WordPress AllinOne Guide

This document provides a comprehensive guide on how to create a WordPress website at the Virtuozzo Application Management. It covers everything from defining your website goals to customizing your site and adding content. The guide is designed for beginners and does not require any technical skills or coding knowledge.

Remember that WordPress is easy to use but hard to master. This guide will help you get started, but it gives just the basic directions for you to follow. There is always more to learn and nuances to consider based on each specific case. If you want to learn more about WordPress, we recommend checking out the official WordPress documentation.

We’ll help you navigate through the following steps:

• Step 1: Define Website Goal
• Step 2: Choose Domain Name
• Step 3: WordPress Installation
• Step 4: Choose Layout
• Step 5: Customize Website
• Step 6: Create Essential Pages
• Step 7: Add Content

Step 1: Define Website Goal

Before you start building your WordPress website, it’s important to define its main goal. This will help you make better decisions along the way, minimize time and effort spent on unnecessary features, and ensure that your website serves its intended purpose.

Here’s a simple way to think about your website’s goal: what do you want your visitors to do when they come to your site? Do you want them to buy something, sign up for a newsletter, read your blog posts, or contact you for more information? Defining your website’s goal will help you determine the most important features and content to include. The following table outlines some common website types and their main goals, along with key features that are typically included. This can help you understand what to focus on for your own site and how to structure it effectively.

Website Type	Main Goal	Key Features
Affiliate	Promote Products	Product reviews, comparison tables, tracking links
Blog	Share Content	Clean layout, categories, search function
Business Site	Generate Leads	Contact forms, email signup, testimonials
Education	Teach Skills	Course pages, member access, progress tracking
Membership	Restrict Content	Member login, subscription plans, protected pages
Online Store	Make Sales	Product pages, shopping cart, payment system
Portfolio	Showcase Work	Image galleries, project pages, contact info

Your website’s goal can be as simple as sharing your thoughts with the world or as complex as running a full-fledged e-commerce store. It can also have multiple goals or evolve over time as your business or interests change. However, it’s important not to spread yourself too thin by trying to do everything at once. Focus on one main goal first and then expand as needed. Such clarity will help you make better decisions about your website’s design, features, and content strategy.

Step 2: Choose Domain Name

A domain name is your website’s address on the internet. It’s how people will find you, so it’s important to choose a good one. In general, make sure your domain is related to your business, easy to pronounce/spell, and memorable. Here are some additional tips:

• The .com is the most established and memorable domain name extension.
• Using a keyword in your domain can help with search engine optimization. However, it can be hard to find a good domain name with your target keywords that are not already taken.
• While keywords are important, don’t go overboard with domain length. It’s better to have a short domain name that’s easy to spell and memorable.
• Make it easy to pronounce and spell. Avoid using numbers, hyphens, or unusual spellings that can confuse people.
• You can go for a unique and catchy name that stands out from the competition. Make it memorable and brandable.
• Research your domain name. Use online tools to:
  • generate hundreds of clever domain name ideas based on keywords
  • check for domain availability and trademark conflicts

Once you have a few options, check if the domain is available for purchase at the domain registrar of your choice. After buying a domain, you can bind it to your WordPress site on the Virtuozzo Application Management. This process is straightforward and covered in the WordPress Custom Domain Binding guide.

Step 3: WordPress Installation

With the Virtuozzo Application Management, the WordPress installation process is fully automated and takes just a few minutes. The platform provides several pre-packaged solutions for projects of various sizes and purposes. For your first WordPress website, we recommend using a cost-effective WordPress Standalone package. It is a single-node solution that is perfect for small projects.

In the advanced features, we recommend keeping features enabled by default (namely, the LiteSpeed High-Performance Web Server and Let’s Encrypt SSL with Auto-Renewal options). The LiteSpeed web server provides the highest possible speed of website content delivery to clients via modern HTTP/3 protocol. The Let’s Encrypt SSL option issues and uses a trusted, free certificate for a custom domain, with built-in periodical renewal to prevent certificate expiration. Enable extra features like WooCommerce (a plugin for e-commerce) or WordPress Multisite (for managing multiple sites from a single WordPress installation) only if you need them for your project.

Click the Install button and wait for a few minutes while the platform creates your WordPress environment. Once it is ready, you will see the success message with links to your new website and admin panel. The same links will be sent to your email address as well.

