Building on the web: Issue #1
I’m thrilled to be back to writing, learning and building in public, especially on WordPress! It feels like a full-circle moment for me. I first discovered WordPress about six years ago, right before I started my internship as a software engineer at The Zig. My very first task was to build a website for a data analytics company using WordPress, and I couldn’t have asked for a more exciting start. As a long-time fan girl of WordPress, it felt like I was stepping into something familiar rather than starting from scratch.
Why WordPress?
The internet has evolved significantly since 2019, with countless web builders to choose from. Chances are, your favorite company is using WordPress as their CMS because WordPress still has over 60% of the market share. My other favorite platform, Webflow, had market share in the content management system (CMS) industry of 0.9% as of January 2023. This is a small share compared to Shopify (6.40%), Wix (3.40%), and Squarespace (3.00%). However, when choosing a platform, I focused on three key factors: cost, customization, and self-hosting. I opted for self-hosted WordPress instead of WordPress.com because I wanted full ownership of my code. This choice allows me to design a unique experience that represents who I am. In the future I will also be able to integrate payment systems while having control over advertising options.
Quick Wins to Get You Started
If you’re ready to dive into having your website on WordPress, here are three easy steps to get you started:
- Choose a Memorable Name: Pick a name that’s easy to remember and spell.
- Select a Reliable Hosting Provider: Look for one that guarantees security, speed, and scalability—my choice is Bluehost. I paid K1650 ($60) for the year.
- Install WordPress: Once you’ve set up hosting with BlueHost, accessing WordPress is straightforward. And just like that, you have your own website!
Building Your Skills
As a creative frontend developer, I’ll be honest: the abundance of pre-built themes and plugins stalled my coding growth. I didn’t engage with the underlying technologies as much as I could have. WordPress is more than just drag-and-drop; it’s incredibly versatile! I later learned to customize it extensively by combining it with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. After I gained more experience working with WordPress as a backend database for custom projects, I often faced challenges with technical debt if the site relied too heavily on plugins. To enhance your skills, consider free resources like Codecademy or freeCodeCamp.
I am now building my own brand online.
There’s so much more for me to share my vast experience building on the web—content creation, community engagement, and monetization are just the beginning! Welcome to my weekly series on building on the web, where I’ll share insights and tips on leveraging the internet to reap the benefits of the digital economy.