{"id":35,"date":"2024-04-03T09:49:31","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T09:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/?p=35"},"modified":"2026-07-07T12:05:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T12:05:56","slug":"wordpress-introduction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"WordPress Introduction: A Beginner&#8217;s Guide to How WordPress Works"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-01-1024x399.webp\" alt=\"WordPress Introduction: A Beginner's Guide to How WordPress Works\" title=\"Hosted\u00ae Article - WordPress Introduction: A Beginner's Guide to How WordPress Works\" class=\"wp-image-12760\" width=\"1024\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-01-1024x399.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-01-300x117.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-01-768x300.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-01-960x374.webp 960w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-01-603x235.webp 603w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-01.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This WordPress introduction guide is your starting point, as more than 40% of all websites run on <a alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Website - WordPress Hosting\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Hosting\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/hosting\/wordpress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress<\/a>. It handles blogs, online stores, business sites, and portfolios. But when you&#8217;re just getting started, it&#8217;s easy to feel lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"key-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>WordPress is a free, open-source CMS used to create and manage websites.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It works for blogs, business sites, online stores, portfolios, and many other types of websites.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>WordPress.org<\/em>&nbsp;is the self-hosted version and requires a domain name and hosting to run.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Themes handle your&nbsp;site&#8217;s&nbsp;design, and plugins add extra functionality.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It&#8217;s&nbsp;beginner-friendly, but you need to manage setup, updates, and maintenance.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reliable WordPress hosting supports better performance, security, backups, and uptime.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h3>TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/h3><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#key-takeaways\">KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#quick-answer-what-is-word-press\">Quick Answer: What Is WordPress?<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-is-word-press-used-for\">What Is WordPress Used For?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-word-press-works\">How WordPress Works\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#word-press-org-vs-word-press-com-whats-the-difference\">WordPress.org vs WordPress.com:\u00a0What&#8217;s\u00a0the Difference?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#is-word-press-beginner-friendly\">Is WordPress Beginner-Friendly?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#key-word-press-features-beginners-should-know\">Key WordPress Features Beginners Should Know<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#word-press-dashboard\">WordPress Dashboard<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#pages-posts\">Pages &amp; Posts<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#themes\">Themes<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#plugins\">Plugins<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#block-editor-gutenberg\">Block Editor (Gutenberg)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#media-library\">Media Library<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#users-roles\">Users &amp; Roles<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#benefits-of-using-word-press\">Benefits of Using WordPress<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#word-press-limitations-beginners-should-understand\">WordPress Limitations Beginners Should Understand<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#word-press-vs-website-builders\">WordPress vs Website Builders<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-do-you-need-to-start-a-word-press-website\">What Do You Need to Start a WordPress Website?<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#a-domain-name\">A Domain Name<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#word-press-hosting\">WordPress Hosting<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#an-ssl-certificate\">An SSL Certificate<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#a-theme\">A Theme<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#essential-plugins\">Essential Plugins<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#core-website-pages\">Core Website Pages<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#where-should-beginners-go-next\">Where Should Beginners Go Next?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-hosted-com-helps-beginners-start-with-word-press\">How Hosted.com\u00ae Helps Beginners Start with WordPress<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-to-register-a-domain-name-for-your-website\">How to Login into your WordPress Admin Dashboard<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#f\">FAQS<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#other-blogs-of-interest\">Other Blogs of Interest<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"quick-answer-what-is-word-press\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Answer: What Is WordPress?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/is-wordpress-a-cms-unraveling-the-key-aspects\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - Is WordPress a CMS - Unraveling the Key Aspects\" title=\"Hosted.com - Is WordPress a CMS - Unraveling the Key Aspects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS)<\/a> that lets you build and manage websites without writing code from scratch. It&#8217;s used for almost everything from blogs and business websites to ecommerce stores and portfolios. The self-hosted version, <em>WordPress.org<\/em>, gives you full control over your site. To use it, you need a domain name and a web hosting plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-02-1-1024x229.webp\" alt=\"Strip Banner - Self-hosted WordPress gives you full control over your entire site\" title=\"Self-hosted WordPress gives you full control over your entire site\" class=\"wp-image-12762\" width=\"1024\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-02-1-1024x229.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-02-1-300x67.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-02-1-768x172.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-02-1-960x214.webp 960w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-02-1-1052x235.webp 1052w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-02-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-is-word-press-used-for\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is WordPress Used For?