WordPress Web Development: A Step-by-Step Guide For Beginners

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wordpress web development

WordPress is the world’s #1 web publishing platform.

Up to 40% of new web pages are published using it. Would you like to learn about WordPress web development in the next ten minutes?

It’s easy if you know how to get the right people to do the correct things. Keep reading for your guide on how to learn to build a website from scratch using WordPress.

WordPress Web Development

WordPress web development is like conducting a symphony. There are many people involved, but when they come together, it can be beautiful.

The popularity of WordPress can be attributed to the fact it is open source and there is a gigantic plugin and theme ecosystem.

It’s a programmer’s pastime to try and think up functionality that is NOT in a plugin already because there is a plugin that already does almost anything you can think of.

If you have an idea related to a website, there is a WordPress plugin for that. That’s why in web development, it’s about connecting with the right people, to install the correct software.

The easiest way to build a WordPress website is to get other people to do it for you! Hire outsources and consultants on a limited basis. If you ask questions and pay attention, you can even learn how to publish a website for free yourself.

There are millions of people giving out WordPress tips. If you ask the right questions about their skills, you’ll know who to hire to get your site built.

WordPress for Dummies – TWO RULES

These two rules will save your entire WordPress life if you follow them. If you’re not going to follow these rule, quit right now because you will fail.

#1 Control Your Domain Like a Lion

Your website address is your online identity. If someone steals this, it can be an insane nightmare to get it back. Don’t let it happen. There is never a reason to give anyone your domain controlling password.

Never – EVER – give anyone access to your main accounts that control your domain registrations. If your outsourcer doesn’t know how to do their work without the main domain registrar’s credentials, find someone who does.

#2 Backup your site

There are a ton of ways to back up a WordPress site. Learn one procedure and make sure it works. Print up the instructions and put them in your desk.

If you have a backup procedure and control your domain, an advanced sysadmin can fix anything you screw up. If you don’t have a backup, there are things that can happen that NO admin can fix.

Make a backup or rue the day!

Don’t Use the Word “Development”!

There is a mini maelstrom brewing in the WordPress ecosystem concerning the words development and developer.

It’s the result of some tricky business people in offshore web shops who started giving their employees “paper promotions” a few years ago. Now everyone is confused!

It used to be, that a “developer” was a computer programmer who went to college to study something like computer science or engineering. This person was highly skilled and could do things like build plugins from scratch. This person usually earned about $40/hr or more.

Another role in the WordPress ecosystem was a “designer”. This person could do things like install plugins [as opposed to creating them], and fiddle with settings on pre-made themes. This person usually earned about $5/hr from places like India or Pakistan but outsourced their work all over the world.

A few years ago, these shops started calling their $5/hr employees “developers” to make them feel better about earning low wages.

So now there are about 50 million people in the world who call themselves “developers”, and they have totally different skill sets and do completely different things. This is the reality of the situation we have to deal with.

A Solution

The solution isn’t to be the word police.

Just stop using the words “development” or “developer” until other people can figure out what they are doing. Here are the phrases you should use that will work with 100% of the people from 100% of countries.

Sysadmin

Note this is a “sysadmin” not a “WordPress system administrator” or a “WordPress Super Admin”, which might mean something else in a WordPress context.

A sysadmin knows how to deploy a website to the internet. They can do things like set up a DNS router, install SSL certificates, or deploy email.

In a shared hosting or managed hosting situation, you may never interact with the sysadmin. Small businesses can hire a sysadmin on a part-time or contract basis.

For a small e-commerce shop, the sysadmin’s role should only require a few hours a month to keep everything running. Highly skilled.

Backend Programmer

This person can make plugins and themes from scratch. Usually on a contract basis to create new functionality, especially for startups, then part-time. Highly skilled.

Frontend Designer

This person can create visual layouts for web pages. Often they submit their work in the form of graphical photoshop files [PSDs]. These people are artistic and may have no technical skills. Some people who are good technically, are bad artistically or vice versa. Entry level to journeyman.

Frontend Programmer

This person knows Javascript and can program forms and front-end GUIs. Journeyman to highly skilled.

“Full Stack” Programmer

Knows all the above. However, many people call themselves this without it being true! Should be highly skilled, caveat emptor.

Shop Manager

This is an e-commerce management role. May or may not be skilled at WordPress. Mostly based on the product.

WordPress Site Administrator

Knows how to install and update plugins. Journeyman. Usually part-time or contract for small or mid-sized business.

Content Creator

Knows how to create content. Skill based on the subject matter, not on WordPress.

SEO Writer

This person knows how to create specialty content to drive SERP results. From entry-level to highly skilled. This isn’t necessarily WordPress related, and some SEO will require specialized knowledge of the blog topic.

Get Your Content Out There!

WordPress web development is the way to get your content on the internet. There is no need to guess, find the right professionals and hire them on a limited basis to do what they know how to do best.

All the information is out there, just follow the pattern and you’ll succeed.

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