Beginner WordPress Course

WordPress for Beginners

WordPress is a popular content management system that allows users to create and manage websites without writing every page from scratch.

In this beginner-friendly course, you will learn how to navigate the WordPress dashboard, configure important website settings and create content using pages, posts, categories and media.

You will also explore themes, plugins, menus, widgets, user accounts and basic website maintenance. By the end of the course, you will be able to create, customise and manage a functional WordPress website with a clear structure and professional appearance.

Beginner Level 15 Lessons Practical Activities Complete Website Project

Learning Outcomes

What you will be able to do after completing this course.

By the end of the course, you should be able to build, customise, publish and maintain a complete beginner-level WordPress website.

Explain what WordPress is and how a CMS works.
Understand WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
Log in to the administration dashboard securely.
Navigate the main dashboard sections.
Configure title, tagline, language and timezone.
Create, edit, publish and delete pages.
Create posts using categories and tags.
Use the block editor to arrange content.
Manage images and files in the Media Library.
Add alternative text, captions and descriptions.
Install, activate, customise and remove themes.
Use the Customizer or Site Editor.
Create and organise navigation menus.
Configure the homepage and posts page.
Install, update and remove plugins.
Understand common plugin categories.
Configure widgets or block-based sections.
Create and manage user accounts.
Understand WordPress user roles.
Configure readable permalink structures.
Create internal and external links.
Preview and test changes before publishing.
Update WordPress safely.
Create basic backups.
Apply basic administration security practices.
Resolve common beginner issues.
Review the website on multiple screen sizes.
Build and publish a complete WordPress website.

Course Roadmap

Follow the lessons in order or select a topic to review.

The course begins with WordPress fundamentals, then progresses through content creation, appearance, plugins, users, maintenance and troubleshooting.

What Is WordPress?

Understand WordPress and the purpose of a content management system.

Lesson objective: Explain how WordPress helps users create, organise and publish website content.

WordPress is a content management system, often shortened to CMS. A CMS provides an administration area where users can create pages, publish posts, upload media, control appearance and manage website settings.

WordPress.org

The self-hosted WordPress software. You arrange web hosting and install or manage WordPress on that hosting account.

WordPress.com

A hosted service that provides WordPress-based website plans with hosting and platform management included.

WordPress.org and WordPress.com comparison
Area	WordPress.org	WordPress.com
Hosting	Arranged separately	Included with the service plan
Control	Greater server and installation control	Depends on the selected plan
Maintenance	Managed by the site owner or host	More platform maintenance is managed for you

The WordPress dashboard may look slightly different depending on the installed version, theme, plugins and hosting provider.

Practice Activity

Describe the purpose of a content management system.
List two differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
Identify which option is used by your training website.

Logging In and Navigating the Dashboard

Access the administration area safely and locate important sections.

Lesson objective: Log in securely and identify the main WordPress administration tools.

Secure Login Practices

Use the correct administration URL supplied by the website owner.
Confirm that the login page uses HTTPS.
Use a unique password.
Enable two-factor authentication when available.
Do not share administrator accounts.
Sign out on shared computers.

Main Dashboard Sections

Common WordPress administration areas
Section	Purpose
Posts	Create and organise blog content
Media	Upload and manage images and files
Pages	Create permanent website content
Appearance	Manage themes, menus and presentation tools
Plugins	Add and manage website functionality
Users	Manage accounts and permissions
Settings	Configure general website behaviour

The admin toolbar provides shortcuts to the website front end, new content, comments and user-account settings.

Dashboard Exercise

Log in to a training WordPress website.
Open Posts, Pages, Media and Settings.
Use the admin toolbar to view the public website.
Return to the dashboard.
Sign out securely.

Configuring General Website Settings

Set the website identity, language, timezone and basic behaviour.

Lesson objective: Configure important settings before creating the main website content.

General Settings to Review

Site title
Tagline
Administration email address
Site language
Timezone
Date format
Time format
Week starting day

Reading Settings

The Reading settings control whether the homepage displays the latest posts or a selected static page. They can also specify which page is used as the blog posts page.

Discussion and Privacy

Review comment settings and select a privacy-policy page when the website requires one.

Do not change the WordPress Address or Site Address unless you understand the hosting and domain configuration. Incorrect values can make the website or dashboard inaccessible.