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/history-of-wordpress\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - History of WordPress Hosting - Evolution and Milestones\" title=\"Hosted.com - History of WordPress Hosting - Evolution and Milestones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress started as a blogging platform<\/a>, but it&#8217;s grown far beyond that. Today, people use it to build almost every type of website you can imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That includes business websites, ecommerce stores (using plugins like <strong>WooCommerce<\/strong>), portfolio sites, membership platforms, online courses, news and publishing sites, service-based business pages, and landing pages for lead generation. Whether you&#8217;re a freelancer showcasing your work or a company selling products online, WordPress can handle it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowing what WordPress can do is a great first step. But to really get comfortable with it, you&#8217;ll need to understand how it works behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-word-press-works\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How WordPress Works&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress is software that is installed on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/hosting\/wordpress\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Website - WordPress Hosting\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress hosting<\/a> server. When someone types your domain name into a browser, the server loads your site. Behind the scenes, WordPress pulls your content from a database, applies your theme&#8217;s design, and runs any active plugins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s&nbsp;a quick look at the key parts that make it work:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>WordPress Element<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>What It Does<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Domain Name&nbsp;<\/td><td>The website address visitors type into the browser.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hosting&nbsp;<\/td><td>Stores the website files and database.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>WordPress Dashboard&nbsp;<\/td><td>Where you manage content and settings.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Theme&nbsp;<\/td><td>Controls the website&#8217;s design and layout.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Plugins&nbsp;<\/td><td>Add features and functionality.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Database&nbsp;<\/td><td>Stores posts, pages, users, settings, and plugin data.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>SSL Certificate&nbsp;<\/td><td>Secures the website connection with HTTPS.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These elements work together. WordPress lives on your hosting, and visitors reach it through your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-domain\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Choosing a WordPress Domain Name and Hosting - How to Choose and Register a Domain\" title=\"Hosted.com - Choosing a WordPress Domain Name and Hosting - How to Choose and Register a Domain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress domain<\/a>. All your content is stored in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-database\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - The Basics of MySQL and WordPress Database Management\" title=\"Hosted.com - The Basics of MySQL and WordPress Database Management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress database<\/a>. The dashboard is where you control everything, including themes, to shape how your site looks, plugins that add extra functionality, and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/security\/domain-validated-ssl-certificates\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Website - DV SSL Certificates\" title=\"Hosted.com - DV SSL Certificates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SSL certificate<\/a> to keep the connection secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"word-press-org-vs-word-press-com-whats-the-difference\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">WordPress.org vs WordPress.com:&nbsp;What&#8217;s&nbsp;the Difference?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is one of the most common items that confuses beginners. Both share the WordPress name, but they work in very different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong> <\/td><td><strong>WordPress.org<\/strong> <\/td><td><strong>WordPress.com<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hosting <\/td><td>You choose your own hosting provider <\/td><td>Hosting is included <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Domain <\/td><td>You register or connect your own <\/td><td>Included or connected, depending on the plan <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Control <\/td><td>Full control <\/td><td>Plan-dependent <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Plugins <\/td><td>Full access <\/td><td>Plan-dependent <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Customization <\/td><td>Highly flexible <\/td><td>More limited, depending on the plan <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Best for <\/td><td>Businesses, scalable websites, and full control <\/td><td>Simple blogs, users wanting hosted simplicity <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"word-press-org\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">WordPress.org<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the self-hosted version. You download the software, install it on your own hosting, and have complete control over themes, plugins, monetization, and how your site works. It&#8217;s the version supported by <strong>Hosted.com\u00ae WordPress Hosting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"word-press-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">WordPress.com<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a hosted platform built on WordPress. It&#8217;s simpler to set up, but the level of customization you have depends on the plan you choose. If you want full control over your site, it&#8217;s more limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1b08d4829cc79b763aa0c33bf89981e0 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IMPORTANT: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-17f502006ce40f4683f11d93b1b59ae1 wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout this guide, when we say &#8220;WordPress&#8221;, we&#8217;re talking about <em>WordPress.org<\/em>, the self-hosted version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"is-word-press-beginner-friendly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is WordPress Beginner-Friendly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, but it&#8217;s not as instant as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/hosting\/website-builder\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Website - Website Builder Add-on\" title=\"Hosted.com - Website Builder