Website Construction: 6 Steps to Building Your Online Home
If you have ever tried to build your own WordPress website, you know how confusing it can be to figure out how all the pieces fit together.
Domains, Hosting, WordPress, themes and plugins, brand assets, content, copywriting, and all different file types—the list seems endless and overwhelming!
As a WordPress trainer, I use analogies to help clients understand concepts without the tech overwhelm. I often say, ‘Building a website is like building a house,’ so that’s what I aim to do with this blog post. So let’s get started.
A WordPress website has 6 primary elements, so let me break them down for you.
Rather than viewing your website as overwhelming tech, let’s consider website construction as if it were a building project.
The 6 Steps of Website Construction
1. Domain Name: Your Website’s Address
A domain name is like your house address. It’s an easy way for people to find you on the Internet.
The first thing you need is a domain name – your web address.
People type this into their browsers to find your site, like www.yourwebsite.com.
It’s not a physical address; it is a forwarding address.
You can move your website to a different location, and your domain name will still direct visitors to it.
Choosing a good domain name is crucial because it needs to be memorable and relevant to your business.
A domain extension is the part after the name, such as .com or .com.au. Domain extensions have an administrator (AuDA handles .au)
A domain registrar is a reseller. Domains can be transferred from one registrar to another, and the process is generally quite simple.
2. Web Hosting: The Land for Your House
Web hosting is like the plot of land where you build your house. It’s the space on the internet where your website’s files and data are stored.
Web hosting is where your website lives. It’s a service that provides space on a server to store all your website files.
Think of it as the physical location of your house. Just like you need a lot of land to build your home, you need hosting to build your website.
Hosting providers take care of all the technical details so your site is accessible to visitors.
3. WordPress CMS: The Framework of Your House
WordPress is like the framework or skeleton of your house. It’s the structure upon which you build everything else.
WordPress is the content management system (CMS) used to build your website. It’s powerful, flexible, and user-friendly.
With WordPress, you get a solid foundation to build on, like the framework of a house.
It provides all the essential services and building blocks you need to create a functional and attractive site.
Wordpress.org or Wordpress.com
WordPress is the CMS, but it can be a little confusing, as there are two types of WordPress available online.
WordPress.org: This is the WordPress CMS you can host anywhere you wish.
As a WordPress specialist, I use this, as do most developers and designers, and I recommend you do, too.
WordPress.com: It’s a hosted platform with limitations, similar to Wix or Squarespace.
It is a controlled environment where you can only use their themes and plugins.
This removes many options, so you may not get the cool stuff you want, such as integrations and automation.
4. WordPress Theme: The Design of Your House
Think of a theme as the architectural plans of your online home. There is more to it than that, but it is the best analogy I can think of :)
Generally, a theme controls the main elements of your website, such as the colour palette, header, and footer.
A great theme is very customisable and lightweight.
Choosing a suitable WordPress theme is paramount to the longevity of your website.
Themes are the code that determines the appearance and functionality of your website.
Opting for a poorly coded theme can lead to significant challenges.
The most common reason for a rebuild is the inability to customise or optimise a theme.
Pro Tip: If you see a theme that requires WPBakery Builder, steer clear; it’s old, clunky, full of bugs and just horrible to work with.
5. Website Pages: Interior and exterior rooms and spaces
Webpages are like the rooms and spaces inside your house. They define the layout and how each area is used and decorated.
Creating a webpage involves designing and arranging the content on each page of your site.
For example, interior design involves choosing each room’s furniture, colours, and decorations. Web page design involves selecting text, images, videos, and other elements to create an engaging and functional layout.
This process allows you to tailor each page to meet the specific needs of your visitors, making your website both beautiful and practical.
To throw a bit of a spanner in the works, every room has three styles: desktop, tablet, and mobile.
6. Plugins: The Utilities and Appliances
Plugins are like utilities and appliances in your house, such as the air conditioning, smart home system, cooktop, and dishwasher. They add functionality to your home.
Plugins are add-ons that extend the functionality of your WordPress site. Do you need a contact form, a membership portal, or an e-commerce system? There’s a plugin for that!
They can handle everything from basic tasks to complex functions, ensuring your website meets all your needs. However, you must do your research before adding them to your site.
Just as you spend time finding the right appliances for your home, you must do the same with your plugins.
There are over 57,000 WordPress plugins, so it’s like shopping on Amazon. You don’t just buy the first item you see.
Pro Tip: Read and research before adding a single plugin to your site; the consequences of adding a trash plugin are not nice.
We can build your dream website together if you don’t want to go alone.
Ideally, for a successful website construction project, you want someone within your budget but, more importantly, who has the education and experience to provide you with your desired outcome.
With a VIP intensive, I work with you for a set amount of time, dedicated to you and your project. This is a sample process of how your project may work.
The Benefits of Working with a Web Developer
Working with a professional gives you peace of mind, knowing your website is built using the latest technologies and best practices.
I’ll handle the technical complexities, freeing you to focus on your content and business goals.
Ready to Build Your Online Dream Home?
Get in touch for a free clarity call to discuss your vision. I love devising solutions to clients’ problems and providing them with a great website they can easily use.
I hope you found my post on website construction helpful.
Until next time,
Fractional Tech Partner & Systems Specialist
