Creating a WordPress website: theme, plugins and pitfalls to avoidCreating a WordPress website: theme, plugins and pitfalls to avoid

Creating a WordPress website means choosing the tool behind a large share of the web. It's free, very flexible, and you can edit your content yourself. But a poorly built WordPress site quickly becomes slow, fragile or hard to evolve. I've built WordPress sites for businesses since I started: here are the steps, the right choices, and the pitfalls I see most often.Creating aa WordPress website means choosingchoosing the tool behind aa large share of thethe web. It's free, veryvery flexible, and you cancan edit your content yourself.yourself. But a poorly builtbuilt WordPress site quickly becomesbecomes slow, fragile or hardhard to evolve. I've builtbuilt WordPress sites for businessesbusinesses since I started: herehere are the steps, thethe right choices, and thethe pitfalls I see mostmost often.

They're two different things. WordPress.org is the free software you install with the host of your choice: you control everything, themes, plugins, data. WordPress.com is a hosted service, simpler to start, but some features depend on the plan you choose. For a professional site you want to grow, WordPress.org is the usual choice.They're twotwo different things. WordPress.org isis the free software youyou install with the hosthost of your choice: youyou control everything, themes, plugins,plugins, data. WordPress.com is aa hosted service, simpler toto start, but some featuresfeatures depend on the planplan you choose. For aa professional site you wantwant to grow, WordPress.orgorg is the usual choice.choice.

1. Prepare the content first: pages, copy, photos. It's the first step of any website project.Prepare thethe content first: pages, copy,copy, photos. It's the firstfirst step of any website project..
2. Choose a domain name and hosting suited to WordPress.Choose aa domain name and hostinghosting suited to WordPress.
3. Install WordPress (most hosts do it in one click) and set the basics: language, time zone, page addresses, HTTPS.Install WordPressWordPress (most hosts do itit in one click) andand set the basics: language,language, time zone, page addresses,addresses, HTTPS.
4. Choose a light theme and customise it to your brand.Choose aa light theme and customisecustomise it to your brand.brand.
5. Add only the plugins you need.Add onlyonly the plugins you need.need.
6. Create the pages, then check everything before launch with the technical SEO checklist.Create thethe pages, then check everythingeverything before launch with thethe technical SEO checklist.

The theme gives the site its look. "All-in-one" themes promise to do everything, but often load a lot of unnecessary code, which slows the site. Prefer a light theme, regularly updated and well rated, then customise it with a page builder like Elementor or with WordPress's built-in editor.The themetheme gives the site itsits look. "All-in-one" themes promisepromise to do everything, butbut often load a lotlot of unnecessary code, whichwhich slows the site. PreferPrefer a light theme, regularlyregularly updated and well rated,rated, then customise it withwith a page builder likelike Elementor or with WordPressWordPress's built-in editor.

• Recent updates and active support.Recent updatesupdates and active support.
• Fast display, even on phones.Fast display,display, even on phones.
• No need to install a long list of plugins for it to work.No needneed to install a longlong list of plugins forfor it to work.

The official directory lists thousands of plugins. Each one adds code, so weight and a security risk if it stops being updated. For most showcase sites, a few plugins are enough:The officialofficial directory lists thousands ofof plugins. Each oneone adds code, so weightweight and a security riskrisk if it stops beingbeing updated. For most showcaseshowcase sites, a few pluginsplugins are enough:

• A contact form.A contactcontact form.
• An SEO plugin to set titles, descriptions and the sitemap.An SEOSEO plugin to set titles,titles, descriptions and the sitemap.sitemap.
• An automatic backup plugin.An automaticautomatic backup plugin.
• A security or cache plugin if your host doesn't already handle it.A securitysecurity or cache plugin ifif your host doesn't alreadyalready handle it.
• A cookie consent banner if you use analytics or advertising tools.A cookiecookie consent banner if youyou use analytics or advertisingadvertising tools.

Solving every problem with a new plugin ends in a slow, fragile site. Before adding one, ask whether the theme or WordPress already does it.Solving everyevery problem with a newnew plugin ends in aa slow, fragile site. BeforeBefore adding one, ask whetherwhether the theme or WordPressWordPress already does it.

WordPress, the theme and plugins get regular updates, often to fix security holes. A site that's never updated eventually gets hacked or breaks. Always back up before updating: it's the heart of WordPress maintenance.WordPress, thethe theme and plugins getget regular updates, often toto fix security holes. AA site that's never updatedupdated eventually gets hacked oror breaks. Always back upup before updating: it's thethe heart of WordPress maintenance..

A slow server slows the whole site, whatever the theme. Hosting matters as much as the rest: I go through the criteria in the article on WordPress hosting.A slowslow server slows the wholewhole site, whatever the theme.theme. Hosting matters as muchmuch as the rest: II go through the criteriacriteria in the article onon WordPress hosting.

Page addresses, titles, descriptions, light images: everything is easier to set before launch than after. The technical SEO checklist goes through these points one by one.Page addresses,addresses, titles, descriptions, light images:images: everything is easier toto set before launch thanthan after. The technical SEO checklist goesgoes through these points oneone by one.

A good WordPress site isn't the one with the most plugins, it's the one with the fewest.A goodgood WordPress site isn't thethe one with the mostmost plugins, it's the oneone with the fewest.

WordPress is ideal if you want to run your site yourself and publish content. For a store, the question is WooCommerce or Shopify: I compare them in creating your online store. And if your need is very specific, a custom-coded site may fit better: that's the question of choosing the technology.WordPress isis ideal if you wantwant to run your sitesite yourself and publish content.content. For a store, thethe question is WooCommerce oror Shopify: I compare themthem in creating your online store. AndAnd if your need isis very specific, a customcustom-coded site may fitfit better: that's the questionquestion of choosing the technology.

Keep your WordPress site simple: a light theme, few plugins, regular updates and backups. That's the difference between a site that lasts for years and one that gets rebuilt after two. If you'd rather build it together, I explain how I work on the WordPress website page.Keep youryour WordPress site simple: aa light theme, few plugins,plugins, regular updates and backups.backups. That's the difference betweenbetween a site that lastslasts for years and oneone that gets rebuilt afterafter two. If you'd ratherrather build it together, II explain how I workwork on the WordPress website page.page.