Add-on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drag-and-drop website builders<\/a>. There&#8217;s a learning curve, and that&#8217;s worth being honest about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news is that WordPress doesn&#8217;t require you to write code. The dashboard makes it easy to manage your content, and themes and plugins handle most of the heavy lifting for design and functionality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many hosting providers, such as <strong>Hosted.com\u00ae<\/strong>,<strong> <\/strong>also provide one-click WordPress installation, which makes the setup process much faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, you still need to learn a few basics, like how hosting works, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-a-domain-name\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blog - How To Choose The Right Domain Name For Your Business\" title=\"Hosted.com - How To Choose The Right Domain Name For Your Business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to choose a domain<\/a>, how to keep WordPress updated, and how to manage themes and plugins without breaking anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, let&#8217;s look at the features you&#8217;ll use inside WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"key-word-press-features-beginners-should-know\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key WordPress Features Beginners Should Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress includes a set of built-in features that make it easier to create and manage your site. Here&#8217;s a quick look at the ones you&#8217;ll use most:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"word-press-dashboard\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">WordPress Dashboard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-admin-dashboard\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - WordPress Admin Dashboard Tips for Accessing and Using WP Admin\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Admin Dashboard Tips for Accessing and Using WP Admin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress admin dashboard<\/a> is your site&#8217;s control panel. It&#8217;s the first thing you see after logging in, and it gives you access to everything:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Website pages.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blog posts.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Media.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Themes.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plugins.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>User accounts.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Site settings.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll find these in the left-hand menu, which is laid out in a way that&#8217;s easy to navigate after a few minutes of clicking around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pages-posts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pages &amp; Posts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress splits your content into two types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pages<\/strong>&nbsp;are for static content that&nbsp;doesn&#8217;t&nbsp;change often, like your&nbsp;<strong>Home<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>About<\/strong>, or&nbsp;<strong>Contact&nbsp;<\/strong>page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Posts&nbsp;<\/strong>are for time-based content, like blog articles or news updates.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress organizes and displays them differently, so knowing when to use each one matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"themes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Themes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Themes control how your website looks and feels. They handle the layout, colors, fonts, and overall design. So, when choosing a theme, choose one that&#8217;s responsive, lightweight, and regularly updated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A well-supported theme saves you a lot of trouble down the road. If you&#8217;re unsure where to start, check out these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/10-free-wordpress-themes\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - 10 Top Free WordPress Themes for your Website\" title=\"Hosted.com - 10 Top Free WordPress Themes for your Website\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress themes<\/a> for beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"plugins\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plugins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plugins let you add new features to your website without writing code. You&#8217;ll find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/best-seo-plugin-for-wordpress\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Best SEO Plugin for WordPress and Hosting Compatibility\" title=\"Hosted.com - Best SEO Plugin for WordPress and Hosting Compatibility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">plugins for SEO<\/a>, for contact forms, ecommerce, security, backups, caching, and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, avoid unnecessary plugins, as installing too many plugins can slow your website down or cause conflicts. So, stick with well-reviewed, reputable options and only keep those you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"block-editor-gutenberg\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Block Editor (Gutenberg)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress uses a block-based editor called <strong>Gutenberg <\/strong>for creating and editing content. Each piece of content, whether it&#8217;s text, an image, a button, a video, or a column layout, is added as its own block. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can easily rearrange blocks by dragging and dropping them into place. It&#8217;s a visual way to build pages without coding. If you want to dig deeper, you may learn more about it in this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/features-of-gutenberg-wordpress-editor\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - Exploring the Features of Gutenberg WordPress Editor\" title=\"Hosted.com - Exploring the Features of Gutenberg WordPress Editor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gutenberg WordPress Editor<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"media-library\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Media Library<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Media Library is where WordPress stores all your uploaded files, including images, documents, videos, and audio. Whenever you add media to a page or post, it pulls from there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7b66a2d586e6b02c6e228652df6ddb0d wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Expert Tip:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-98023add9d8aaaea00c2d6915c894e85 wp-block-paragraph\">Always <a alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - WordPress Image Optimization Techniques for Faster Loading\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Image Optimization Techniques for