Can I Learn WordPress For Free?

Yes, the basics of WordPress can be learned for free, though more advanced skills will likely require further training. Students can utilize a variety of free online resources to learn how to use WordPress software and get started creating blogs and websites. Once fundamentals are mastered, many find it useful to receive more guided instruction in creating their own themes and plugins for WordPress websites. Read on for more information about what to consider when using free resources to learn WordPress. 

What Free Resources Are Available for Learning WordPress?

For those looking to learn WordPress, there are a variety of free resources to consider. A useful first place to start is checking out what WordPress itself offers to learners. Both WordPress.org and WordPress.com both offer free training for beginning and more advanced or specialized topics and WordPress provides free video tutorials at WordPress.tv. Additionally, one can turn to the WordPress Codex, a frequently updated user manual for WordPress, as well as the WordPress discussion forums where users can ask questions or discuss WordPress-related topics with others. By looking through what WordPress offers to users, beginning learners can start to get a handle on the types of free resources available for their use. 

Additionally, those looking to learn WordPress will be able to find useful blogs, guides, classes, and video lectures for free. Wpbeginner, for instance, is a blog that provides step-by-step instructions on how to get started creating a website or blog and offers instructions on many fundamentals like security, SEO, and marketing. YouTube is another great resource as there are a variety of video tutorials that beginners can use to learn WordPress fundamentals. With YouTube, learners have found it particularly useful to watch the video while having their own WordPress site open so they can make changes at the same time as the video instructor. 

WordPress learners should also consider looking into what is offered in their local communities. Many local libraries offer access to LinkedIn Learning (formerly known as Lynda.com) for free as part of one’s library account. LinkedIn Learning, which one can also access through a paid subscription, offers video lectures and tutorials for WordPress topics. Additionally, there might be free or low-cost options to take a WordPress class offered locally through a library, community center, or community college. These will often be fairly basic in the knowledge one can gain but they are also some of the most cost-effective ways to learn WordPress fundamentals and meet up with others who are learning the same skills for potentially the same purposes.

How to Make Use of Free WordPress Resources

Free resources are great for those just getting started learning WordPress. It is widely acknowledged that any new software or technology is disorienting, at first, and many free resources especially cater to orienting beginning learners to WordPress. Many of the tutorials, guides, eBooks, and blogs will take special care in offering step-by-step instructions on WordPress fundamentals such as downloading WordPress software, becoming familiar with the WordPress dashboard and site builder, finding the right themes and plugins to use, using SEO strategies, advertising, and analytics on WordPress, and publishing content to one’s website. Even if taking a paid WordPress class, free resources can provide additional guidance and examples on how to start with WordPress. 

Free resources are also a great place to turn after one has learned the basics of WordPress. At this point, learners are not necessarily using generic guides and tutorials, but more targeted free resources. If one needs extra help bolstering SEO or marketing for their website, for example, they might turn to free resources like short online courses or blogs to learn more about how to appear higher in search ranking and drive traffic to their websites. This is one example of a specialized topic for which it would be useful to receive further training after learning the WordPress fundamentals. Free resources, especially discussion forums and groups on social media, can also be a useful supplement to general issues of website maintenance and debugging. 

Advanced learners will also want to return to different training resources to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and techniques. Building a website is rarely one-and-done, especially if that website is intended to remain useful for many years. Even advanced learners need to keep an eye out for new methods of working with WordPress, new useful plugins, or how to change and edit their themes to better cater to contemporary trends. Being a part of the WordPress community and making sure to talk to other developers on discussion forums or in social media groups is a useful and free way to stay on-trend and up-to-date with the most current software and strategies for building websites on WordPress. 

Limitations of Free Resources

The abundance of free resources can also be a limitation. The amount of potential guides, lectures, and explanations can be overwhelming for a beginner because often someone just wants to know the best and easiest way to get started. It can be hard to know where to go with any issues or struggles that one faces initially and many free resources do not have any sort of mechanism where one can ask questions. Discussion forums can be a useful way to receive some sort of clarification if questions arise, but discussion forums cannot replace individualized feedback. Students also need to vet materials carefully to ensure they come from a trusted source and account for any updates to WordPress software or current strategies and techniques for building websites or using specific themes or plugins. 

Another important drawback to only using free resources to learn WordPress is the need for more structure and guidance. The adage “you get what you pay for” is important to consider with free resources as they often lack the guidance that an instructor-led class would offer. For free, one rarely receives access to one-on-one instruction or hands-on guidance working on practical projects. Free resources work well for self-motivated learners who pick up new skills easily, though even these learners can run into challenges with their code not functioning the way they want it to. Consider using free and paid resources, such as on-demand, live online, or in-person classes, for the most cost-effective and well-structured way to learn WordPress. 

What to Do After Utilizing Free WordPress Resources

After utilizing free resources to learn the basics of getting started with WordPress, consider pursuing additional education and training. While there are free resources for advanced WordPress skills, many benefit from having more guidance to master the trickier aspects of WordPress, like creating bespoke themes or learning to use child themes. Paid classes and live training offer benefits that free resources cannot and can also be useful ways to learn basics and advanced WordPress skills in a quicker timeframe than one usually learns on one’s own. 

For both beginners and those with experience in web development, taking an in-person or live online WordPress bootcamp is a great way to learn everything at once. Bootcamps are intensive classes aiming to teach a singular skill set or topic quickly. WordPress bootcamps are geared toward providing students with knowledge of the fundamentals as well as more advanced skills so that they can leave the class and get started building websites immediately. Many bootcamps will guide students in creating their own custom theme and provide expert guidance in the most up-to-date trends and strategies for building websites using WordPress. Taking a class from a live instructor offers students the benefit of having guidance as they get started using WordPress and allows students to ask for further clarification, examples, or troubleshooting help from an expert. 

Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool can help you find WordPress classes in your local area. 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.