Creating a website has never been more accessible, thanks to the power of WordPress and its Gutenberg editor. WordPress is a versatile content management system (CMS) that powers over 40% of the internet, making it a popular choice for individuals and businesses. The Gutenberg editor, introduced in WordPress 5.0, revolutionized content creation with its block-based approach. This guide will show you how to leverage these tools to create a free WordPress website, focusing on using the Gutenberg editor and free resources. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, this comprehensive WordPress setup guide will help you build a professional-looking site without breaking the bank.
To start building your free WordPress website, you need a reliable hosting provider. WordPress.com offers free plans that include a WordPress subdomain (e.g., yoursite.wordpress.com), which is perfect for beginners. This free hosting solution provides essential features like customizable themes and basic design tools, making it an ideal starting point for personal projects or small business websites.
The free plan from WordPress.com includes 3 GB of storage space, a selection of customizable themes, and access to basic design tools. While it may not offer the full range of features found in paid plans, it is sufficient for setting up a simple website. If you prefer a custom domain, you can either upgrade to a paid plan or purchase a domain from a registrar and link it to your WordPress.com site.
Most hosting providers, including WordPress.com, offer a one-click installation feature for WordPress. This process simplifies the setup by automatically handling the technical aspects, such as database creation and server configuration. This feature is particularly useful for those new to website creation, ensuring a quick and easy start to building your site.
If your hosting provider does not offer a one-click installation, you can manually install WordPress. Start by downloading the WordPress package from WordPress.org, uploading the files to your web server using an FTP client like FileZilla, and creating a MySQL database for WordPress. This method provides more control over the setup process and is useful for advanced users.
The Gutenberg editor is a game-changer in content creation, allowing users to add and arrange blocks to build their pages. This block-based system enables you to create rich, multimedia content without needing to write code. Whether you’re adding text, images, or videos, each piece of content is a block that can be customized and styled to fit your needs.
The block-based approach of the Gutenberg editor simplifies the process of designing a website. It offers an intuitive interface where you can drag and drop blocks, making it accessible for both WordPress beginners and experienced developers. This modular approach also means you can easily rearrange content and experiment with different layouts.
Familiarizing yourself with the Gutenberg interface is crucial for efficient content creation. The editor is divided into the content area, where you add and arrange blocks, and the sidebar, where you can customize each block’s settings. The block inserter, accessed via the plus (+) icon, allows you to browse and add various types of blocks, including headings, paragraphs, images, and galleries.
For this guide, we will focus on Kemet theme, a free, Gutenberg theme that offers a range of customization options. Kemet is designed to work seamlessly with Gutenberg, providing a lightweight and flexible foundation for your website.
After installing the Kemet theme, use the WordPress Customizer to personalize your site’s appearance. You can adjust colors, fonts, and layouts in real-time, ensuring that your website matches your brand’s identity.
The Customizer also allows you to set up your site’s header and footer, adding elements like logos, navigation menus, and social media icons.
Navigate to Appearance > Customize > Header. Here, you can add your logo, adjust the navigation menu, and customize the header layout. You can also add elements like a search bar, social media icons, and call-to-action buttons.
Navigate to Appearance > Customize > Footer. You can customize the footer layout by adding widgets such as Gutenberg Contact Form Block, social media links, and custom text. The Kemet theme allows you to create multiple footer columns and style them to match your site’s design.
Premium Blocks is a plugin that extends the capabilities of the Gutenberg editor by adding a variety of advanced blocks. Premium Blocks, created by Leap13, provide distinctive features that assist you in producing more interactive and visually appealing content. These blocks include sliders, accordions, tabs, and more, providing tools to build sophisticated layouts without needing additional plugins. By incorporating Premium Blocks, you can elevate the functionality and aesthetics of your website, making it more engaging for visitors.
To install Premium Blocks, navigate to Plugins > Add New in the WordPress dashboard, search for “Premium Blocks,” and click Install Now and Activate. Once activated, Premium Blocks integrates seamlessly with Gutenberg, adding new blocks to the block inserter.
Premium Blocks also comes with several Global Features that enhance the overall functionality and ease of use:
Creating content with Gutenberg involves adding pages and posts, the primary types of content in WordPress. To add a new page or post, navigate to Pages > Add New or Posts > Add New in the WordPress dashboard. Use the block inserter to add different types of content blocks, such as headings, paragraphs, images, and galleries. For example, you can use Gutenberg Image Block and Image Separator Block to add pictures, Gutenberg Gallery Block to create image galleries, and Gutenberg Video Box Block to embed videos from various sources. Organize these blocks to create engaging and structured content. Pages are typically used for static content like About Us or Contact pages, while posts are used for blog entries and news updates. Understanding the distinction between pages and posts helps in organizing your site’s content effectively.
Gutenberg offers a wide range of blocks to facilitate content creation. Premium Blocks offers enhanced blocks to further enrich your content. include Gutenberg Text Block for text, Gutenberg Heading Block for section titles, and Gutenberg Bullet List Block for bulleted lists. Additionally, Premium Blocks offers enhanced blocks to further enrich your content. Gutenberg Pricing Table Block can be used to display pricing plans in a structured and visually appealing manner. Gutenberg Animated Text Block adds dynamic text animations to capture the attention of your visitors. By combining these blocks, you can create dynamic and engaging content that enhances the user experience.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for increasing your site’s visibility. Optimize your content by using relevant keywords in titles, headings, and text. Additionally, add meta descriptions and alt text for images to improve search engine indexing.
Create a sitemap and submit it to search engines like Google to ensure your site is indexed properly. Implementing these basic SEO practices helps drive organic traffic to your website, increasing its reach and effectiveness.
Website speed impacts user experience and SEO rankings.
Creating a free WordPress website using the Gutenberg editor is straightforward and accessible. By following these steps, you can set up, customize, and enhance your site with tools like Premium Blocks and the Kemet theme. This guide provides everything you need to build a functional and visually appealing website at no cost. Start building your online presence today and explore the endless possibilities of WordPress and Gutenberg.