Step 4: Choose Layout

In WordPress, a layout is called a theme. It is a collection of files that control how your website looks and feels. There are thousands of free and premium themes available, so you can easily find one that fits your needs. Here are some tips for choosing a theme:

• Ensure it matches your website’s purpose. For example, if you’re creating an online store, look for a theme designed for e-commerce sites. If you’re creating a blog, look for a theme that emphasizes readability and content.
• Regularly updated themes with good reviews are more likely to be secure and compatible with the latest versions of WordPress.
• The theme should be mobile-friendly, as more than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices.
• The theme should be well-optimized for speed and performance. Slow themes can affect your website’s search engine rankings and user experience.

Installing a theme is straightforward. Just go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard, click Add New Theme, and search for the theme you want to install. You can filter themes by features, popularity, and other criteria. Once you find a theme you like, click the Install button.

Once installed, you can switch to your new theme by clicking the Activate button. You can also customize your theme by going to the Appearance tab and clicking the Customize button for your theme. The exact options available will depend on the theme you have chosen, but most themes allow you to customize colors, fonts, layouts, and other design elements. We’ll cover theme customization in more detail in the Customize Website section.

Bonus: Install Plugins

Plugins are like apps for your WordPress site. They add extra features and functionality, such as contact forms, SEO optimization, and social media integration. Same as themes, there are numerous free and premium plugins available to enhance your WordPress site. Our recommendations for selecting plugins are similar to those for themes:

• Look for the website’s purpose-specific plugins that are focused on solving your specific needs. For example, if you’re creating an online store, look for e-commerce plugins like WooCommerce. The Virtuozzo Application Management has a pre-packaged WooCommerce integration that can be enabled during WordPress installation.
• Give preference to the regularly updated and well-reviewed plugins from reputable developers. This ensures that they are secure, compatible with the latest version of WordPress, and have a good track record of performance.
• Ensure that the plugin is compatible with your theme. Some plugins may not work well with certain themes, so it’s important to check compatibility before installing.

The installation process is similar as well. You can install plugins directly from the WordPress dashboard by going to Plugins > Add New and searching for the plugin you want to install. You can also upload a plugin manually by clicking the Upload Plugin button and selecting the plugin file you downloaded from a third-party source.

Click the Install Now button. Once installed, click the Activate button to enable the plugin.

Here are some plugins that we can recommend for most WordPress websites regardless of their purpose:

• Yoast SEO / All in One SEO / Rank Math SEO – for search engine optimization (SEO) to help your website rank higher in search results
• WPForms / Contact Form 7 – for creating contact forms to allow visitors to get in touch with you
• MonsterInsights / Site Kit by Google – for integrating Google Analytics to track your website’s performance and visitor behavior

Plugins from these categories will allow you to track your site performance, communicate with your visitors, and boost your website’s search engine rankings.

Step 5: Customize Website

Once you have your theme installed, it’s time to customize your website to make it look professional and reflect your brand.

Start with some basic WordPress settings, important ones to consider:

• General Settings – go to the Settings > General section to configure your website’s most common parameters:
  • Site Title and Tagline: This information is important for search engines and helps visitors understand what your website is about. The site title is the name of your website, while the tagline is a short description that summarizes its purpose.
  • Site Icon: Upload your favicon (the small icon that appears in the browser tab) to make your website look more professional.
  • Timezone: Set your timezone to ensure that your website displays the correct time for your visitors.
  • Date and Time Format: Choose the format that you prefer for displaying dates and times on your website.
• Homepage – go to the Settings > Reading section to set a static homepage instead of the latest posts (you need to create a page first). This is especially useful for business websites where you want to showcase your products or services on the homepage.
• Approve Comments – if using the comments feature, you’ll want to moderate comments before they appear on your site. Go to Settings > Discussion and check the box for Comment must be manually approved. This will help you control spam and ensure that only relevant comments are published.

Next, you can customize your website’s appearance by adjusting your theme. Go to the Appearance section in your WordPress dashboard and click on the Customize button for your active theme.

