When I started my first website using WordPress CMS, I knew absolutely nothing about WordPress - not even where to begin. I was totally new to it. I think everyone starts like me. You are not alone!
By this time I built 50 plus websites for local Businesses (real estate, gutter, roofing, HVAC) using WordPress CMS. In this article, I will guide you step-by-step from the basics of WordPress CMS to setting up hosting.
So grab a coffee, get comfortable, and let’s dive into your WordPress journey!
- What is WordPress?
- WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
- History and Evolution of WordPress
- Why Choose WordPress?
- What is WordPress Theme?
- What is WordPress Plugin?
- Domains Explained
- How to Register a Domain
- Web Hosting Explained
- Choosing the Right Hosting Provider for WordPress
- Basic Website Setup Concepts
- Next Steps After Learning the Basics
- Preparing for WordPress Installation
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a content management system(CMS). If you do not know languages like HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and SQL, WordPress is best choice for you. It allows you to create, manage and publish websites without any coding knowledge.
According to w3techs, WordPress powers 43% of all websites and It is the most popular CMS in the world.
WordPress was launched in 2003 as a simple blogging platform but by this time it has been a full featured website builder and supports almost everything from personal blog to ecommerce store, news portals and corporate website.
You can build any kind of website you want using it.
So why WordPress is so popular among the creators? The answer is for its flexibility. There are tons of themes and plugins you can use for FREE and build you dream website in few hours where themes give structures and plugins extend functionalities.
Lets see some reasons why you should use WordPress for building your first website.
- It is a free and open source software. You do not need to pay anyone for using this software and you are liable for any security issue as well.
- It has a super easy interface that helps a begginer to build and learn easily.
- Thousands of customization options that allows you build as you like
- Strong global community support
For example, a local bakery can use WordPress to showcase menus, accept online orders, and share blog posts about new recipes—all from one dashboard. Big brands like Sony Music also rely on it for their websites.
If you want to learn more about how WordPress works, the official WordPress.org guide is an excellent starting point. It covers everything from installation to advanced customization. It helps you build a professional site with ease.
WordPress as a Content Management System (CMS)
A Content Management System (CMS) is software that allows one to create, manage, and modify digital content without coding knowledge. It simplifies website management by providing easy tools to publish content online.
There are several types of CMS. Lets see them
- Web Content Management Systems: We use this CMS to build website. Example: WordPress, Joomla.
- Enterprise Content Management Systems: It allows to manage business documents and workflows. Example: SharePoint.
- Digital Asset Management Systems: It allows to organize, store, and retrieve digital assets, including images, videos, audio files, documents, and other types of digital content. Example: Bynder, Filecamp, Air, Ci Media Cloud, Canto, Acquia DAM etc
- ResourceSpace for customization Component Content Management Systems: Manage content in small reusable chunks, often used in technical documentation.
WordPress is easy to use compared to Joomla and Dhupal. It is much more begginer friendly CMS. Do not get confused between WordPress.org and wordpress.com. They are not same at all.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
By this time you know what wordpress is and it differs from wordpress.com. In this section, we will learn the key differences between them.
Key Differences
| Aspect | WordPress.org (Self-Hosted) | WordPress.com (Hosted) |
|---|---|---|
| Control & Ownership | Everything other than the software like code, content, database, strorage, export and import will be under your control. If you do no like limits, WordPress.org is best for your | Basically everything under wordpress.com platform. As the files hosted on their server and they manage evrything for you, they have full control over them. |
| Hosting & Setup | As you own everything, You are liable for everything like hosting set up, WordPress installation, server configuration. When you choose it, you must have some technical knowledge to manage, update, edit it. | You do not need to have any technical knowledge for using it. |
| Cost | If you have domain and hosting set up, you can build a complete website using theme and plugins for FREE. There are tons of themes and plugins in WordPress.org directory. | There is a free tier in wordpress.com but limited features. See their plan & pricing |
| Plugins & Themes | You can use unlimited themes and plugins even you can build custom theme and plugin for your website. | You can you themes and plugins based on the plan you choose with them. |
| Custom Code & Integrations | You can add custom PHP, modify core behavior, and integrate with any service. | Custom code is restricted. Integrations are limited to platform-supported options. |
| Maintenance & Security | You are responsible for updates, backups, and security (or pay a managed host). | Platform handles core updates, basic security, and infrastructure. |
| Performance & Scalability | Scalability depends on host and setup. You can optimize aggressively for traffic growth. | Good performance for most sites; high-traffic needs may require premium plans or migration. |
| Monetization | Full freedom to run ads, affiliate programs, memberships, and e-commerce without platform revenue share. | Monetization is limited on free and lower tiers. Higher plans allow more options. |
| SEO & Analytics | You have full control to implement SEO strategies and analytics of your choice. There are so many SEO plugins that you can use for FREE. | Good basic SEO and if you need advanced tools and custom analytics usually require higher paid plans. |
| Backups & Restore | You decide backup frequency and retention. Can use automated backups and offsite storage. | Backups are managed by the platform and restore options vary by plan you choose. |
| E-commerce | Any e-commerce setup possible (WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, custom integrations). | Built-in commerce on paid plans but with limitations compared to self-hosted. |
| Support | Community support is strong; premium support depends on your host or hired experts. | Tiered platform support: community for free users, priority for paid plans. |
| Best For | Businesses, developers, agencies, and creators who need flexibility and control. | Bloggers, hobbyists, small portfolios, and anyone who values convenience. |
| Migration & Exit Strategy | Easy to migrate; you control exports and can move hosts or platforms freely. | Possible to export content, but migrating complex sites can be more difficult. |
| Senior Summary: If you think you have some technical knowledge, WordPress.org is best for you but with zero technical knowledge, should go for wordpress.com. | ||
Pros and Cons of Each
WordPress.org (Self-Hosted)
- Pros:
- Complete control over your site’s code, design, and features.
