CMSs (Content Management Systems) have been quite an area of interest when it comes to developing a website. A CMS is basically a web application that can be used to build and manage a website’s content via an internal user interface. Earlier, developers essentially needed to have in-depth knowledge of programming languages such as PHP, Java, etc. to build a website. CMS, however, has taken the load off of the developers by eliminating the need to write code. One such CMS that is being used by over 22,674,100 websites is WordPress. With its easy-to-use interface and inbuilt reusable components, building and customizing a website has become easier than ever. However, many developers nowadays prefer building a CMS website from scratch. In fact, CMSs are rewritten more as compared to any other kind of software. This is mainly because developers prefer to understand the codebase from scratch. What’s great is that WordPress offers you complete freedom to do so.
Besides that, here are some more reasons why most developers choose to re-engineer a CMS using WordPress.
- The basic functionality of WordPress is very easy. No matter where you start from, be it including a title or a table of pages, you’ll be done with it within minutes. While it may sound tempting and straightforward in the beginning, it does begin to complicate, especially when the scope kicks in. The subsequent layers are not as easy to work with as it is to get started, which is why most developers choose to build the CMS website from scratch using WordPress. This is because WordPress allows them to make changes in the code at every step. That way, developers can start and work their way towards custom development in the desired manner.
- Every time a developer visits a website or software as a user, they may find anomalies and broken components in the existing CMS. Since they have the domain knowledge, they believe they can fix such problems if they start building a web app from scratch. They like taking total control of the CMS and molding it to avoid as many errors as possible, which is exactly what WordPress facilitates.
When it comes to building a website, WordPress is used the most, thanks to a number of features it offers for CMS development. Here’s a quick glance at some of them:
- Easy and free to use
- Numerous plugins
- SEO-ready
- Responsive design
- Easy social media integration
- Customizable
- Etc.
And now that WordPress 5.0, the latest version, is already here, developers are in for a treat.
That said, to take full advantage of WP’s features, you must learn how to build a CMS website from scratch. Let’s get to the steps involved in creating one using WordPress, one by one:
Step – 1:
After choosing WordPress as your CMS, you’ll need a domain name. For example, yourbusinessname.com. You can choose any one domain extension from .com, .net, .int, .edu, .mil, .org, and .gov.
Step – 2:
Once you’re done choosing a domain name, you must then select a reliable host. This step must be followed carefully as your hosting provider will very much dictate how well your site functions or performs.
Step – 3:
Depending on the hosting provider you choose, the further process of setting up a WordPress site will be decided. Mostly the primary hosts let you install WordPress with a single click. All you need to do is click on the icon that says WordPress installation and follow the instructions given.
Step – 4:
The next step would be to select a plan. You may choose basic, plus, or prime. To start with, it’s better to go for the basic one. Once your site gains popularity, you might then switch to the prime plan.
Step – 5:
A domain box will then open up once you’ve selected a plan. You can enter your domain name into the box to find out if it’s available. Choose one that’s new and unique.
Step – 6:
Next up, you’ll be required to fill in a registration form wherein you’ll enter your personal and billing info.
Step – 7:
You’ll now be asked to set up a password. Once you do that, you’ll be logged in to your WordPress account.
Step – 8:
After logging in, the interface will ask you to choose a theme. All you have to do is choose and install a theme that appeals to you. After that, just log in to your WordPress dashboard.
Step – 9:
You’ll then be presented with a guide to the website creation process. A number of tools will be available, using which you can create new posts and work around customizing your website. Once all is done, you can then launch your website. You’ll be required to choose your website’s title and name along with a description.
And just like that, your site is ready. You can now go about sharing new content as and when you want.
Managing Your WordPress CMS Website:
There are mainly two components of WordPress:
1. Frontend: Changes made in the frontend are directly visible to your website visitors. These include publishing content, enhancing functionality via plugins, or customizing the website’s theme. These changes may be made by both you and your visitors (social sharing and commenting).
2. Backend: The backend changes take place on the WordPress dashboard where you can manage your website’s design, functionality, content, etc. Only the users having the account login privilege can access this part of WordPress.
You can change your website’s design from your dashboard. Here are some CMS development tips that will help you deal with your website design:
- Go through the theme’s description wherein all the functionalities and features are mentioned. Read it to see if it’s compatible with your website.
- Check the theme’s rating to find out if it’s good enough.
- Preview the theme to get an idea of the overall look.
- Verify if the theme is responsive so that it works well on all kinds of devices.
You can then extend your site’s functionality and features with the help of unlimited plugins available. Also, WordPress gives you the freedom to make changes in the code at every stage so that you can customize and build a website according to your business requirements. So, if you’ve still not chosen a CMS for your website, it’s time you do now.
Not too sure about how to build a CMS website from scratch? Fret not. Use the CMS development tips mentioned above to get started. Or better yet, let the experts at SunTec India handle the development process for you. All you need is to drop a line or two at info@suntecindia.com and we’ll connect you with them at the earliest.
