Module 1:
Getting Started
Introduction
Welcome to the WordPress for Profit course.
My name is Sharmini Fraser and I am the owner of Sharmini Fraser Designs. A digital design agency specialising in web design, digital consultancy, and branding. I have been running my digital agency since 2013 and wish to pass on some of my knowledge, expertise and creative process that has led to the success of my business through this course.
I first started using WordPress in 2010 and gained a further in depth knowledge of the platform whilst studying my university degree in Digital Design and Internet Communications. Since then I have done an extensive amount of courses and research on the platform which has led me to be considered an expert in the field and have a real passion for the platform.
I first started using WordPress in 2010 and gained a further in depth knowledge of the platform whilst studying my university degree in Digital Design and Internet Communications. Since then I have done an extensive amount of courses and research on the platform which has led me to be considered an expert in the field and have a real passion for the platform.
Why WordPress?
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There are many platforms you can choose to build your website on including Wix, Squarespace, Shopify. Each platform has its pros and cons and may appeal to different audiences. I work with WordPress because of the following key reasons:
- WordPress is an open sourced software which means it is free to install on your hosting service (if you are unsure of what hosting is, please rest assured as we will be covering this later in the course). Many of the other platforms come with costly recurring price tags.
- WordPress being open sourced means that you own the website you build. Using a platform such as Wix, Squarespace or Shopify is like building your house on someone else's land. You never truly own it.
- WordPress has some fantastic page builders you can access which means you can build websites without having any coding knowledge.
- WordPress is the leading website building platform (CMS) with over 40% of the market share* Stats as of Sep 2021
Domains, Hosting & SSL
Before you can begin building websites using WordPress you will need to have an understanding of Domain Names, Hosting and SSL. These will be three of the core foundations to building websites.
Domain Names
A domain name is the address of your website that people type in the browser URL bar to visit your website.
Chosing Your Domain Name
- It is important to pick a domain name that is related to your brand to make your website easily found by your customers. Using your business name as your domain name is good practice.
- You will need to check the availability of the name before you choose your name.
- There are may different types of domain name extensions such as .com .com.au .org .net etc. Knowing the right extension to choose for your website is important. The benefits of the two most popular extensions for Australian businesses are outlined below.
.com
- The worlds most popular domain name.
- It is a great opportunity for businesses trading anywhere in the world.
- Essential to obtaining high visibility online.
.com.au
- The official domain name of Australia.
- A great opportunity for businesses trading in or with Australia to operate with a local presence.
- Allows you to target the Australian market.
Additional domin extensions
For an extensive list of domain extensions and reasons for selecting each. Please see the guide below.
Redirections/Domain Forwarding
It may be in your best interest to secure more than one domain name. For example, you may wish to secure both the .com and the .com.au for your business. If you choose to do so, best practice would be to select one domain as your primary domain and add a domain redirection/domain forwarding to the other.
Hosting
Every website you’ve ever visited is hosted on a server. Hosting providers allocate space on a web server for a website to store its files in exchange for a fee. So essentially your website hosting is like the rent you pay to occupy space in the internet. Web hosting makes the files that comprise a website (code, images, etc.) available for viewing online.
You will need to purchase a hosting plan for your own website as well as getting your clients to purchase one for theirs.
There are many different hosting providers such as GoDaddy, Crazy Domains, BlueHost, Dreamhost etc. however my top recommendation is Siteground.
You can find out more about why Siteground is my top pick below.
You will need to purchase a hosting plan for your own website as well as getting your clients to purchase one for theirs.
There are many different hosting providers such as GoDaddy, Crazy Domains, BlueHost, Dreamhost etc. however my top recommendation is Siteground.
You can find out more about why Siteground is my top pick below.
SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate is essentially your ‘electronic passport’.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser.
This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain private and integral. SSL certificates encrypt sensitive information, protect you from cyber certificates, and build trust with your brand.
If your site does not have a SSL certificate installed it will not have the padlock icon present next to your URL and Google will mark your website flag your website as unsafe.
*All SiteGround hosting plans come with SSL certificates included.
This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain private and integral. SSL certificates encrypt sensitive information, protect you from cyber certificates, and build trust with your brand.
If your site does not have a SSL certificate installed it will not have the padlock icon present next to your URL and Google will mark your website flag your website as unsafe.
*All SiteGround hosting plans come with SSL certificates included.
Here are some of the key reasons that Siteground is my top recommendation when choosing a hosting company:
- Customer Support
I have dealt with countless hosting companies over the years and can honestly say that Siteground has the best technical support team that I have encountered. The wait times are very short, they are available 24/7, and they go above and beyond to assure that your technical issues are resolved.
- Competitive Pricing
All of Siteground’s hosting packages are inclusive of SSL certificates. Many hosting companies offer SSL certificates as a seperate product and will cost you around $100/yr.
- Security-first Mindset
SiteGround have a team of dedicated security experts keeping track of daily software vulnerabilities on a server and website level. They actively write security patches and enhancements to prevent possible attacks.
- Google Cloud Data Center in Sydney, Australia
SiteGround uses Google’s SSD storage. This means that there servers are very seldom down and if they are they can be fixed very quickly. Google is also known for maintaining on eof the fastest and most powerful networks which means using their service results in a high speed for their clients websites.
- 100% Renewable energy match
The Google SSD storage SiteGround uses matches 100% the energy consumed by their global operations with renewable energy and maintains a commitment to carbon neutrality. Google has been a leader in energy efficiency with their achievements in reducing the compute emissions by improving higher efficiency of data serving and storage and diverting waste.
- Officially recommended by WordPress.org
SiteGroud are a hosting provider recommended by WordPress.org making them the perfect choice when building a WordPress website.
- Great affiliate program
The affiliate program that SiteGround offers allows you to make a commission on each sale you make using your affiliate link. This means you can refer your clients to Siteground to setup their domain name and hosting, and get paid for doing so.
- Great agency features
Once your clients site is ready to be delivered to the client, you can easily transfer ownership from your SiteGround account to theirs in a few clicks. You can also recommend the best hosting plan and additional services for that site as part of the transfer process to facilitate your client’s next steps. You can also stay on as a collaborator to that site by simply checking off a box! Check out the videos below for more info!
Elementor Pro
Elementor is a website builder plugin that was built specifically for building WordPress sites. It contains a highly intuitive visual builder meaning you can build websites with zero coding required!
Elementor allows you to create flawless websites with custom positions, padding, margins, and global settings for colours & typographies.
Whilst Elementor has a free version of the plugin, you will need the Pro version of this plugin in order to follow along with this course.
The PRO version gives you access to over 90+ widgets – allowing you to achieve your design goals with a widget for every need along with full customisation freedom.
Elementor allows you to create flawless websites with custom positions, padding, margins, and global settings for colours & typographies.
Whilst Elementor has a free version of the plugin, you will need the Pro version of this plugin in order to follow along with this course.
The PRO version gives you access to over 90+ widgets – allowing you to achieve your design goals with a widget for every need along with full customisation freedom.
Pricing Options
Each site that you build for your clients will require its own licence hence it is best to go for an Expert, Studio or Agency licence depending on your needs.
Let's Recap
Key takeaways...
- This course will be focused on building websites using WordPress.
- A Domain Name, Hosting Account & SSL Certificate will be required in order to build a website for yourself or your client.
- Using SiteGround's affiliate program will allow you to share an affiliate link with your clients from which they can create their own account and you will be paid a commission for doing so.
- Elementor Pro is a plugin which will need to be purchased in order to proceed with this course. It is a page builder that allows you to build websites without any coding knowledge.
Let’s proceed to module 2!