Think about all the websites you’ve ever visited; about 43.1% of them use WordPress. That means about 4 of every 10 websites you visit use WordPress. WordPress has the largest share of the market and a large community, so you’ll never get stranded using their services.

Since its inception in 2003, the CMS (Content Management System) has evolved to help businesses and individuals create websites without coding skills. In this piece, we’ll explain the nitty-gritty of WordPress website development and everything you need to know before getting started.

Why Choose WordPress for Your Website?

Not all businesses are created equal, which leaves room for taste, preferences, capabilities, and whatnot. But because website building used to be a technical, complex and boring task, WordPress became the messiah. It allows you to quickly and swiftly create a new website without knowing most of the technical jargon or spending six months learning a new programming language.

Aside from being easy to use and manage, WordPress is also one of the most cost-effective means of building a site. So, how much does it cost to build a WP website? Well, the software itself is completely free, so all you need to do is download and install add-ons to make some modifications. Although there are inevitable costs from domain and hosting, the bulk has already been removed or reduced for you. Here are some reasons you might want to consider developing a website with WordPress.

● WordPress’ popularity and ease of use.

● It’s flexible and can be used by both beginners and professionals.

● Extensive plugin and theme support.

● SEO-friendly features.

● Community support and resources.

WordPress Development Costs in 2024

Yes, WordPress itself is free software, as we mentioned earlier. But you might have to spend extra money depending on your scale, industry, and quality demands. Generally, below are the key areas you’d probably be spending on.

Free vs. Paid Themes

Themes are the foundation upon which you build your website. They contribute a lot to how to build a WordPress site. They can either be free or paid—the choice is yours. An average paid theme costs between $0 and $200, but it can be higher depending on the features and design quality.

Plugin Costs (Essential vs. Premium)

Plugins can help add more features to your website themes, so they sometimes come with a price tag. The prices vary based on the software and its essentiality to your website (the average range is between $15 and $200). There are also one-time and recurring payment plugins, so make sure you choose the right one.

Domain Name and Hosting

If you already have a domain name, you can shop around for hosting options on WordPress. If not, you can also find domain+ hosting packages to save money. You can host for as little as $5, but the specific cost depends on the type of website. Domain variations like .com, .au, .net, .org, etc., can cost different amounts and serve different purposes, so make sure you select the right one for creating a WordPress website for your business.

Custom Development

If your website requires some modifications to the custom codes or adding advanced integrations, you might incur extra costs by hiring an agency or developer.

Pro Tip: Some factors can also influence the costs when developing with WordPress, especially if you have high specifications. Some of them include the size of the site, design complexity, advanced integrations, or whether it’s an e-commerce or informational site.

Components to Consider Before You Start Building a WordPress Site

Now that you know the costs, now’s time to know those lifeline components you must consider to create a successful site. Below are the most important components you’ll find in every guide you read on how to build a WordPress website.

Domain Name and Hosting

Your domain name is your website’s address on the Internet. We recommend choosing a short, memorable domain name that matches your business name or a relevant business keyword. You can get a domain name from popular registrars like GoDaddy and Namecheap or through hosting providers like Bluehost.

Web hosting is the storage space where your WordPress files are kept and how your site becomes accessible on the internet. When choosing hosting, it could be shared or managed. Shared hosting is the most affordable but might also slow down your site since limited features are shared with other websites. Managed WordPress hosting is more pricey but will get you faster performance, automatic updates, and better security.

Themes

Themes are your next big decision after setting up the domain and hosting. They determine the look and feel of your WordPress website, so it’s important you choose the best ones—design and functionality-wise. A good theme should be responsive and easily adapt to devices like smartphones and tablets. You should also consider customizations, e.g., the drag-and-drop builder like Elementor or a flexible theme that allows advanced custom coding.

Pro Tip: Choose a lightweight theme that won’t bog down your site’s speed, as the performance can affect your SEO and user experience.

Plugins

Plugins allow you to increase the functionality of your website without needing to write custom code. For example, they can effortlessly help you add features like forms, galleries, and e-commerce solutions. So, plugin tools like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache improve load times and optimize resources. In contrast, others like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can boost your website’s visibility with SEO tools for content optimization, meta descriptions, and keyword analysis.

Security Measures

The internet is full of threats, so adding security measures is a priority when creating a WordPress website. The most basic step is to enable an SSL certificate to protect your site visitors’ data and sensitive information, especially for e-commerce websites. Also, make sure you always update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins and automate your site backups to prevent data loss.

Conclusion

WordPress is one of the easiest and fastest ways to create a website without coding skills or knowledge. If you’ve read this guide, then you’re well equipped with the cost and important factors to consider on your journey to building your website. Happy building!