The World Wide Web hosts approximately two billion websites, and WordPress powers almost 850 million of them. WordPress is the go-to platform for millions of creators worldwide thanks to combining simplicity, ease of use, and customizability; the fact that it is free also helps its cause! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to build the perfect WordPress blog or website that reflects your unique style and grabs your audience by the scruff of the neck.
Your Digital Identity: Choosing the Right Domain Name
What is in a name? Everything. Humans use names as the core of their identity, and your blog or website is the same. You will likely spend more time choosing your website’s domain name than any other part of the planning process. A good domain name is memorable, relevant to your niche, brandable, and has future scalability.
A person should be able to type in your domain name and know exactly what they will see once the website loads. It doesn’t matter whether you write about the most trusted online sportsbooks, provide gardening tips, or write “How To” guides about multiple subjects; your domain must reflect your content. Look at the website domain you are on now; you know what the bulk of the content will be about.
Tailoring Your Design with Different Themes
Doing away with the need for an expensive web designer is one of the primary reasons for WordPress’ popularity among bloggers, internet marketers, and content creators. Gone are the days when you had to spend a small fortune on an expert to build the perfect website for you. Remember when Apple used to market its app store with the tagline, “There’s an app for that?” Well, there is a theme for that with WordPress.
Themes are skins that alter how WordPress displays on a visitor’s device. Over 20,000 WordPress themes exist, with more added daily. They range from simple alterations of the color scheme to making your website look like a digital newspaper. Choose a theme that compliments your content. For example, use a newspaper or magazine-type theme if you write news or regular blog updates, but choose one more akin to a gallery if you produce photographs or videos.
Reach Every Audience with a Responsive Theme
You must choose a responsive WordPress theme regardless of what that theme looks like. A responsive theme can adapt its layout and design elements to different screen sizes and devices. Such themes were almost gimmicky when they first began appearing, but they are the most important aspect of any WordPress theme. Why is this the case?
Did you know that over 60% of website traffic comes from mobile devices? Over 92% of smartphone owners access the internet from their devices, and there will be over one billion 5G connections globally by the end of 2025. Those numbers are staggering; you cannot ignore them. Imagine creating the perfect blog or website with pages of incredible content, but 60% of that content displays incorrectly for 60% of your potential audience. Most internet users leave a website and never return if it displays incorrectly on their device. Can you afford to turn away 60% of your traffic? No, we didn’t think you could!
The Psychology Behind Colors
Have you noticed that most websites have a white background? There is a reason for this: color psychology. That’s correct; there is psychology behind every color because colors promote emotive responses in humans. For example, white is considered pure and simple. It is clean and minimalist, perfect for creating a sense of space and openness. It is easy on the eyes and allows other elements to pop.
Blue promotes calm and trustworthiness, which is why you often see corporate websites or those in the financial world adopt blue as the primary color on their websites. Red grabs your attention because it is the color of passion and energy. Red is often used for call-to-action buttons or to highlight important information. Most stickers or signs promoting sales or special offers are red because it gives humans a sense of urgency.
Do you have a website where your creativity and imagination run wild? Like many artists and designers, consider using purple. Purple is also associated with elegance, luxury, sophistication, and royalty.
Black is a popular color for those wanting to create a sleek and modern website. High-end brands often use black on their websites or in glossy magazines because it conveys a sense of luxury and exclusivity. However, don’t overuse black, as it can come across as cold and unwelcoming.
Spend some time researching color psychology because the colors you choose for your WordPress blog can profoundly impact your audience.
Enhance Functionality with Plugins
Flexibility aside, another top reason for WordPress’ popularity is the sheer number of plugins available to website owners. Plugins and widgets add functionality to your WordPress site and have a massive range of features. You’ll find plugins for social media integration and SEO optimization; you’ll probably find a plugin for almost anything you want.
Our favorites include Yoast SEO for optimizing your content, Askimet for combating unwanted spam comments, and Jetpack for enhancing your site’s security and performance.
Conclusion
Building a WordPress blog or website is an exciting journey filled with endless possibilities. Start your thrilling journey by deciding your little corner of the internet’s domain name. Your website’s URL is one of the most important features, allowing people to find, remember, and watch you grow.
Once you have the perfect domain name, choose from one of the thousands of WordPress themes, ensuring you select a responsive theme that adapts how it looks and operates depending on the device used to access your content.
Once you have those two things nailed down, start thinking about the colors you will use for your WordPress blog or website, remembering that there is psychology behind colors. Then, install some useful plugins to enhance your site’s functionality, and you are all set to create and publish some stellar content. Good luck!