14/02/2025
Considering creating a personal website? Good job! It's an excellent choice that provides you with complete control over your online presence.
A personal website lets you stake your claim on the Internet—a site where you're in charge, you're in control of the design, and you write what you please about yourself. Sound appealing? If so, this book will take you through all you need to get started. We'll talk about why you might want a personal website, the various types you can make, and step-by-step directions on creating one using WordPress.
What Is a Personal Website?
- A personal website is exactly what it sounds like—a site that accurately portrays who you are and what you do. Unlike social media, where the sites make the rules, your site is yours alone to create, mold, and control.
Why Build a Personal Website?
- Others rely on social media to make their mark online. Handy as it might be, social sites come with risks—algorithmic changes, account suspensions, or a change in ownership can erase all you've built.
With a personal website, you have ownership over your content and can:
- Design the site to reflect your personality or brand
- Post long-form content without limits
- Sell products or services
- Showcase your portfolio
- Gain more visibility through search engines
- Have all your online profiles in a single location
Types of Personal Websites
A personal website has numerous uses, such as:
- About Me Website – A simple online resume or virtual business card
- Blog – Share knowledge and gain an audience
- Newsletter – Share and connect with your audience through frequent newsletters
- Portfolio – Display your projects as a designer, artist, or developer
Whichever you select, WordPress simplifies the process of customizing your website to your precise requirements.
Step-by-Step Process to Building Your Personal Website
1. Select a Hosting Plan
Hosting is where your website files are stored. WordPress.com offers managed hosting, so setup, security, and performance are handled for you. Their plans go from Personal to Commerce, based on what you require.
2. Choose a Domain Name
Your domain is your website address (e.g., yourname.com). Choose an easy-to-remember, professional name that reflects your brand. A free domain for a year comes with most WordPress.com plans.
3. Choose a Theme
Themes control the appearance of your website. WordPress offers free and premium themes based on the type of website you're running. You can find and install a theme from within the WordPress admin area.
4. Create and Customize Your Homepage
Create a new page through Pages > Add New
Utilize WordPress' block editor to add text, images, and buttons
Choose from available templates to use an existing layout or create your own
Assign the page as homepage through Settings > Reading
5. Include Must-Have Pages and a Menu
Must-have pages are:
About – Tell visitors about yourself
Contact – Allow visitors to get in touch with you
Portfolio – Display your work
Blog (optional) – Publish insights and news
To structure navigation, visit Appearance > Editor and modify the menu.
6. Personalize Fonts and Colors
Utilize the Styles menu in the Site Editor to:
Modify typography for headings and body text
Tweak color schemes for backgrounds and buttons
Implement design adjustments site-wide
7. Edit Page Templates
Templates dictate the design of single content types (e.g., blog posts, pages). Edit them under Templates in the Site Editor for consistency.
8. Install Plugins (For Business & Commerce Plans)
Plugins enhance your site's functionality, enabling you to:
Improve SEO
Add contact forms
Connect social media feeds
Monitor analytics
Install plugins via the Plugins menu and click to activate them.
Start Building Your Online Presence
A personal site provides you with autonomy, versatility, and a professional online presence. Through these steps, you can have a beautiful site that represents you just the way you want. Ready to begin? Join WordPress.com today!