
45. Click “Select” under “Google Analytics”.
46. Click “Continue”.
47. Now we wait... again.
48. Click “Go to Dashboard”.
49. Click "Plugins".
50. Click "Add New".
51. Type "wordfence" in the text input.
52. Click "Search".
53. Click "Install" under "Wordfence Security - Firewall & Malware Scan.
54. Click "Activate" under "Wordfence Security - Firewall & Malware Scan.
55. Type "yoast" in the search input.
56. Click "Search".
57. Click "Install" under "Yoast SEO".
57. Click "Activate" under "Yoast SEO".
58. Type "updraft" in the text input.
59. Click "Search".
60. Click "Install" under "UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin".
61. Click "Activate" under "UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin".
62. Type "cookieyes" in the input text.
63. Click "Search".
64. Click "Install" under "CookieYes | GDPR Cookie Consent & Compliance Notice".
65. Click "Activate" under "CookieYes | GDPR Cookie Consent & Compliance Notice".
66. Click "Appearance".
67. Click "Themes".
68. Click "Add New".
69. Click "Browse WordPress Directory".
70. Scroll until you find a theme you like.
71. Click "Install" under your newly chosen theme.
72. Click "Activate" under your newly chosen theme.
73. Right click on "My WordPress" then click "Open Link in New Tab" to see your site in a new browser tab.
74. Notice the lock next to your new site's URL. In this case it is not secure.
75. Head back to siteground.com
76. It is likely you are still logged in. If not, log back in.
77. Click "Websites".
78. Under your new URL, click "Site Tools".
79. Click "Security".
80. Click "SSL Manager".
81. Select your new URL from the drop down under "Select Domain".
82. Under "Select SSL" verify that "Let's Encrypt" is disabled as a select option and marked "Current".
83. Click the ellipsis under "Manage SSL".
84. Click "Enforce HTTPS".
85. Switch "HTTPS Enforce" to indicate it is on.
86. Ensure you see and indication that HTTPS enforcement has been turned on.
87. Head back over to your site.
88. Refresh the page.
89. Verify that your site is now secure.
You did it! You have built a WordPress web site!
There is so much more you can do with WordPress, but let me introduce you to a site with incredible WordPress themes that you will love!
1. Go to "themeforest.net".
2. Click "WordPress Themes".
3. Scroll down a bit when you get to this page.
4. Let's go to "New bestsellers".
5. Scroll through the options.
6. Click "Preview" on a theme you like.
7. Look over the preview. It either will be the demo or have a selection of demos to choose from.
8. This theme has a selection of demos, so let's choose one.
9. Browse the demo. If you like it, you can purchase it as a premium theme with support.
Need help? Pick me!
I have been building WordPress sites for nearly 15 years. If you need just 10 minutes of advice or help on a site, I’ll be happy to get on a call.
Fill out the contact form and I’ll get at ya!