WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. It’s a versatile platform that allows you to create anything from a simple one-page portfolio to a robust eCommerce store or even a complex web application.

There are two main versions of WordPress:

WordPress.org (self-hosted): Offers full control, including access to plugins, themes, and custom code. This is the version for developers, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants maximum flexibility.
WordPress.com (hosted): A simpler, hosted solution with limited customization, ideal for bloggers or hobbyists who want an easy setup.

This course focuses on WordPress.org—because you’re here to unlock the full potential of WordPress and build something extraordinary.

Why WordPress is Still the Daddy of CMSs

WordPress has maintained its dominance in the CMS world for good reason. Here’s why it’s the go-to choice for beginners and professionals alike:

Free & Open Source: No licensing fees, and a massive community of developers constantly improves it.
Highly Customizable: Thousands of themes and plugins let you create a unique site, or you can code your own features to build something truly one-of-a-kind.
SEO-Friendly: With plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, WordPress makes it easy to optimize your site for search engines like Google.
eCommerce Ready: Plugins like WooCommerce transform WordPress into a powerful online store, often faster and more customizable than platforms like Shopify.
Scalable: Whether you’re running a personal blog, a business website, an online course platform, or a complex web app, WordPress can handle it.
Huge Community: A global community means endless tutorials, forums, and support to help you troubleshoot and grow.

Your Mission for Today: Set Up a Local WordPress Environment

Before you dive into building a live website, you need a safe space to experiment. Setting up WordPress locally on your computer allows you to tinker, test, and even break things without consequences. We’ll use LocalWP, a free and user-friendly tool for creating local WordPress environments.

Step-by-Step Setup:

Download LocalWP:
- Visit https://localwp.com and download the version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
Install LocalWP:
- Run the installer and follow the prompts to set it up on your computer.
Launch LocalWP:
- Open the LocalWP application.
Create a New Site:
- Click the “+ New Site” button in the LocalWP dashboard.
Configure Your Site:
- Give your site a name (e.g., “My WordPress Sandbox”).
- Choose the Preferred environment (this uses default settings for PHP, MySQL, and a web server, perfect for beginners).
- Set a username and password for your WordPress admin account. Save these somewhere safe!
Add the Site:
- Click “Add Site.” LocalWP will set up a fully functional WordPress site in seconds.
Access Your Site:
- Once the site is created, click “Open Site” to view it in your browser or “Admin” to log into the WordPress dashboard.

Congratulations! You now have a fully functional WordPress site running locally on your computer. Feel free to explore the dashboard, install themes, or break things—it’s all part of the learning process, and nothing you do here will affect a live website.

WordPress for Beginners Course with Tic Creative

Lesson 2: Navigating the WordPress Dashboard

Now that your local WordPress site is up and running, it’s time to get comfortable with the WordPress Dashboard, your control center for building and managing your site.

What You’ll Learn:

The key sections of the WordPress Dashboard and what they do.
How to configure basic settings to lay a strong foundation for your site.
How to create your first post and page.

The WordPress Dashboard: Your Command Center

When you log into your WordPress site (via LocalWP’s “Admin” button or by visiting http://yoursite.local/wp-admin), you’ll land on the WordPress Dashboard. This is where you’ll spend most of your time managing content, customizing your site, and tweaking settings.

Key Sections of the Dashboard:

Posts: Create and manage blog posts or articles.
Pages: Build static pages like “About,” “Contact,” or “Home.”
Media: Upload and organize images, videos, and other files.
Appearance: Customize your site’s look with themes and menus.
Plugins: Add new features and functionality to your site.
Users: Manage who has access to your site (e.g., admins, editors).
Settings: Configure essential site settings like your site title, timezone, and permalinks.

Your Mission: Configure Basic Settings & Create Content

Let’s set up your site for success and create your first pieces of content.