Faster Loading\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-image-optimization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">optimize your images<\/a> before uploading them. Large image files can noticeably slow your site down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"users-roles\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Users &amp; Roles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If more than one person works on your site, WordPress lets you control who can do what. There are five built-in roles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Administrator&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Editor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Author<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contributor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Subscriber<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each role has different permissions, so you can give someone access to write posts without letting them change site settings. It&#8217;s especially useful for teams and multi-author blogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"benefits-of-using-word-press\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits of Using WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s a reason so many people keep choosing WordPress over other platforms. In this WordPress beginner guide, we show you what makes it stand out. However, for a deeper look at these advantages, read our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/why-use-wordpress-benefits-of-using-wordpress\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - Why Use WordPress - Benefits of Using WordPress for Your Website\" title=\"Hosted.com - Why Use WordPress - Benefits of Using WordPress for Your Website\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Why Use WordPress<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"flexible-for-different-website-types\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flexible for Different Website Types<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress isn&#8217;t locked to a single purpose. You can use it to run a blog today and expand it into an online store or membership site tomorrow. The platform adapts to your needs as they grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"customizable-with-themes-plugins\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Customizable With Themes &amp; Plugins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don&#8217;t need to hire a developer to make your site look and work the way you want. With themes, you can change the entire design in a few clicks, and plugins allow you to add features as your needs change. The good thing is that you get this flexibility without touching code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"seo-friendly-when-set-up-properly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">SEO-Friendly When Set Up Properly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress provides a solid foundation for search engine optimization. It supports clean URLs, proper heading structure, internal links, and metadata by default. However, you can pair that with an SEO plugin to get even more control over how your pages appear in search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"strong-community-resources\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Strong Community &amp; Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you ever get stuck, you won&#8217;t have to figure it out alone. WordPress has a large community of users and developers. Plus, thousands of free tutorials, forums, documentation pages, and community tools make it easy to learn WordPress for beginners at your own pace, and sort just about any problem you run into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"ownership-scalability\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ownership &amp; Scalability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With self-hosted WordPress, you own your site completely. You&#8217;re not locked into a platform that can change its rules or shut down. And as your traffic and content grow, WordPress scales right along with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-03-1024x229.webp\" alt=\"Strip Banner - Beginners can launch a full WordPress site without touching any code\" title=\"Beginners can launch a full WordPress site without touching any code\" class=\"wp-image-12763\" width=\"1024\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-03-1024x229.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-03-300x67.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-03-768x172.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-03-960x214.webp 960w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-03-1052x235.webp 1052w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-03.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"word-press-limitations-beginners-should-understand\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">WordPress Limitations Beginners Should Understand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress is powerful, but it&#8217;s fair to mention what it asks of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With self-hosted WordPress, you are responsible for having your own hosting and domain. You&#8217;ll also need to keep WordPress, your themes, and your plugins updated regularly. We&#8217;ve covered these topics in dedicated tutorials that you may find at the following links:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/update-wordpress\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - How to Update WordPress - 5 Easy Ways\" title=\"Hosted.com - How to Update WordPress - 5 Easy Ways\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Update WordPress<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/update-wordpress-theme\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - How to Update WordPress Theme - 5 Effective Methods\" title=\"Hosted.com - How to Update WordPress Theme - 5 Effective Methods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Update Theme<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/update-wordpress-plugins\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Tutorials - How to Update WordPress Plugins - A Step-by-Step Guide\" title=\"Hosted.com - How to Update WordPress Plugins - A Step-by-Step Guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Update Plugins<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Skipping updates can lead to security issues or broken features. Also, installing too many plugins can negatively impact your website&#8217;s speed or cause conflicts between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Security is another area that needs attention. Strong passwords, reputable plugins, an SSL certificate, and reliable web hosting all play a role in keeping your site safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember, these aren&#8217;t reasons to avoid WordPress; they are just part of running a self-hosted website. However, if you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-hosting-provider\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Article - Choosing a WordPress Hosting Provider - Factors to