Getting Started with WordPress: Everything You Need to Know (No Tech Talk!)

If you’ve heard the name but aren’t really sure what WordPress is or what it does, don’t worry—you’re not alone.

This post is all about explaining WordPress in simple, easy-to-understand language. No confusing tech talk here.

Just straight answers for real beginners who are getting started with WordPress coming from someone with real first-hand experience on how confusing and challenging website building can be.

So, What Is WordPress?

You see, When I first started selling online, WordPress didn’t even cross my mind as an e-commerce solution and AI tools wasn’t available to help with all of the technical side of website building.

Fast forward to today, WordPress is a tool that helps you build websites. That’s it—plain and simple. You don’t need to know how to code, and you don’t need to be a computer whiz. Think of it like this: WordPress is like

a digital notebook where you can write, add pictures, post videos, and design pages. But instead of keeping it to yourself, the whole world can see it online.

Originally, WordPress started as a blogging platform. People used it mainly to write and publish blog posts.But over time, it became much more powerful.

Today, you can use WordPress to create almost any kind of website you can imagine—blogs, business sites, online stores, portfolios, news sites, you name it.

Why Is WordPress So Popular?

There’s a reason over 40% of all websites on the internet are built with WordPress—it’s that good. But why is it so popular?

Here are some simple reasons:

It’s free – Anyone can download and use WordPress without paying a dime.

It’s easy to use – Even if you’ve never built a website before, you can figure WordPress out with a little practice.

It’s flexible – You can build a personal blog, a store, a membership site, a photography portfolio, or anything else you dream of. The opportunities are endless. All it takes is a creative idea or USP (Unique Selling Proposition).

There’s lots of help – Because so many people use WordPress, there are tons of free tutorials, videos, and communities online to help you when you get stuck such as Youtube and WPBeginner.

Oh, Did I forget to mention this very blog is also a source of many FREE tutorials?

The Two Kinds of WordPress: WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

Here’s where things get a tiny bit confusing—but don’t worry, we’ll keep it simple.

There are two types of WordPress:

1. WordPress.com – This is a service that hosts your website for you. It’s kind of like renting an apartment. You don’t have to do any maintenance, but there are limits on what you can customize unless you pay for upgrades. I don’t really recommend this option since you’ll have to pay a lot for hosting and customization.

2. WordPress.org – This is the version you download and install yourself (or your web hosting company like Hostinger installs for you). It’s like owning your own house. You can do whatever you want with it, but you have to take care of some things yourself.

For beginners, WordPress.com might be easier to start with, but WordPress.org gives you full freedom and control and it’s way cheaper if you sign up to the right web hosting plan.

What Can You Do with WordPress?

Let’s break down some common things people create with WordPress:

Personal blog – Want to write about your hobbies, thoughts, or travel adventures? WordPress makes it easy.

Business website – Every business needs a website today. With WordPress, you can make a professional site that tells people who you are and what you offer.

Online store – Yes, you can sell stuff using WordPress! With a tool called WooCommerce (which works with WordPress), you can sell products online.

Portfolio site – Are you a photographer, designer, or writer? Show off your work in a clean and beautiful way.

Community or membership site – Want people to sign up and be part of your online group such as a community of like-minded Entrepreneurs or membership site to teach people how to speak a certain language? WordPress can absolutely do that too.

How WordPress Works: A Simple Walkthrough

Let’s say you want to start a blog using WordPress. Here’s what you’d typically do:

1. Get a domain name – This is your web address (like www.NetIncomeCenter.com).

2. Pick a hosting company – This is where your website lives online. Some popular ones are Bluehost and HostGator. However, I recommend my current provider, Hostinger.

3. Install WordPress – Most hosting companies make this super easy with a one-click install.

4. Choose a theme – A theme controls how your site looks. You can pick from thousands of free and paid themes.

5. Add your content – Start writing posts, uploading photos, creating pages like “About Me” and “Contact.”

6. Install plugins – Plugins are like apps for your website. Want to add a contact form or social media buttons? There’s a plugin for that.

Themes and Plugins: The Magic Behind WordPress

Themes decide how your website looks. Want a clean, modern look? There’s a theme for that. Want something colorful and fun? Yep, there’s a theme for that too. You can change your theme anytime, and your content stays the same.

Plugins add extra features to your site. Need to improve your website speed? Want to back up your site or make it more secure? There are plugins for just about everything, and most of them are free.

Is WordPress Safe and Secure?

Yes, WordPress is generally very secure. But like anything online, there are risks. The good news is that there are simple things you can do to keep your site safe:

Keep WordPress and your plugins updated.

• Use strong passwords
• Install a security plugin
• Back up your site regularly

Most hosting companies also have security features built in to help protect your site.

How Much Does WordPress Cost?

I get it. Cost is a big factor especially if you are just starting out on a limited budget. The good news is WordPress itself is free. But there are some other things you might need to pay for:

• Domain name – Usually around $10–$15 per year.
• Hosting – Starts around $3–$10 per month for basic plans.
• Premium themes or plugins – Optional, but some cost money if you want extra features.

So, in total, you could run a basic WordPress website for around $50–$100 per year. Not bad, right? Now tell me what kind of business you can get started for that amount?

Who Should Use WordPress?

Again, WordPress is for anyone who wants a website. That includes:

• Bloggers
• Small business owners
• Artists and creatives
• Online store owners
• Coaches, consultants, and freelancers
• Non-profits and churches

Basically, if you need a place online where people can find you, WordPress is a great option.

Common WordPress Terms (Without the Jargon)

Let’s define a few words you might see when using WordPress:

Post – A blog entry. Like this article.

Page – A static part of your site, like “About” or “Contact.”

Dashboard – Where you control everything behind the scenes.

Media – All your images, videos, and files.

Permalink – The URL or web address of a post or page.

Category/Tag – Ways to organize your posts.

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Try WordPress

Starting something new can be scary, especially when it’s online. But WordPress makes building your own website much easier than you might think.

Whether you want to blog, promote your business, or sell products, WordPress gives you the tools to do it.

You don’t need to be a tech genius or have thousands of dollars. Just a little time, a bit of patience, and a desire to learn.

There are endless free resources out there, and WordPress has a huge community of people willing to help.

If you would like a good reference manual, then I recommend WordPress: The Missing Manual 3rd Edition by Matthew Macdonald. It’s an easy-to-read book that goes over everything a beginner needs to know about using WordPress and I personally use it and refer to it quite often.

So go ahead—give it a try. Build something. Share your voice with the world. You might just surprise yourself with what you can create.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re feeling inspired to try WordPress, here are your first simple steps:

1. Choose a name for your website. (Use ChatGPT to help you come up with a catchy name.)

2. Get hosting (I recommend beginner-friendly hosts like Hostinger due to the low costs and super handy built-in AI tools. Not only that, but you will also get a FREE domain name and an EXTRA 20% off when you sign up to a hosting plan.)

3. Install WordPress (Hostinger’s one-click installation will take care of this for you.)

4. Pick a theme you like.

5. Write your first post!

That’s it. One step at a time. You’ve got this!

If you are ever feeling stuck, feel free to ask in the comments below.