Settings Exercise

Update the training site's title and tagline.
Select the correct language.
Set the correct timezone.
Review the date and time formats.
Save the changes and inspect the front end.

Creating and Managing Pages

Build permanent sections such as Home, About and Contact.

Lesson objective: Create, edit, preview, publish, unpublish and delete WordPress pages.

Typical Website Pages

Home
About
Services
Contact
Privacy

Page Workflow

Open Pages and select Add New.
Enter a clear page title.
Add and arrange the content.
Review the permalink or page slug.
Set a featured image when the theme uses one.
Preview the page.
Publish when ready.
Update the page when changes are required.

Page Statuses

Common content states
Status	Meaning
Draft	Saved but not publicly published
Pending Review	Waiting for a user with publishing permission
Published	Available according to its visibility settings
Private	Visible only to permitted logged-in users
Trash	Removed from normal lists but recoverable until deleted permanently

Page Exercise

Create an About page.
Add a heading and two paragraphs.
Save it as a draft.
Preview the page.
Publish it.
Edit one paragraph and update the page.

Creating Posts, Categories and Tags

Organise frequently published content such as news and articles.

Lesson objective: Create blog posts and organise them using meaningful categories and optional tags.

Post Creation Workflow

Open Posts and select Add New.
Enter a descriptive title.
Add the article content.
Select a suitable category.
Add only useful tags.
Set a featured image.
Preview the post.
Publish immediately or schedule it.

Avoid creating many nearly identical categories and tags. A simple, consistent structure is easier for visitors and administrators.

Post Exercise

Create a category named News.
Create a post about a sample announcement.
Assign the News category.
Add one relevant tag.
Set a featured image.
Preview and publish the post.

Building Content with the Block Editor

Arrange text, images, buttons, columns and other content blocks.

Lesson objective: Use blocks to create clear and flexible page layouts.

Common Blocks

Heading
Paragraph
Image
Button
Columns
List
Gallery
Table

Block Editor Techniques

Add blocks using the block inserter.
Move blocks using drag controls or arrows.
Group related blocks.
Use List View to understand the page structure.
Change block alignment and width where supported.
Duplicate blocks to reuse a layout.
Remove unnecessary blocks.
Use headings in a logical order.

List View is especially useful when blocks are nested inside groups, columns or cover sections.

Block Layout Exercise

Create a new draft page.
Add a heading and paragraph.
Add a two-column section.
Place an image in one column and text in the other.
Add a button below the columns.
Use List View to inspect the structure.

Managing Images and Files in the Media Library

Upload, organise and describe media responsibly.

Lesson objective: Upload media and add suitable alternative text, captions and descriptions.

Media Information Fields

Common image fields
Field	Purpose
Alternative Text	Describes meaningful visual content for users who cannot see the image
Title	Administrative or attachment title
Caption	Optional text displayed with the image
Description	Additional attachment information when required

Media Best Practices

Use descriptive filenames before uploading.
Resize extremely large images.
Choose an appropriate file format.
Compress images without visibly damaging quality.
Add meaningful alternative text.
Do not place text only inside images when HTML text can be used.
Delete genuinely unused media carefully.

Deleting an item from the Media Library can break pages or posts that still use its file URL.

Media Exercise

Prepare a correctly sized image.
Rename it using a descriptive filename.
Upload it to the Media Library.
Add alternative text.
Add a caption.
Insert the image into a draft page.

Installing and Customising Themes

Control the overall design and presentation of the website.

Lesson objective: Install, activate, customise and remove WordPress themes safely.

Theme Actions

Open Appearance and Themes.
Review the active theme.
Preview another theme when available.
Install a suitable theme from a trusted source.
Activate the selected theme.
Review the public website.
Remove unused themes while keeping a suitable fallback theme.

Customizer and Site Editor

Depending on the active theme, appearance settings may be available through the Customizer, the Site Editor or theme-specific settings.

Site logo
Colours
Typography
Header and footer layouts
Template parts
Global styles
Homepage layout

Changing themes can alter menus, widgets, templates and page appearance. Back up the website and test important pages before changing the production theme.

Theme Exercise

Review the active training theme.
Preview another theme.
Change the site logo or site icon.
Adjust one colour or typography setting.
Review the website on desktop and mobile preview modes.

