Building my first website was both exciting and challenging. As a beginner in web design, I wanted something practical — not just theory — and WordPress gave me the perfect place to start. In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I built my first website, the tools I used, the problems I faced, and what I learned along the way.
Getting Started
Before I began, I didn’t have much experience with coding. I had only a basic understanding of how websites work. My goal was simple: build a functional and good-looking website from scratch.
To get started, I needed three main things:
- A local development environment
- WordPress installed
- A page builder to design my site
I used Laragon/XAMPP to run a local server on my computer, which allowed me to build my website offline before publishing it online.
Setting Up WordPress
After installing my local server, I downloaded and installed WordPress. Setting it up was easier than I expected. Once it was running, I was able to access my dashboard and start customizing my site.
From the dashboard, I:
- Created pages (Home, About, Contact, Shop)
- Adjusted basic settings like site name and permalink structure
- Installed essential plugins
Designing with Elementor
To design my website, I used Elementor. This made everything much easier because I could build pages visually without writing code.
With Elementor, I was able to:
- Drag and drop sections
- Customize layouts
- Add images, text, and buttons
- Create a clean and modern design
This was where my website really started to take shape.
Challenges I Faced
Like any beginner, I ran into a few problems along the way. Some of the main issues I faced included:
- Pages not loading properly
- My shop page not displaying correctly
- Slow loading times
- Confusion with settings and layout options
At first, these problems were frustrating, but they also helped me learn. I spent time troubleshooting, researching, and testing different solutions until I fixed them.
What I Learned
Building my first website taught me a lot more than I expected. Some key lessons I learned include:
- Patience is important — things don’t always work the first time
- Problem-solving is a big part of web design
- Simplicity often leads to better design
- Practice is the best way to improve
Final Result
By the end of the process, I had a fully functional website that I built myself. It may not be perfect, but it represents my progress and growth as a web designer.
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning of my journey. I’m continuing to learn more about WordPress, web design, and development so I can build better and more advanced websites.
If you’re just starting out, my advice is simple: start now, don’t wait until everything is perfect.
Need a Website?
If you’re a business owner or individual looking to build a website, I’d be happy to help.
Feel free to reach out to me and let’s bring your ideas to life.