Step-by-Step:

Update General Settings:
- Go to Settings > General.
- Set your Site Title (e.g., “My Awesome Website”) and Tagline (e.g., “Exploring the World of WordPress”).
- Choose your Timezone to ensure correct post scheduling.
- Save your changes.
Set Permalinks for SEO:
- Go to Settings > Permalinks.
- Select the “Post name” option (e.g., yoursite.local/sample-post/). This creates clean, SEO-friendly URLs.
- Save changes.
Create Your First Page:
- Go to Pages > Add New.
- Enter a title (e.g., “Home”).
- Add some sample content using the Block Editor (e.g., “Welcome to my WordPress site!”).
- Click Publish to make the page live.
Create Your First Post:
- Go to Posts > Add New.
- Add a title (e.g., “My First Blog Post”).
- Write a short post and experiment with the Block Editor’s features (e.g., add a heading, image, or list).
- Click Publish.
Explore the Block Editor:
- The Block Editor (Gutenberg) is WordPress’s default content editor. Play around with blocks like paragraphs, images, buttons, or columns to see how they work.
Preview Your Site:
- Click the site title at the top of the dashboard or visit http://yoursite.local to see your new page and post in action.

Pro Tip:

The Block Editor is powerful but can feel overwhelming at first. Spend some time experimenting with different block types (e.g., galleries, quotes, or embeds) to get a feel for how they work. If you prefer a more traditional editor, you can install the Classic Editor plugin (more on plugins in Lesson 3).

Enjoying this WordPress beginners course? Let us know your thoughts.

WordPress themes for Beginners Course with Tic Creative

Lesson 3: Themes & Customization

Your WordPress site is functional, but it probably looks pretty basic right now. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to make it visually stunning (or at least not boring) using themes.

What You’ll Learn:

What WordPress themes are and how they work.
How to find, install, and customize a theme.
How to create a professional-looking homepage.

What Are WordPress Themes?

A theme controls your site’s appearance—layout, colors, fonts, and overall style. WordPress offers thousands of free and premium themes, so you can find one that matches your vision, whether it’s a sleek portfolio, a vibrant blog, or a professional business site.

Finding and Installing a Theme

You can browse themes directly from the WordPress Dashboard or explore third-party marketplaces like ThemeForest or Elegant Themes.

Step-by-Step:

Browse Free Themes:
- Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New.
- Use the search bar or filters (e.g., “Business,” “Blog,” “eCommerce”) to find a theme you like.
- Popular free themes include Astra, Neve, or OceanWP.
Preview a Theme:
- Hover over a theme and click Preview to see how it looks.
Install and Activate:
- Click Install, then Activate to apply the theme to your site.
Explore Premium Themes (Optional):
- Visit marketplaces like ThemeForest or Elegant Themes for premium themes with advanced features.
- To install a premium theme, download the theme’s .zip file, then go to Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload Theme and upload the file.

Customizing Your Theme

Most themes come with customization options to tweak colors, fonts, and layouts without touching code.

Step-by-Step:

Access the Customizer:
- Go to Appearance > Customize.
- The WordPress Customizer lets you preview changes in real-time.
Update Site Identity:
- Under Site Identity, upload a logo and update your site title and tagline.
Adjust Colors and Fonts:
- Look for options like Colors or Typography to match your brand.
Set Up Your Homepage:
- Go to Homepage Settings in the Customizer.
- Choose whether your homepage displays your latest blog posts or a static page (e.g., the “Home” page you created in Lesson 2).
- If using a static page, select your “Home” page and create a separate page for blog posts (e.g., “Blog”).
Save and Publish:
- Click Publish to save your changes.

Your Mission: Build a Professional Homepage

Install and activate a free theme like Astra.
Customize the theme’s colors and fonts to match your style.
Set your “Home” page as the static homepage and ensure it has engaging content (e.g., a heading, an image, and a call-to-action button).
Visit your site to admire your work!

Pro Tip:

Many themes work best with page builders like Elementor or Divi, which offer drag-and-drop design tools. We’ll explore these in Lesson 5.

Lesson 4: Plugins – Supercharging Your Site

Plugins are the secret sauce that makes WordPress so powerful. They add new features and functionality, from SEO tools to contact forms to eCommerce systems.