Configuring Menus, Homepage and Website Sections

Build a clear navigation structure and organise reusable content areas.

Lesson objective: Create navigation menus, select the homepage and configure widgets or block-based sections.

Menu Planning

Use short and descriptive labels.
Place the most important pages at the top level.
Use submenus only when they improve organisation.
Remove broken or duplicate links.
Assign the menu to the correct theme location.

Static Homepage Configuration

Create a Home page.
Create a separate Blog or News page.
Open the Reading settings.
Select a static homepage.
Assign the Home page as the homepage.
Assign the Blog page as the posts page.
Save and test both pages.

Widgets and Block Areas

Some themes provide widget areas such as sidebars and footers. Block themes may provide template parts and editable block-based areas through the Site Editor.

Navigation Exercise

Create a menu containing Home, About and Contact.
Arrange the links in a logical order.
Assign the menu to the primary navigation location.
Configure a static homepage.
Add one footer widget or footer block where supported.

Installing and Managing Plugins

Add website features without modifying WordPress core files.

Lesson objective: Install, activate, update, deactivate and remove plugins responsibly.

Common Plugin Categories

Security

Login protection, monitoring, firewall or hardening features.

Backup

Scheduled or manual copies of website files and databases.

SEO

Tools that help manage metadata, indexing and search presentation.

Contact Forms

Create and process contact or enquiry forms.

Performance

Caching, optimisation and asset-delivery features.

Analytics

Connect traffic measurement and reporting tools.

Plugin Evaluation Checklist

Install only from a trusted source.
Confirm that the plugin is actively maintained.
Read its requirements and documentation.
Check whether another installed plugin already provides the feature.
Create a backup before major plugin changes.
Test the website after activation or updates.
Remove inactive plugins that are no longer required.

Too many plugins can increase complexity and the chance of conflicts. Install only what the website genuinely needs.

Plugin Exercise

Install one approved training plugin.
Activate it.
Locate its settings.
Test its feature.
Deactivate and remove it when the exercise is complete.

Managing Users and WordPress Roles

Give each user only the permissions required for their work.

Lesson objective: Create user accounts and assign appropriate WordPress roles.

Common WordPress roles
Role	Typical Permission Level
Administrator	Full website administration access
Editor	Can manage and publish content from multiple users
Author	Can create and publish their own posts
Contributor	Can write posts but cannot publish them directly
Subscriber	Can manage their profile and access permitted member areas

User Management Principles

Create a separate account for each person.
Use the lowest suitable role.
Do not share administrator credentials.
Remove accounts that are no longer required.
Change the role when responsibilities change.
Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication where available.

Administrator access should be limited. Many routine content tasks do not require full administrative permission.

User Exercise

Create a test user with the Author role.
Log in using the test account.
Observe which dashboard sections are available.
Log out and return as Administrator.
Remove the test account when finished.

Configuring Permalinks and Website Links

Create readable URLs and useful internal navigation.

Lesson objective: Configure readable permalink structures and create internal and external links.

Readable Permalinks

A readable page or post URL is easier for visitors to understand than a URL containing only an internal numeric identifier.

Less descriptive:
https://example.com/?p=125

More descriptive:
https://example.com/wordpress-beginner-guide/

Internal and External Links

Internal Link

Connects visitors to another page or post on the same website.

External Link

Connects visitors to a page on another website.

Link Best Practices

Use descriptive link text.
Check that the destination is correct.
Avoid unnecessary new tabs.
Review links after renaming or deleting pages.
Use internal links to connect related content.

Changing the permalink structure on an established website can break existing links. Plan redirects before making major URL changes.

Link Exercise

Review the current permalink structure.
Create an internal link from the Home page to the About page.
Add one external resource link.
Preview and test both links.

Previewing and Testing Website Changes

Review content and layout before publishing or updating.

Lesson objective: Preview changes and inspect the website on desktop, tablet and mobile layouts.

Pre-Publish Review

Check the title and heading structure.
Proofread spelling and grammar.
Confirm that images load.
Check alternative text.
Test buttons and links.
Review spacing and alignment.
Confirm the correct featured image.
Review visibility and publication settings.

Responsive Testing

Desktop

Review wide layouts, menus, columns and large images.

Tablet

Check intermediate widths and touch-friendly navigation.

