A lot of people have learning curves when it comes to digital literacy skills like using Google, changing settings on apps, and editing content. These are all fundamental skills that anyone can learn. Many individuals start out with technology very well, but then something happens and they lose access to these tools or their use becomes limited due to changes made by software developers.
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This is totally normal! It’s what happened to me back in high school. My friends and I would experiment with new features on Microsoft Office, and eventually someone would figure out how to do something cool and we wouldn’t be able to because engineers decided not to include that feature as part of the default functionality. It’s hard to retain this knowledge once there’s a gap in resources, and it can feel frustrating when you're trying to work on projects and things keep failing because you don't know how to fix it.
Fortunately, technology is a pretty vibrant community filled with sharing information. There are plenty of free ways to pick up some basic tips and tricks online and beyond your own experiences, other people's experiences always help!
If you ever find yourself at a loss for what to do next, try looking through tutorials or reading articles about the product you're struggling with. You might stumble across something helpful that was previously overlooked.
No, it isn’t
Now that we have gone through some basics of creating a website using WordPress as well as understanding some fundamental concepts like writing SEO-optimized content, there is one thing that most people get confused with.
It’s learning how to create a page in WordPress. Most beginners start trying to add pages to their site by going into Settings -> Reading or Writing -> Add New Page and clicking “Start Creating Page.” They then edit the text, pick a template, and publish the new page.
That’s where things can sometimes get tricky for people. Because depending on what type of website you want to make, there are different ways to go about designing your home base. For example, if you wanted to make an eCommerce store, you would need to choose between having a static front end (no shopping cart functionality) or a fully functioning storefront (with all the features).
The same goes for blogs. If you just want a simple platform to write posts and link them together, you do not need a navigation bar or other interactive elements. Only things like changing your profile information and sending out email notifications are available.
It really depends
There are many ways to learn how to use WordPress effectively. What is considered effective changes depending on what you want to do with your site. Some people may feel that learning just the basics of WordPress takes too much time. They believe that if they can add an individual profile page, edit their theme settings, and create pages then they have “learned” enough to make websites.
This isn't the best way to approach it though. We recommend starting by looking at the most basic functions of WordPress first. These functions include creating an account, adding content to your website, editing existing content, publishing new posts, linking to external sites, etc.
The easiest way to get started is to look through our step-by-step tutorials or watch one of our YouTube videos. Once you've mastered those, move onto the next group of functions.
It’s up to you
There is no one way to learn how to make a website or start a business online. You can do it in your own style, at your own speed, with or without formal training. Some people feel that they are not smart enough to study computer science so they choose other areas of technology like programming. This is totally okay!
If you know nothing about making websites then what we suggest is to begin by learning how to use a web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari (or another popular internet browser) on a desktop or laptop device. This will give you an easy way into understanding some fundamental concepts of creating an interactive document (a webpage) and linking these pages together.
From there you can move onto more complex software programs which allow you to create digital documents such as word processors, spreadsheets, and graphics design apps. All of these can be accessed free via Google Apps or Microsoft Office 365.
It depends on your skill level
Even though it seems like there is always something new to learn with this platform, that isn’t necessarily the case. Depending on what you want to do with your site, some things are more difficult than others!
If you just want to create an online store or a simple blogsite, then most of the functions in WordPress can be found under the “Tools” menu item. These include creating an account, adding pages (we will discuss these later), posting comments, editing templates and styles, etc.
Other function such as installing plugins and setting up email accounts are mostly done through the plugin manager. There are also lots of resources available via the internet and youtube for all kinds of questions and answers.
Since everything in WordPress is made by third-party developers, anyone can contribute to the software which makes it very easy to find solutions or ways to accomplish a task.
It’s difficult
Being able to create a website or start from scratch is not easy. It takes lots of practice, and you will make mistakes. But don’t get discouraged! You can do it! There are many ways to learn how to use WordPress effectively. This article has tips for you to try.
Start with the basics
Before diving into more complex features, begin by learning the fundamentals of WordPress. These include editing posts and pages, creating new menus and pages, and importing content.
Once you have mastered those, then move onto more advanced settings such as customizing your theme and adding additional functions. By starting at the very beginning, you will find that some aspects are easier than others. Reminder: Don’t worry about going all-in on everything right away. Save time by focusing on one area before moving onto the next.
Avoid unnecessary plugins
There are always plenty of new things available on any platform. But too many often means there’s a lot of clutter that you no longer need. That’s why it’s important to keep what works now minimal. Try using only essential plugins until you feel confident enough to add more.
WordPress already comes packed full of powerful tools. Many people choose to mostly stay in this default state because they believe these apps are good enough. But sometimes those extra bonuses work so well that you forget about them.
Learning WordPress can be difficult
Even if you’ve taken some web design courses before, learning how to create your own website in this platform is tricky because it lacks many of the beginner tools that most people are use to. There are no drag-and-drop builders like Weebly or Squarespace, for instance. You have to learn how to edit HTML and CSS code manually which takes time to master properly.
Also, almost every theme out there is designed for a specific type of site (blogging, business, etc.) so it may feel hard at first to mix and match styles and elements with yours. The best way to tackle all these issues is by doing. Just like any other skill, the more you use WP, the better you will get at it.
Learning how to start a website
Starting from the very beginning, learning how to create an online presence is kind of like starting at the baseline level of reading a book. You can choose to begin with nothing more than just typing words into an empty page, but then you would be missing one of the most important parts of writing a book!
That would not make for a good read, nor will it help you launch your own site. So, what are some of the basics you should know before diving in and creating yours? Here we will go over some easy ways to get started.
There are many free resources available to anyone who wants to learn how to start their own website or improve what they already have. Websites such as Google’s “How To Start A Blog” and `WordPress.org` contain beginner friendly information that could not be matched by other sites.
Learning how to post content
Starting from the basics, posting online content is something that most people are familiar with. You can probably take your favorite social media site like Facebook or Twitter and publish a new article or tweet about anything. Writing an article or tweeting about an interesting topic is definitely one of the easier ways to start writing. However, it is not very practical unless you have a lot of time to devote to blogging.
It is important to know what types of articles make up the framework of almost every successful blogger. An introductions or A-Level article is a common starting place for writers. These are usually focused on telling others who this artist/writer is, why they are famous, and some products or services they use. This article may be done more in depth, but most bloggers will link their own website or those of related brands as examples.