Consider\" title=\"Hosted.com - Choosing a WordPress Hosting Provider - Factors to Consider\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">choose the right WordPress hosting provider<\/a>, much of it will be handled for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"word-press-vs-website-builders\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">WordPress vs Website Builders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re weighing WordPress CMS against website builders, here&#8217;s a side-by-side look at how they compare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong> <\/td><td><strong>WordPress<\/strong> <\/td><td><strong>Website Builders<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Setup <\/td><td>Requires hosting and installation <\/td><td>Usually all-in-one <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Flexibility <\/td><td>High <\/td><td>More limited <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ease of use <\/td><td>Moderate learning curve <\/td><td>Easier at first <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ownership\/control <\/td><td>Full (with self-hosted) <\/td><td>Platform-dependent <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Scalability <\/td><td>Strong <\/td><td>Varies <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Best for <\/td><td>Growing websites that need flexibility <\/td><td>Simple sites that need fast setup <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Website builders are a solid choice if you need a simple site up and running quickly. WordPress, on the other hand, provides more flexibility, control, and room to scale, especially if you plan to publish content regularly or customize your site over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither option is universally better. It depends on what you need and where you see your site going. If you need a detailed comparison, you can refer to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/website-builder-or-wordpress\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - Website Builder Vs WordPress - Ways To Build Websites\" title=\"Hosted.com - Website Builder Vs WordPress - Ways To Build Websites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress vs Website Builder<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-do-you-need-to-start-a-word-press-website\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Do You Need to Start a WordPress Website?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you build anything, you need a few essentials in place. Here&#8217;s what to prepare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"a-domain-name\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Domain Name<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your domain name is your website&#8217;s address on the internet. It&#8217;s what visitors type into their browser to find your site. So, choose something short, memorable, and relevant to your brand or business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can learn more about selecting the right one in our WordPress domain name guide, or go ahead and start your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/domains\/register-domains\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Website - Domain Registration\" title=\"Hosted.com - Domain Registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain registration<\/a> directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"word-press-hosting\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">WordPress Hosting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress hosting is the server space where your WordPress website lives. It stores everything, from your site files to your database and media. Without it, your site doesn&#8217;t exist online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"an-ssl-certificate\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">An SSL Certificate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An SSL certificate encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors. It&#8217;s what turns <strong>HTTP<\/strong> into <strong>HTTPS<\/strong>, and it tells browsers that your site is secure. Most visitors and search engines expect it, so it&#8217;s a must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"a-theme\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Theme<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your theme sets the look and feel of your entire site, so choose one that matches your brand. Focus on lightweight, mobile-friendly themes actively maintained by the developer. A slow or outdated theme can harm your site&#8217;s performance and user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"essential-plugins\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Essential Plugins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with the basics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SEO plugin.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Security plugin.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Backup plugin.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Caching plugin.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact&nbsp;form&nbsp;plugin.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These cover the core requirements of most WordPress sites. You can always add more later, but keep it lean at the start to avoid slowing things down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"core-website-pages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Core Website Pages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you launch, plan out the pages your site needs from day one. At a minimum, this includes a:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Home&nbsp;<\/strong>page.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>About&nbsp;<\/strong>page.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Services&nbsp;<\/strong>or&nbsp;<strong>Products&nbsp;<\/strong>page.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contact&nbsp;<\/strong>page.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Privacy Policy<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having these ready gives your site structure and makes it feel complete to visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you&#8217;ve got these pieces in place, you can follow our step-by-step guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/installing-wordpress-guide\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Installing WordPress - Step-by-Step Guide\" title=\"Hosted.com - Installing WordPress - Step-by-Step Guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">install WordPress<\/a> and start building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"where-should-beginners-go-next\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Should Beginners Go Next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that this WordPress introduction has covered the basics, your next step depends on what you want to do. Use the table below to find the right guide for you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>If You Want To\u2026<\/strong> <\/td><td><strong>Read This Next<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Understand whether WordPress is a CMS <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/is-wordpress-a-cms-unraveling-the-key-aspects\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - Is WordPress a CMS - Unraveling the Key Aspects\" title=\"Hosted.com - Is WordPress a CMS - Unraveling the Key Aspects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Is WordPress a CMS? Unraveling The Key Aspects<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Learn why people choose WordPress <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/why-use-wordpress-benefits-of-using-wordpress\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - Why Use WordPress - Benefits of Using WordPress for Your Website\" title=\"Hosted.com - Why Use WordPress - Benefits of Using WordPress for Your Website\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Why Use WordPress? Benefits of Using WordPress for Your Website<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Choose a domain <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-domain\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Choosing a WordPress Domain Name and Hosting - How to Choose and Register a Domain\" title=\"Hosted.com - Choosing a WordPress Domain Name and Hosting - How to Choose and Register a Domain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Choosing A WordPress Domain Name And Hosting: How To Choose And Register A Domain<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Install WordPress <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/installing-wordpress-guide\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Installing WordPress - Step-by-Step Guide\" title=\"Hosted.com - Installing WordPress - Step-by-Step Guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Installing WordPress: Step-By-Step Guide<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Learn about hosting <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/what-is-wordpress-hosting\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - What Is WordPress Hosting - Definition - Features and Benefits\" title=\"Hosted.com - What Is WordPress Hosting - Definition - Features and Benefits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What Is WordPress Hosting? Definition, Features &amp; Benefits<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Check hosting requirements <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-hosting-requirements\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Understanding WordPress Hosting Requirements - Technical Specifications\" title=\"Hosted.com - Understanding WordPress Hosting Requirements - Technical Specifications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress Hosting Requirements: A Beginner&#8217;s Guide<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Learn the block editor <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/blog\/features-of-gutenberg-wordpress-editor\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Blogs - Exploring the Features of Gutenberg WordPress Editor\" title=\"Hosted.com - Exploring the Features of Gutenberg WordPress Editor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Exploring The Features of Gutenberg WordPress Editor<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Understand the database <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-database\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - The Basics of MySQL and WordPress Database Management\" title=\"Hosted.com - The Basics of MySQL and WordPress Database Management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Basics Of MySQL And WordPress Database Management<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Improve site reliability <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-uptime-monitoring\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Evaluating WordPress Uptime Monitoring - Why It Matters\" title=\"Hosted.com - Evaluating WordPress Uptime Monitoring - Why It Matters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Evaluating WordPress Uptime Monitoring: Why It Matters<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Set up website email <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-email\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - WordPress Email and Hosting - Integration and Options\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Email and Hosting - Integration and Options\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress email<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-hosted-com-helps-beginners-start-with-word-press\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Hosted.com\u00ae Helps Beginners Start with WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress provides the platform to build your website, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Website - Home Page\" title=\"Hosted.com - Home Page\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hosted.com\u00ae<\/a> gives you everything else you need to take it online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With<strong> Hosted.com\u00ae<\/strong>, you have WordPress Hosting that&#8217;s optimized for performance and security, domain registration, SSL certificates, and cPanel for easy site management. If you&#8217;re new to all of this, you also have support to help you through the setup process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of piecing things together from different providers, you can get your domain, hosting, and SSL in a single place and start building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/hosting\/wordpress\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com - WordPress Hosting\" title=\"Hosted.com - WordPress Hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-04-1024x229.webp\" alt=\"Strip Banner - Launch your WordPress website with beginner-friendly hosting today.\" title=\"Launch your WordPress website with beginner-friendly hosting today\" class=\"wp-image-12764\" width=\"1024\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-04-1024x229.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-04-300x67.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-04-768x172.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-04-960x214.webp 960w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-04-1052x235.webp 1052w, https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wordpress-introduction-04.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-to-register-a-domain-name-for-your-website\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Login into your WordPress Admin Dashboard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>VIDEO:<\/strong>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3mJR8NvRhJg\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com - For First Time Users - How to Login into your WordPress Admin Dashboard\" title=\"Hosted.com - For First Time Users - How to Login into your WordPress Admin Dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">For First Time Users &#8211; How to Login into your WordPress Admin Dashboard<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3mJR8NvRhJg\" alt=\"Hosted.com - For First Time Users - How to Login into your WordPress Admin Dashboard\" title=\"Hosted.com - For First Time Users - How to Login into your WordPress Admin Dashboard\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"f\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQS<\/h3>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1712234486822\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is WordPress?