How to make a WordPress website
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How to make a WordPress website for DOG GROOMERS using the DIVI WordPress Theme. The design possibility’s are endless with a WordPress website. Start a blog for your dog or create a website for your dog business.
You will need
Web hosting
Web hosting, I use and recommend using SiteGround. The dashboard is a simple and easy layout to use.
WordPress
Divi WordPress Theme
Divi is a WordPress theme and also a visual page builder in one. With hundreds of pre-mage website templates to choose from. There are lots of dog business themed website templates and everything else you can think of.
Step 1. Web Hosting & Domain Name
Web hosting is the service that allows you to display your website on the internet, kind of like your little space on the internet. You need to rent this space from the web hosting company in order to display your website.
A domain name is the address of your website, it is the name that you type into the URL bar of your browser to find your website. You can purchase your domain name from the hosting company.
Step 2. Install WordPress
WordPress is a content management system CMS, which basically means software which is easy to use, you don’t need codes to make a website. WordPress is free, however you need hosting to be able to use it on the internet.
At SiteGround it is just a click of a button and Wordpress is installed, that easy!
Step 3. SSL
From your SiteGround dashboard
- Click on SSL manager
- Select SSL
- Let's encrypt
Adding the SSL to your website will give your website the padlock in the browser at the top of the screen before your website address (domain name).
Step 4. WordPress Dashboard
Within the WordPress dashboard, you can change the settings.
- Click on Settings down in the left hand side panel
- You can change the site title here, to usually your business name
- The time and date etc can also be changed here
- Save any settings which you change
- Still within the settings, find PERMALINKS and check the post name is one selected and save
Step 5. Install Divi WordPress Theme
Once you have purchased the WordPress Theme from Divi, from your WordPress dashboard go to
- Appearance
- Themes
- Upload Divi WordPress Theme
Activate Divi WordPress Theme
Activate the WordPress theme.
Create pages
From the WordPress dashboard create the pages for your WordPress website you need. To do this
- Find pages down the left hand column
- Add New and give each page a title
- Click Use Divi Builder
Choose your WordPress website template from Divi
Next to bring in the Divi WordPress website template choose a pre-made layout. This will take you through to the template library where you can choose ANY website template to work from. Click use this layout to start customising the template with your photo’s and writing using the visual website builder. Divi have lots of dog business website templates to choose from including a dog grooming website template. If you don’t like the website template thats fine there are hundreds of others to choose from. The hairdresser website template is a good one. Just be creative once you add your business name and photos you can soon make the website template your own unique design.
Step 6. Pages
It is up to you how many pages you need for your WordPress website. I will use a dog grooming website as an example of the main ones dog groomers would need –
- Home
- About
- Services
- Photo gallery
- Contact
HOME PAGE – This is your showcase of what you have to offer, where you are, what you are and who you are.
ABOUT – You can go into more detail about who you are the experience you have within the industry, qualifications, what you specialise in.
SERVICES – What services do you provide, dog grooming, cat grooming or both, collection and delivery, mobile or salon, all breeds, you may want to put prices on this page too or prices from.
PHOTO GALLERY – A photo gallery is always a great page to have on a pet grooming website to show off your skills. A before and after photo gallery is worth having too.
CONTACT – You need a contact page so clients can book appointments and make enquiries. The busier you get with the grooming, the more you will realise that the more information you have on the website the better.
Step 7. Add Plugins (Free)
Plugins for your website are the building blocks which work important features like the contact form, and SEO. There are hundreds of free plugins available. There is usually a free and a premium version. You can add any plugin you like into the website but if you end up not using it then delete it completely from the website. If you buy a premium plugin you will have to upload it, go to > plugins > add new > upload plugin then usually > activate and you may need a licence key (its easy to do)
The extra free plugins I add are –
Yoast SEO or RankMath
Cookie Notice
Wordfence (Security for the site)
Updraftplus (back up)
Go to the DASHBOARD
> Plugins
> ADD NEW
search for the plugins > Install > activate All plugins have settings too, go to > plugins at the bottom of each plugin will be settings, click on the settings and follow the instructions.