What You’ll Learn:

What plugins are and how to use them safely.
Essential plugins every WordPress site needs.
How to install and configure a plugin.

What Are Plugins?

Plugins are add-ons that extend WordPress’s core functionality. There are over 60,000 free plugins in the WordPress Plugin Directory, plus thousands of premium options.

Essential Plugins for Beginners

Here’s a curated list of must-have plugins to get you started:

Yoast SEO: Optimizes your site for search engines.
WPForms: Creates beautiful contact forms (drag-and-drop).
WooCommerce: Turns your site into an online store.
UpdraftPlus: Backs up your site to prevent data loss.
Wordfence Security: Protects your site from hackers and malware.
Jetpack: Adds analytics, social sharing, and performance boosts.

Installing and Configuring a Plugin

Let’s install WPForms to add a contact form to your site.

Step-by-Step:

Find a Plugin:
- Go to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for “WPForms.”
Install and Activate:
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
Configure WPForms:
- After activation, click WPForms > Add New in the dashboard.
- Choose the “Simple Contact Form” template.
- Customize the form fields (e.g., add a phone number field or change labels).
- Save the form.
Add the Form to a Page:
- Edit your “Contact” page (or create a new one).
- Add a WPForms block in the Block Editor and select your form.
- Publish the page and test the form on your site.

Your Mission: Add a Contact Form

Install and activate WPForms.
Create a simple contact form with fields for name, email, and message.
Add the form to a “Contact” page and test it by submitting a sample message.

Pro Tip:

Avoid installing too many plugins, as they can slow down your site. Stick to well-reviewed plugins with regular updates, and delete any you’re not using.

elementor page builder WordPress for Beginners Course with Tic Creative

Lesson 5: Taking It Further – Page Builders & Next Steps

By now, you’ve got a functional, good-looking WordPress site. But what if you want to create complex layouts or take your site to the next level? That’s where page builders and advanced techniques come in.

What You’ll Learn:

What page builders are and why they’re game-changers.
How to use a page builder like Elementor.
Next steps for launching your site live.

What Are Page Builders?

Page builders are plugins that let you design pages with a drag-and-drop interface, no coding required. They’re perfect for creating professional layouts, landing pages, or custom designs.

Popular page builders include:

Elementor (free with premium upgrades)
Divi (premium)
Beaver Builder (freemium)

Getting Started with Elementor

Let’s install Elementor and redesign your homepage.

Step-by-Step:

Install Elementor:
- Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Elementor,” and install/activate it.
Edit Your Homepage:
- Go to Pages, find your “Home” page, and click Edit with Elementor.
Design with Elementor:
- Use Elementor’s drag-and-drop interface to add widgets like headings, images, buttons, or testimonials.
- Experiment with pre-built templates (available in Elementor’s free version).
- Customize spacing, colors, and fonts to match your brand.
Save and Preview:
- Click Save and visit your homepage to see the new design.

Your Mission: Redesign Your Homepage

Install Elementor.
Redesign your “Home” page using at least three Elementor widgets (e.g., a heading, an image, and a button).
Preview your site and make sure the design looks great on mobile (use Elementor’s responsive preview).

Next Steps: Going Live

You’ve built an awesome site locally, but it’s time to share it with the world. Here’s what to do next:

Choose a Hosting Provider:
- Popular options include SiteGround, Bluehost, or WP Engine.
- Look for WordPress-optimized hosting with good support and performance.
Get a Domain Name:
- Register a domain through your hosting provider or a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy.
Migrate Your Local Site:
- Use a plugin like Duplicator or UpdraftPlus to move your local site to your live server.
- Follow your hosting provider’s migration guide for step-by-step instructions.
Test Everything:
- Check that your pages, forms, and links work correctly on the live site.
- Optimize performance with a caching plugin like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache.
Launch and Promote:
- Share your site on social media, email newsletters, or through SEO.

Pro Tip:

Before going live, install Google Analytics (via a plugin like MonsterInsights) to track your site’s traffic and performance.