Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Start Here: The Ultimate WordPress Beginner’s Tutorial (Inspired by r/WordPress)

Posted on October 07, 2025 by  with No comments

 

WordPress powers more than 40% of the internet, but beginners often get stuck on the same set of questions: Which host should I choose? Why is my site slow? Should I use Elementor, Divi, or a custom theme? How do I stop spam?

Luckily, the WordPress community on Reddit has compiled one of the most practical “getting started” guides. In this tutorial, we’ll expand on that popular thread, add real-world context, and walk you step by step through the essentials.

Whether you’re a business owner launching your first website, a freelancer building sites for clients, or a blogger looking to optimize your performance, this post will equip you with the knowledge you need.

1. WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org — Know the Difference

One of the most confusing starting points is the .com vs. .org debate.

  • WordPress.org is the free, open-source software. You download it, host it yourself, and have complete freedom to install plugins, themes, or even edit the core.
  • WordPress.com is a hosted service built on top of WordPress.org. It has free and paid plans but restricts features (like plugin installation) unless you upgrade.

 Takeaway: If you’re serious about flexibility, go with WordPress.org. Buy your own hosting, install WordPress, and unlock the full ecosystem.

2. Hosting — Where Should You Host?

Your host can make or break your site’s speed and reliability.

  • Shared Hosting (cheap, but slow and resource-limited).
  • VPS / Cloud Hosting (scalable, better performance).
  • Dedicated Hosting (expensive, but powerful for enterprise sites).

Community-recommended hosts:

  • DigitalOcean
  • Cloudways
  • SiteGround

 Pro Tip: Start small (e.g., SiteGround or Cloudways) and scale as your traffic grows.

3. Performance — Why Is My Site Slow?

A common frustration: “My PageSpeed score is terrible!”

Here are the biggest levers:

Optimize Images

  • Don’t upload 6000px photos when your layout maxes out at 1200px.
  • Convert images to WebP format with ~75–80% compression.
  • Plugins: Smush, Optimole, or WebP Converter for Media .

Enable Lazy Loading

Since WordPress 5.3, lazy loading for images/iframes is built in. If it’s not working, try plugins like A3 Lazy Load or WP Rocket Lazy Load.

Use Caching & CDN

  • Server caching + Cloudflare = faster load times.
  • Popular plugins: LiteSpeed Cache, WP Rocket, Autoptimize.
  • Always test minification — it can break sites.

Advanced Optimization

  • Asset CleanUp: Disable unnecessary CSS/JS per page.
  • Query Monitor: Identify slow queries.
  • Debloat Plugin: Remove unused WordPress features.

 Case Example: A Reddit user went from PageSpeed 30 to 90+ simply by resizing images, switching to WebP, and enabling caching.

4. Building Your WordPress Site — Themes & Builders

One of the hottest debates: Elementor vs. Divi vs. Bricks vs. Gutenberg.

Options:

  • Page Builders: Elementor, Divi, Bricks. Great for beginners who want drag-and-drop.
  • Block Editor (Full Site Editing): Twenty Twenty-Four theme + Gutenberg. Lightweight, future-proof.
  • Custom Code: For developers who want total control.

 Recommendation: If you’re non-technical, start with Elementor or Bricks. If you want speed and minimal bloat, go Gutenberg + block themes.

5. Updates — Stay Current

WordPress sites get hacked when site owners ignore updates.

  • Update plugins, themes, and core monthly (fortnightly is even better).
  • Avoid abandoned plugins with no updates in 2+ years.

6. Backups — Your Insurance Policy

Imagine waking up to find your site hacked or your host crashed. Without backups, you’re done.

Backup strategies:

  • UpdraftPlus Plugin: Schedule daily/weekly backups to Google Drive, Dropbox, or AWS.
  • Hosting-based Backups: Choose a host that automatically backs up.
  • Manual Backups: Use cPanel before big updates.

 Never store backups on the same server as your site!

7. Security — Protect Your Website

Practical steps:

  • Keep WordPress updated.
  • Use Wordfence for malware/firewall protection.
  • Don’t use nulled plugins/themes (GPLDL sources).
  • Use reCAPTCHA or Cloudflare Turnstile for forms.

8. Combating Spam & Bots

Redditors recommend:

  • Disable comments if you don’t need them.
  • Add captchas.
  • Plugins: Advanced Google reCAPTCHA, Cloudflare Turnstile, CleanTalk (paid but effective).

9. Hacks & Malware Recovery

If you get hacked:

  • Restore from backup.
  • Scan with Wordfence or GOTMLS.
  • Harden security afterward. If you have no backup… prepare for long nights of cleanup.

10. Learning Resources — Where to Get Better at WordPress

 A bit of PHP, JavaScript, and CSS goes a long way in WordPress freelancing.

11. Plugins — Where to Find & Which to Trust

  • First stop: WordPress Plugin Repository.
  • Premium marketplace: CodeCanyon (one-time payment).
  • Be cautious with third-party “GPL” download sites — 90% chance of malware.

12. Pricing — How Much Should You Charge?

Reddit consensus: “It depends.”

  • Rates vary by country, skill level, and project scope.
  • Research “[your country] web developer rates.”
  • Learn pricing models: hourly, fixed, or value-based.

13. Is a Site Using WordPress? How to Check

  • View source code → look for /wp-content/ or /wp-json.
  • Use tools like IsItWP, Wappalyzer, or BuiltWith.

FAQs (from Reddit + Expanded)

Q1: Should I use Elementor or Gutenberg? If you want easy drag-and-drop and don’t mind some bloat, Elementor is fine. If you want speed and the future of WordPress, Gutenberg is the better bet.

Q2: Is free hosting worth it? No. Free hosting is unreliable, slow, and insecure. Always invest in at least shared paid hosting.

Q3: Should I buy plugins from GPL sites? No. You’ll risk malware, Google blacklisting, and losing client trust.

Q4: My WordPress site is slow, where do I start?

  1. Upgrade hosting.
  2. Optimize images.
  3. Enable caching + CDN.
  4. Audit plugins for bloat.

Final Thoughts

The Reddit WordPress megathread distilled years of community knowledge into one guide. By following these steps — choosing the right host, optimizing performance, keeping backups, securing your site, and learning continuously — you’ll not only avoid beginner mistakes but also set yourself up for long-term WordPress success.

If you’re a developer, freelancer, or business owner struggling with WordPress, this is your roadmap. Bookmark it, revisit it, and most importantly: start implementing one step at a time.

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