What WordPress Resources do you need?
WordPress is the most popular CMS (content management system) used for designing and developing websites, with around 40% of websites around the world using it.
The main reasons for its popularity include:
- It’s free to download and use
- There are several free and paid-for themes, including drag and drop builders
- There are loads of free and paid-for plugins to help with the website’s function
- An abundance of resources on the internet
What are the only WordPress resources you ever need?
Congratulations, you’ve decided to build a website and use WordPress.
There’s so much information available. Where do you start, and what’s essential for a WordPress website?
Let’s start at the beginning way before you get started with downloading WordPress and designing your first website.
Website Hosting
I cannot stress how important a good web host is.
A good web host will have:
- an excellent reputation
- good uptime, around 99%
- have different plans to meet your needs
- easy to use dashboard
- resources to help you get started
- WordPress installer
- free SSL (security certificate included
- good website speed
At Elev8 Web Design, our goto web host is SiteGround
NB. With a good web host, they should have an installer to set up WordPress on the domain.
Themes/Page builders
A theme is a preset layout that can be changed to suit your needs.
A page builder enables the user to drag and drop different elements to design and develop a website.
There’s an abundance of different themes and page builders available for WordPress, some of which are free.
Read my previous article, “Proven Website Themes” to find the ideal theme or page builder for you.
Security
Website security is essential to ensure your website is safe from online hackers, viruses, and other malicious threats. If your website isn’t safe, information could be at risk, your website could crash, and there is a good possibility you could lose money.
Two recommended security plugins are:
- WordFence
- iThemes Security
We use WordFence with most of our websites.
SEO
SEO (search engine optimisation) is essential to help improve website ranking. Plugins, including RankMath SEO and Yoast SEO, help improve SEO and the chances of higher ranking online.
Both have tools and hints & tips to improve SEO elements, including:
- meta titles and meta descriptions
- alt text for images
- keyword density on each page
At Elev8 Web Design, we use RankMath SEO, although both plugins are just as good as each other.
Caching
Caching, what is that? You ask.
Website caching plugins help improve website speed by:
- compressing image sizes
- minify elements of your website
- lazy load images (loads images not visible on initial load until later)
- using a CDN (content delivery network) to load the website from local servers across the world (improves website speed in different countries)
Check before installing a caching plugin as some web hosts have their own optimisation plugins (e.g., SiteGround)
Two recommended caching plugins are:
- W3 Total Cache
- WP Rocket
Backup
Backing up your website should be performed regularly, a general rule is:
- when updating themes or plugins
- after making any changes to your website
- once a week
When making a backup it is also recommended to send a copy of the backup files to another storage location (e.g., cloud storage or an external storage drive).
There are several backup plugins available including UpDraft Plus and Vault Press. We use UpDraft Plus, with the free version allowing us to regularly backup the website and save it to another storage location.
Not sure which backup plugin to use? Read this article from WP Beginner.
There you have it. The only WordPress resources you need to build a WordPress website. There are more plugins available to help you with the different functions of your website (e.g., WooCommerce, social media links & feeds, and contact forms).
However, the WordPress resources within this blog are the essential ingredients to start building a successful WordPress website.
What next?
Check out our other blogs, including our guide to ‘designing your own website’.
Need help? We have various services to help micro-businesses, charities, and not-for-profit organisations design and develop a WordPress website.
Give us a call or drop us an email at [email protected], and we’ll be happy to have a chat.
