Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up a WordPress Website

Building Your WordPress Website the Right Way

Let’s be honest—building a website can feel like standing in the middle of IKEA with no map, too many options, and the sinking feeling that you’ve bought a shelf you’ll never assemble.

But when it comes to WordPress, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Whether you’re a budding marketer, a small business owner, or a student trying to turn coursework into clicks, getting your WordPress site up and running is one of the most powerful things you can do for your brand or career. And the good news? You don’t need to be a developer, a tech wizard, or someone who uses the word “cloud-based infrastructure” in casual conversation.

In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to build a WordPress website—from domain names to design, plugins to performance. We’ll lay out your options clearly, cut through the jargon, and explain not just what to do, but why it matters—especially if you’re thinking like a marketer.

Because a website isn’t just a digital business card. It’s your content hub, lead generator, conversion machine, and brand-building tool all rolled into one. So let’s build it properly.

The Marketing Made Clear Podcast

Check out the Marketing Made Clear Podcast on all good streaming platforms including Spotify:

Step 1: Choose Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org

Before diving in, you need to decide:

  • WordPress.com: Hosted for you. Easier for beginners, but limited customisation (unless you pay).

  • WordPress.org: Self-hosted. You install it on your own hosting plan. Total control, full customisation.

👉 RECOMMENDATION: Use WordPress.org for professional, scalable websites.

Step 2: Register a Domain Name

Your domain name is your address on the web (e.g. www.marketingmadeclear.com).

🛎️ Tips:

  • Choose .com or your regional equivalent like .co.uk

  • Keep it short, memorable, and easy to spell

  • Avoid hyphens and numbers where possible

Step 3: Choose a Web Hosting Provider

You’ll need a host that supports WordPress (most do). Here are the main categories:

🔹 Shared Hosting (Budget-friendly)

  • Providers: Bluehost, SiteGround, Hostinger

  • Ideal for: Beginners or small sites

🔹 Managed WordPress Hosting (Optimised & faster)

  • Providers: WP Engine, Kinsta, Flywheel

  • Ideal for: Growing businesses, marketers, content-heavy sites

🔹 VPS / Dedicated Hosting (For advanced users)

  • Providers: Cloudways, DigitalOcean, AWS

  • Ideal for: Developers or high-traffic websites

👉 RECOMMENDATION: If you’re a marketer or small business, use SiteGround or WP Engine for a balance of cost, speed and support.

Step 4: Install WordPress

Most hosts offer 1-click WordPress installation, or use tools like:

  • Softaculous in cPanel

  • Manual Install (download from WordPress.org > upload via FTP)

Once installed, log in to your dashboard:

www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin

Step 5: Choose and Install a Theme

Themes control the visual design and layout.

🔹 Free Themes:

  • Use WordPress theme repository (Appearance > Themes)

  • Examples: Astra, OceanWP, Neve

🔹 Premium Themes:

  • Providers: ThemeForest, Elegant Themes, Kadence

  • Offers more functionality and support

🛎️ Tip: Choose a lightweight, mobile-responsive theme. Avoid bloated themes with too many features you don’t need.

Step 6: Install Essential Plugins

Plugins add features. But don’t overdo it—keep things lean. Here are the essentials:

🔹 Performance & Security

  • WP Rocket (caching)

  • Wordfence or Sucuri (security)

  • UpdraftPlus (backups)

🔹 SEO & Analytics

  • Rank Math or Yoast SEO

  • Google Site Kit (GA, GSC, PageSpeed)

🔹 Forms & Engagement

  • WPForms or Gravity Forms

  • Elementor or Beaver Builder (page builders)

🔹 Marketing & Optimisation

  • MonsterInsights (Google Analytics)

  • Mailchimp or Mailerlite plugin (email capture)

  • Redirection (301s and SEO)

Step 7: Configure Your Settings

From the WordPress dashboard:

  • Settings > General

    • Set site title and tagline

    • Set your time zone

  • Settings > Reading

    • Choose a static homepage (or blog view)

  • Settings > Permalinks

    • Choose “Post name” for SEO-friendly URLs

  • Users

    • Create roles (Administrator, Editor, Author, etc.)

Step 8: Create Core Pages

Start with essential website pages:

  • Home

  • About

  • Services / Products

  • Blog (if applicable)

  • Contact

  • Privacy Policy / Terms

🛎️ Tip: Use clear CTAs (calls to action) and make contact info visible.

Step 9: Optimise for SEO

SEO is crucial from day one.

  • Install SEO plugin (Yoast or Rank Math)

  • Create an XML sitemap and submit to Google Search Console

  • Set meta titles, descriptions, and keywords

  • Use alt tags for images

  • Speed test with GTmetrix

Step 10: Secure and Maintain Your Website

  • Use SSL (https://) – usually free via your host

  • Backup regularly (daily or weekly)

  • Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated

  • Monitor uptime and performance

Optional Extras

Depending on your needs, you might want to:

  • Add eCommerce with WooCommerce

  • Integrate email marketing tools

  • Use a learning management system (LMS) like LearnDash

  • Set up membership access for premium content

  • Add multilingual support with WPML or TranslatePress

  • Use Google Fonts, favicon, and schema markup

Final Thoughts

Setting up a WordPress website is like building a house. Take your time laying solid foundations—your domain, host, theme, and core settings—then furnish it with valuable content and smart marketing tools.

Once it’s live, content is king—especially for marketers. Keep your blog updated, optimise for search, and always think about the user journey.

Want help building a content strategy or optimising your SEO setup? Happy to help with that next.