Free Website Setup Checklist for WordPress.com



Step-by-step guide to set up your WordPress.com website efficiently.

1. Decide Your Website’s Purpose

  • Choose a goal for your website (e.g., blog, portfolio, online store, informational site).
  • Identify your target audience and primary content focus.

2. Sign Up for WordPress.com

  • Go to WordPress.com.
  • Create an account with your email address.
  • Verify your email to activate your account.

3. Choose a Plan

  • Free Plan: Great for testing and small personal projects.
  • Paid Plans: Choose from Personal, Premium, Business, or eCommerce for advanced features like custom domains, plugins, or monetization.

4. Select a Domain Name

  • Free Subdomain: Choose a domain like yourname.wordpress.com.
  • Custom Domain (Paid Plans): Use a unique domain name like www.yourname.com.
    • Make sure your domain reflects your website’s purpose.

5. Pick a Theme

  • Go to Appearance > Themes in the WordPress.com dashboard.
  • Browse free or premium themes.
  • Preview the theme and click Activate once you find the right one.

6. Customize Your Site Design

  • Navigate to Appearance > Customize.
    • Add your site title and tagline.
    • Customize colors, fonts, and layout.
  • Upload a logo or header image under Site Identity.

7. Add Key Pages

  • Common pages to include:
    • Home: Your main landing page.
    • About: Share your story or mission.
    • Contact: Include a form, email, or social links.
    • Blog: Set up a section for your posts (if applicable).
  • Create pages under Pages > Add New.

8. Write Your First Post

  • Go to Posts > Add New.
  • Create a blog post with a title, content, and images.
  • Use categories and tags to organize your posts.

9. Configure Basic Settings

  • Navigate to Settings > General to set:
    • Site title and tagline.
    • Language and time zone.
  • Go to Settings > Writing to adjust post defaults.
  • Configure your Homepage Settings to show a static page or your latest posts.

10. Set Up Your Menu

  • Go to Appearance > Menus.
  • Add pages, posts, or custom links to your menu.
  • Arrange them for easy navigation.

11. Integrate Social Media

  • Link your accounts under Tools > Marketing > Connections.
  • Add social media icons to your footer or sidebar.

12. Optimize for Search Engines

  • On Paid Plans:
    • Use SEO tools under Settings > Traffic.
    • Customize your site’s meta description.
  • Ensure your site is public under Settings > General > Privacy.

13. Review Your Site

  • Check your site’s appearance on desktop and mobile.
  • Test all links, forms, and functionality.

14. Publish Your Website

  • Once satisfied, click Publish to make your site live.
  • Share your website link on social media, emails, or business cards.

Bonus Tips

  • Regularly update your site content and themes.
  • Use WordPress.com’s built-in analytics to track your site’s performance.
  • Upgrade to a paid plan as your site grows for more features and flexibility.

This checklist ensures you’ve covered all the basics for a successful WordPress.com site launch!


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