Mobile

Check text size, stacked layouts, menus and button spacing.

Use the editor preview as a guide, but also test the published or previewed page on a real mobile device.

Testing Exercise

Open a draft page.
Preview it on desktop, tablet and mobile modes.
Correct one spacing or alignment issue.
Open the preview on a real mobile browser.
Test all links and buttons.

Updating, Backing Up and Securing WordPress

Maintain the website safely after publication.

Lesson objective: Update WordPress core, themes and plugins safely while maintaining recoverable backups and basic security.

Safe Update Workflow

Review available updates.
Read important compatibility notices.
Create a current backup.
Update one group of components at a time.
Clear relevant caches.
Test the website and dashboard.
Check forms, menus and important pages.

Backup Components

WordPress database
Uploaded media
Themes
Plugins
Configuration files
Custom code

Basic Security Practices

Use strong and unique passwords.
Enable two-factor authentication where available.
Limit administrator accounts.
Remove unused themes and plugins.
Keep WordPress components updated.
Use HTTPS.
Review suspicious users and login activity.
Keep backups outside the public website folder.

A backup is useful only if it can be restored. Periodically test the backup and recovery process on a safe staging environment.

Maintenance Exercise

Create a backup of the training website.
Record pending updates.
Update one approved plugin.
Test the public website and dashboard.
Confirm that the backup remains available.

Resolving Common Beginner Problems

Use a structured process to identify and correct common issues.

Lesson objective: Diagnose broken menus, missing images, plugin conflicts and other common beginner problems.

Common WordPress problems
Problem	Common Checks
Broken menu	Menu assignment, deleted page, wrong URL or theme location
Missing image	Deleted media, wrong URL, permissions or mixed content
Plugin conflict	Recent activation, incompatible update or overlapping features
Page not visible	Draft status, visibility, cache or incorrect menu link
Layout changed	Theme update, block setting, plugin CSS or cache

Structured Troubleshooting Process

Record the exact problem and affected URL.
Check whether the issue affects one page or the whole website.
Review the most recent change.
Clear browser and website caches where appropriate.
Check content status, media and menu assignments.
Temporarily deactivate a suspected plugin on a safe test site.
Switch to a default theme on staging when testing theme conflicts.
Restore the most recent working backup if necessary.

Test risky changes on a staging website whenever possible. Do not deactivate critical plugins or change themes on a live website without a backup and recovery plan.

Troubleshooting Exercise

Create a test page and add it to a menu.
Move the page to Trash and observe the menu result.
Restore the page.
Repair the menu link if required.
Document the cause and solution.

Final Project: Build and Publish a WordPress Website

Apply the complete beginner WordPress workflow.

Project objective: Create, customise, organise, test and publish a complete basic WordPress website.

Project Requirements

Configure the site title and tagline.
Set the correct language and timezone.
Create Home, About, Services and Contact pages.
Create a separate Blog or News page.
Publish at least two blog posts.
Use at least two categories.
Add suitable featured images.
Add meaningful image alternative text.
Create a primary navigation menu.
Configure a static homepage.
Select and customise a suitable theme.
Install only the approved required plugins.
Create one non-administrator user.
Configure readable permalinks.
Add internal and external links.
Preview desktop, tablet and mobile layouts.
Create a backup before final publication.
Apply the basic security checklist.

Recommended Project Workflow

Configure
Create Pages
Publish Posts
Add Media
Customise
Build Menus
Test
Publish

Final Website Checklist

The homepage is configured correctly.
The navigation menu contains working links.
Pages use clear headings and readable content.
Posts use appropriate categories.
Images include alternative text.
The selected theme displays correctly.
Only required plugins are active.
User roles are appropriate.
Permalinks are readable.
The website works on desktop and mobile.
Forms and buttons work where included.
WordPress, themes and plugins are updated.
A current backup is available.

Complete the project on a training or staging website unless you have permission to modify the production site.

Congratulations!

You have completed WordPress for Beginners.

You can now navigate the WordPress dashboard, configure website settings, create pages and posts, manage media, customise themes, install plugins, organise menus, manage users and maintain a basic WordPress website.

15 Lessons Completed

WordPress Foundation Established

100% Progress Course Completed

Continue practising by managing a staging website, publishing regular content and following a consistent process for updates, backups, testing and security.

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