How do Beginners Learn WordPress?

WordPress is known for being relatively easy and accessible to use, with or without coding knowledge. Learners can start to get a handle on WordPress basics and even advanced WordPress skills in a short amount of time, though it will take a year or more to master WordPress. WordPress beginners learn familiarity with the WordPress software and dashboard, how to use its block editor to add and publish content, and other basics like WordPress SEO, backups, and security. Those seeking to learn WordPress should read on to gain an understanding of what one can expect to learn as a beginner and what resources are available to help beginners get started building WordPress websites.

Getting Started with WordPress

The costs for getting started with WordPress are relatively low. WordPress is open-source software, so a beginner can install it on their own web server for free from WordPress.org or, if opting to host their website on WordPress’s servers, can pay a monthly fee to WordPress.com and use their 1-click installation feature. Even with no coding knowledge, a beginner could download WordPress, choose a theme created by someone else for their website, add text, image, or video files, and start publishing content quickly. There are free guides, including those from WordPress, that will walk users through this process. 

Depending on what someone wants to do with WordPress, is it useful to know some HTML and CSS as this allows users to customize WordPress websites to their own needs. Those who want to design and create websites professionally using WordPress will need to know not only HTML and CSS but also JavaScript and PHP to add interactivity, functionality, and further bespoke customization. For Web Developers or Web Designers seeking to learn WordPress professionally, coming in with this coding knowledge already will set you up for creating and editing block themes and plugins, updating and maintaining WordPress sites, and debugging any issues that occur over time. 

The First Steps When Learning WordPress

One of the first aspects of WordPress proficiency will be learning how to use and customize themes and plugins. While there are no-code ways to do minimal theme and plugin customization, to create truly distinct and custom WordPress websites, one needs to know, at least, HTML and CSS to change the look and style of a WordPress website. Many start with practicing creating static webpages using HTML and CSS before moving on to using PHP and JavaScript to create more dynamic pages. With persistent practice, it can take a minimum of roughly 2-4 weeks to feel comfortable building simple websites on WordPress. 

WordPress is considered SEO-friendly and offers users many tools and plugins to optimize their search ranking and website performance. As a beginner, another of the first things one learns is SEO with WordPress and how to optimize a website’s content, keywords, and links for search engine ranking. Plugins will be useful here, as there are many popular WordPress plugins aimed at SEO optimization, data analytics, and advertising integration. For those wanting to make money from their website or use it to increase awareness of a brand, business, or organization, it will be key to start learning SEO early in the stages of beginning to use WordPress. 

Free WordPress Tools for Beginners

Beginning WordPress learners can find many free resources online that will help them learn, practice, and eventually master WordPress. A good place to start is by looking through the free resources that WordPress itself offers. These include self-paced, online courses for novices and advanced users, the WordPress Codex instruction manual, and discussion forums where users can discuss WordPress successes and challenges with others. While these resources might not answer all of the questions a beginner has, they can be useful at various stages in the process of learning WordPress. 

Additionally, WordPress’s popularity means that many others have put together free material. One can find free, digital eBooks, blogs, subreddits, YouTube videos, on-demand classes, guides, and step-by-step tutorials to start learning WordPress. These resources will go over beginning skills such as how to install and set up WordPress software, determine which hosting site is best, choose and start theme customizing, figure out the best plugins to use, maximize SEO strategies, and integrate advertising. As learners continue to use and perfect their WordPress skills, these free resources can also help with mastering more advanced uses of the site editor or troubleshooting website performance issues.

Live WordPress Training for Beginners

Live online and in-person classes are one of the quickest ways to learn basic and advanced WordPress skills. While there are myriad free resources and tutorials that walk users through building websites on WordPress, many find that detailed instruction from experts allows them to better understand where to start as beginners and how to continue to build on their skills. Live, instructor-led classes provide students with guided and hands-on learning in as little as a few days or a few weeks. Students can expect to be introduced to the most important aspects of creating and publishing content on WordPress as well as customizing the appearance and style of a website and optimizing its performance for their own needs. 

One of the drawbacks of learning WordPress from free resources only is that there is so much information out there that it is hard to know what to prioritize and what is accurate. With an instructor-led class, students can be sure they are learning up-to-date and relevant information as they work with the latest version of WordPress software during class. Students will have the opportunity to ask an instructor for further examples and clarification when encountering difficult or confusing topics. Additionally, as students work on building a website during the class, they will receive individualized feedback from the instructor and often other students, as well.

A class is also a great option for those looking for more career-oriented training. A live class offers the chance for WordPress beginners to start building a professional work portfolio, networking with potential future colleagues, and receiving support navigating the job market with the skills one has acquired during the class. Free resources rarely offer individualized support or career support, whereas these are standard features for many WordPress bootcamps and certificate programs that one can take from reputable education providers. 

The Next Step

After practicing the basics, learners will want to move on to more advanced WordPress training. Students interested in advanced training can find on-demand, self-paced classes and live online or in-person classes one can take to learn or practice advanced WordPress skills. Much of the advanced knowledge of WordPress will involve continuing to practice and build on beginning skills. If, as a beginner, someone has mastered creating an interactive personal blog, learners can move on to creating themes from scratch, learning how to create child themes to modify an existing parent theme without rewriting its code, and extending one’s knowledge of content and post type and customization. Indeed, many advanced classes offer the ability to practice building different kinds of websites using WordPress, like ecommerce stores, elearning and learning management systems, or membership sites. Beginners may opt to use WordPress’s built-in Gutenberg block editor, whereas more advanced users can consider learning how to use Elementor, which allows for further customization of websites. 

Those looking to make a career out of building or managing WordPress websites should consider learning other web development or design principles and skills. For professionals or those who want to get paid to create or manage WordPress websites, it is key to receive a career-oriented education that will cover the tools and skills needed to succeed in these professions. Knowing how to use WordPress is common for both Web Designers and Web Developers and each career path will have a particular set of theories to learn and skills to practice. Consider taking a certificate program for web design or web development, as certificate programs provide comprehensive training and will cover the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools needed for success as a Web Designer or Web Developer. 

Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool can help you find WordPress classes in your local area if you are looking for a WordPress class. Noble offers part-time and full-time live online and in-person WordPress classes. Their three-day intensive WordPress Bootcamp offers a comprehensive course of study that introduces WordPress basics and guides students through hands-on training to create their own custom theme by the end of the class. WordPress training is also offered as a part of Noble’s career-oriented certificate programs for the Front-End Web Development Certificate and the Web Design Certificate. It is also an optional add-on to the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate. For those looking to jumpstart a career in web development and design, a certificate program can offer the comprehensive training, knowledge, and career support to do so.