How to Start a WordPress Website: A Step-by-Step Guide

What do you need to start a WordPress website?

You need three things: a domain name (your address, such as yourbusiness.co.uk), web hosting (a computer that serves your site to visitors) and the WordPress software, which is free and open source. You'll also want a theme for the design and a few hours to set things up.

WordPress is the most widely used website software in the world. W3Techs, which surveys the web, reported WordPress running on 39.5% of all websites on 1 November 2026. That popularity matters to you: it means plenty of hosts, themes, plugins and help.

Not sure whether you want the free software or the hosted WordPress.com service? Read WordPress.com vs WordPress.org first. This guide covers self-hosted WordPress from WordPress.org.

Step 1: How do you choose a domain name?

Choose something short, easy to spell and easy to say out loud. For a UK business or organisation, a .co.uk or .uk address tells visitors where you're based. Avoid hyphens and numbers if you can, and check the name isn't someone else's trade mark. Many hosts include a domain free for the first year; otherwise you can register one with any domain registrar and point it at your host.

Step 2: Which hosting do you need?

Any host that meets WordPress's recommended requirements will run it: PHP 8.3 or greater, MySQL 8.0 or greater or MariaDB 10.11 or greater, and HTTPS support. For most new sites, a shared or "managed WordPress" plan from a reputable host is plenty. Look for automatic daily backups, free SSL certificates, UK or European data centres and helpful support. Our guide to choosing WordPress hosting in the UK has a checklist of questions to ask.

Step 3: How do you install WordPress?

Nearly every host offers a one-click installer. In cPanel it's usually under Softaculous or WordPress Manager; managed WordPress hosts often install it for you when you sign up. You'll be asked for:

• Your site's address (choose the https:// version).
• A site title, which you can change later.
• An admin username, a strong password and your email address. Don't use "admin" as the username.

When it's done, log in at yoursite.co.uk/wp-admin/. This is the WordPress dashboard, where you'll manage everything.

Step 4: How do you choose a theme?

Your theme controls the look of the whole site: layout, colours, fonts, header and footer. You can install one from the free WordPress theme directory, upload a theme .zip, or design your own in our theme builder and upload that. Modern block themes let you change every part of the design in Appearance › Editor without code.

To upload a theme, go to Appearance › Themes › Add Theme › Upload Theme, choose the .zip, click Install Now and then Activate. The full steps, and fixes for upload errors, are in how to install a WordPress theme from a .zip.

Step 5: Which pages does a new website need?

Start small. Most sites launch with four to six pages:

• Home: who you are, what you offer and what visitors should do next.
• About: the people behind the site, and why visitors should trust you.
• Services, products or articles: the main reason people visit.
• Contact: a form, email address or phone number.
• Privacy policy: WordPress includes a draft in Settings › Privacy that you can edit.

If your site uses analytics or advertising cookies, UK law (PECR) requires you to tell people what the cookies do and get their consent, unless the cookies are strictly necessary. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) guidance on cookies explains the rules.

Step 6: Which settings should you change first?

A few settings are much easier to get right before you publish: your site title and tagline, time zone and date format, the permalink style (use "Post name"), and the search engine visibility box. Our guide to settings to change after installing WordPress goes through each one.

Step 7: How do you launch and look after it?

Before you tell anyone about the site, check every page on a phone, test your contact form and make sure "Discourage search engines" is unticked in Settings › Reading. Then set up the routine that keeps a site healthy:

• Turn on backups, and check you can restore one. See how to back up WordPress.
• Keep WordPress, plugins and themes updated. See how to update plugins safely.
• Use strong passwords and two-step login. See WordPress security basics.

Where to go next

Download our free new website launch checklist, design your theme, or browse the rest of the start a WordPress website guides.