- Unlimited plugin and theme options (including custom builds).
- Freedom to monetize however you want — ads, memberships, e-commerce.
- Full ownership of your content and data.
- Scales easily for high-traffic and complex websites.
- Cons:
- Requires hosting, domain, and setup — slightly more technical.
- You’re responsible for updates, security, and backups (or pay someone).
- Costs can add up with premium themes, plugins, and high-end hosting.
WordPress.com (Hosted) dd
- Pros:
- No need to worry about hosting or server management.
- Easy to start — sign up and publish in minutes.
- Automatic updates, backups, and basic security included.
- Free plan available, plus predictable paid plans.
- Cons:
- Limited plugins and customization on lower-tier plans.
- Monetization options restricted unless you upgrade.
- You don’t have the same level of control over your data and site structure.
Which One Should You Choose?
It really comes down to your goals and comfort level with technology.
- Choose WordPress.org if you want full creative control, advanced customization, and the ability to scale without platform limits. It’s perfect for businesses, serious bloggers, developers, and anyone planning to monetize heavily.
- Choose WordPress.com if you want a quick, low-maintenance setup with hosting, security, and backups handled for you. It’s ideal for hobby bloggers, small portfolios, and users who value convenience over deep customization.
In short: WordPress.org is freedom, WordPress.com is simplicity. Both can build beautiful, powerful sites — the right choice depends on whether you want to be the driver or just enjoy the ride.
History and Evolution of WordPress
WordPress started its journey as a simple blogging platforms and community behind it shows us how useful can be an open source software without compromising the software freedom and quality.
Lets see how WordPress evolved over the time.
- When b2/cafelog (Created by French programmer Michel valdrighi) was discontinued by their main developers, two users (Matt Mulllenweg & Mike Little ) of b2/cafelog decided to build a new platform. They named it WordPress and published WordPress 0.7 on May 27, 2003.
- By 2021 it reached over 40% of all websites and now it is 43%.
In 2025, WordPress is widely used Content Management System (CMS). You can see a detailed article on The Histry of WordPress.
Why Choose WordPress?
Bloggers in b2/cafelog desired some features and b2/cafelog lacked them. From the limitations of that platform the WordPress of today emerged.
Let’s see why to choose WordPress to make a website.
- easy installation
- template customization and
- plugin support
But over the years WordPress has so many features like you can manage users, articles category, comments from the audience, search functionality and so on.
What is WordPress Theme?
What is WordPress Plugin?
Domains Explained
When you planned to build a website, I am sure you are planning a name that people will use to find you. Right?
In plain English, domain is that name you planning for your business website. Every website name like freelancelly.com has a unique IP (like 77.278.55.1) address for it.
When someone type freelancelly.com, computer changes this name to that IP address and loads the website name for the IP address.
How to Register a Domain
Your domain name will represent your business. So choose a name that best fits your business niche.
How you can resgister a domain name? To register a domain name you can choose local companies who sell domain and hosting to the local OR you can choose international companies like hostgator, namecheap, bluehost etc.
Lets see some steps that We can follow to domain name but We have a detailed guide on how to choose and register a domain name
- Go to HostGator Domain Search.
- Enter your desired domain name in the search bar.
- Check availability and choose your domain.
- Click Add to Cart.
- Review your cart and select optional add-ons (e.g., domain privacy).
- Sign in or create a HostGator account.
- Enter billing and payment details.
- Complete the registration by clicking Checkout.
- Verify your domain via the confirmation email from ICANN.
- Manage your domain from the HostGator Customer Portal.
Web Hosting Explained
Hosting is the space on a physical server where we store our content files and data like text, image and videos and code. The article you are reading now is also hosted on a physical server with Name Cheap Inc.
What does a hosting company provide-
- Provide resources & technology to keep the website live
- They are responsible for keeping the server up and running
- They maintain the server, enforce security, and ensure files like text and images reach visitors’ browsers.
If you want, you can host your website but required extensive technical skills for that.
How to choose the best WordPress hosting
We have to be watchful when selecting hosting for our WordPress website. A web hosting affects a website's speed, uptime, security and scalability.
When I built my first WordPress blog, I used Hostgator hosting and later I tested the major hosting providers as I have been working on clients projects. Here is a list of the hosting providers that you can use without any doubts.
| Host | Starting at | Best For | User Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluehost | $1.99/month | Beginners, small businesses | 4.5/5 |
| SiteGround | $2.99/month | Overall performance | 4.8/5 |
| Hostinger | $2.69/month | Budget users, small businesses | 4.6/5 |
| WP Engine | $20/month | Managed WordPress hosting | 4.7/5 |
| DreamHost | $2.59/month | WordPress.org recommended | 4.5/5 |
| HostGator | $2.52/month | Budget users, shared hosting | 4.4/5 |
| GreenGeeks | $2.95/month | Environmentally-conscious users | 4.3/5 |
| Liquid Web | $15.34/month | High-traffic websites | 4.6/5 |
| Kinsta | $30/month | Premium managed hosting | 4.8/5 |
| A2 Hosting | $1.99/month | Speed-focused users | 4.4/5 |
| Rocket.net | $30/month | High-performance hosting | 4.7/5 |
| WordPress.com | $22.50/month | Managed WooCommerce hosting | 4.6/5 |
Basic Website Setup Concepts
DNS and Domain Linking
SSL Certificates and HTTPS
Introduction to Control Panels (cPanel, Plesk)
Next Steps After Learning the Basics
How to Install WordPress
Planning Your Website Structure
Preparing for Content Creation
Our next article on WordPress Installation Guide