\u00a0<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>WordPress is a free, open-source content management system that lets you build and manage websites.\u00a0It&#8217;s\u00a0the most widely used CMS in the world.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1712234499836\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is WordPress used for?\u00a0<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>People use WordPress to create blogs, business websites, online stores, portfolios, membership sites, and more.\u00a0It&#8217;s\u00a0flexible enough to handle almost any type of website.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1712234534059\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">Is WordPress good for beginners?\u00a0<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes.\u00a0There&#8217;s\u00a0a learning curve, but the dashboard is easy to navigate, and themes and plugins simplify most tasks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1712234552667\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">Is WordPress free?\u00a0<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The WordPress\u00a0software itself\u00a0is free to download and use. However, you need to pay for hosting, a domain name, and any premium themes or plugins you choose.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1783421404753\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">What&#8217;s\u00a0the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com?\u00a0<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>W<em>ordPress.org\u00a0<\/em>is self-hosted and provides full control.\u00a0<em>WordPress.com<\/em>\u00a0is a hosted platform where features depend on the plan you choose.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1783421543566\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">Do I need hosting for WordPress?\u00a0<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. Self-hosted WordPress requires a hosting provider to store your site&#8217;s files and database.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1783421544520\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can I build a website with WordPress without coding?<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Absolutely. Themes handle the design, plugins add features, and the Block Editor lets you create content visually.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1783421545304\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">What are WordPress themes and plugins?\u00a0<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Themes control your site&#8217;s design and layout. Plugins add specific features and functionality to extend what your site can do.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1783421546251\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">Is WordPress better than a website builder?\u00a0<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It depends on your requirements. WordPress offers more flexibility and scalability, while website builders are simpler for basic sites.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1783421587578\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h6 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do I start learning WordPress?\u00a0<\/h6>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Start with a WordPress introduction guide like this one, set up a practice site with affordable hosting, and explore the dashboard hands-on.\u00a0That&#8217;s\u00a0the quickest way to learn.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"other-blogs-of-interest\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Blogs of Interest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-hosting-requirements\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Understanding WordPress Hosting Requirements - Technical Specifications\" title=\"Hosted.com - Understanding WordPress Hosting Requirements - Technical Specifications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Understanding WordPress Hosting Requirements: Technical Specifications<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/types-of-wordpress-hosting-introduction\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Different Types of WordPress Hosting - An Introduction\" title=\"Hosted.com - Different Types of WordPress Hosting - An Introduction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Types of WordPress Hosting: Free, Shared, VPS, Dedicated, and Managed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/history-of-wordpress\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - History of WordPress Hosting - Evolution and Milestones\" title=\"Hosted.com - History of WordPress Hosting - Evolution and Milestones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">History of WordPress Hosting: Evolution and Milestones<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-domain\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - Choosing a WordPress Domain Name and Hosting - How to Choose and Register a Domain\" title=\"Hosted.com - Choosing a WordPress Domain Name and Hosting - How to Choose and Register a Domain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Choosing a WordPress Hosting Provider: Factors to Consider<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/php-web-hosting\/\" alt=\"Link to Hosted.com Articles - The Role of PHP Web Hosting for WordPress\" title=\"Hosted.com - The Role of PHP Web Hosting for WordPress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Role of PHP Web Hosting for WordPress<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> This WordPress introduction guide is your starting point, as more than 40% of all websites run on WordPress. It handles blogs, online stores, business sites, and portfolios. But when you&#8217;re just getting started, it&#8217;s easy to feel lost. KEY TAKEAWAYS WordPress is a free, open-source CMS used to create and manage websites.&nbsp; It works for blogs, business sites, online stores, portfolios, and many other types of websites.&nbsp; WordPress.org&nbsp;is the self-hosted version and requires a domain&#8230; <a alt='WordPress Introduction: A Beginner&#8217;s Guide to How WordPress Works' title='WordPress Introduction: A Beginner&#8217;s Guide to How WordPress Works' href='https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wordpress-introduction\/' class='read-more'>Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":859,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,5],"tags":[23],"class_list":["post-35","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wordpress-basics","category-wordpress","tag-beginners-guide-to-wordpress"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35"}],"version-history":[{"count":79,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12769,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35\/revisions\/12769"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hosted.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}