The exact options available will depend on the theme you have chosen. In general:

• If you are using a block-based theme, you will use the Site Editor. Go to the Appearance > Editor section in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you can make the following changes:
  • Navigation – browse your menus and make changes
  • Styles – edit your site’s style variations
  • Pages – edit the content of your pages inside the site editor itself
  • Templates – review different default layouts and set custom pages (search results, 404, etc.)
  • Patterns – manage your patterns (reusable blocks) and template parts
• If you are using a classic theme, you will use the Customizer. Go to the Appearance > Customize section in your WordPress dashboard. This section can vary depending on the theme, but it generally includes the following options:
  • Site Identity – set your site icon, title, and logo
  • Global – configure global settings for your theme, such as colors, typography, and buttons
  • Menus – create and manage your navigation menus
  • Header and Footer – configure the header and footer sections of your website
  • Widgets – add and manage widgets in your sidebar or footer

Step 6: Create Essential Pages

Now that you have your theme and basic settings in place, it’s time to create some essential pages for your website. These pages will help your visitors navigate your site and find the information they need.

You can create required pages by going to the Pages > Add New section in your WordPress dashboard. Use the block editor to add text, images, and other content. You can also use reusable blocks for frequently used content, such as call-to-action buttons or contact forms.

Here are some examples of essential pages you might want to create:

• Homepage – the main landing page of your website, showcasing your brand and key offerings.
• About – company story, mission, and values. It helps build trust with your audience.
• Contact – your contact information, including a contact form, email address, and phone number.
• Privacy Policy and Terms of Service – outlines how you collect, use, and protect user data and lists rules for using your website. These pages are important for compliance with privacy regulations and protecting your business from legal issues.
• Blog and Categories – if you plan to publish articles, create a blog page to display your latest posts. You can also create categories to organize your content and make it easier for visitors to find related articles.
• 404 Error Page – a custom page that appears when a user tries to access a page that doesn’t exist. It should guide users back to your homepage or other relevant pages.
• Products/Services – if you’re running a business, create dedicated pages to showcase your products or services. Include detailed descriptions, images, and pricing information.
• FAQ – a frequently asked questions page to address common queries from your visitors. This can help reduce support requests and improve user experience.

You don’t need to create all of these pages at once, but it’s a good idea to have at least a few essential pages ready before launching your website. You can always add more pages later as your website grows and evolves. However, it’s important to have a clear structure and navigation for your website from the start. This will help visitors find what they’re looking for and improve their overall experience on your site.

Step 7: Add Content

Now that you have your essential pages set up, it’s time to add content to your website.

Content is the heart of your website and plays a crucial role in attracting and engaging visitors. Be mindful of your audience and the purpose of your website, as the quality of your content can significantly impact your website’s success. High-quality content can help you build trust with your audience, improve search engine rankings, and encourage visitors to take action.

Here are some basic tips for creating effective content:

• Write for your Audience – understand your target audience and create content that addresses their needs, interests, and pain points. Content for a business website will be different from content for a personal blog, so tailor your writing accordingly.
• Be Clear and Concise – organize your content with a clear structure that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. Use simple language and short sentences to convey your message. Avoid jargon and complex terms that may confuse your readers.
• Use Engaging Headlines and Subheadings – use attention-grabbing headlines that clearly convey the topic of your content and break your content into sections using headings and subheadings. A good headline can entice readers to click and read more, while a good structure makes it easier for readers to scan your content and find the information they need.
• Use Lists and Add Images – break up large blocks of text with bullet points or numbered lists. Use relevant images, videos, and other media to enhance your content and make it more visually appealing. This makes your content easier to read and digest.
• Use a Consistent Tone – maintain a consistent tone and style throughout your content. This helps establish your brand voice and makes your content more relatable.
• Proofread and Edit – always proofread your content for spelling and grammar errors. Editing helps ensure that your content is polished and professional.
• Optimize for SEO – use relevant keywords in your content to improve search engine visibility. However, avoid keyword stuffing and focus on creating valuable content for your readers.

Don’t worry if you don’t have enough content right away – you don’t need to have a lot of content to launch your website. Start with a few key pages and gradually add more content as you go. Also, depending on your website’s purpose, just having essential pages like the homepage, about page, and contact page can be enough to get started. You can always add more content later as your website grows.

However, our advice is to start a blog even if you’re not planning to write any content right now. A lot of WordPress business websites have a blog section, even if their main goal is to sell a product. This is because blogging allows you to establish expertise in your field, increase traffic from search engines, and connect with your target audience.