If you’re thinking of switching to WordPress, you’ll be glad to know that it offers more customization options than other blogging platforms.
“I’ve heard so much about WordPress, but I’m not sure how to make the most of it. Can you show me how to get started?”
If that sounds just like you… then, sure, let’s dive in to see how best to experience WordPress. It’s an amazing platform with endless possibilities! In fact, this blog is created on WordPress!
1. WordPress Playground (Official sandbox)
WordPress Playground allows anyone to experience a WordPress setup that runs entirely in a browser.
It’s the quickest way to try out WordPress today. Once you access playground.wordpress.net, you will be taken to a fresh build of WordPress. There, you will get to know all aspects of this operating system of the web, from admin view, to page/post editor, and the front-end.
You even have the freedom to try all of these:
- Applying WordPress blocks and patterns.
- Installing WordPress plugins and themes.
- Testing different kinds of setup conditions.
- Download/Restore your site and data, and so much more!
2. Using LocalWP (Free & powerful)
LocalWP is a software program. It means you have to install it on your own computer, so it’s like a dedicated helper for your website.
It creates “local copies” of your website. Think of it like having a practice website you can play around with on your computer, separate from the live version online.
As an all-you-can-do software, LocalWP allows you to do all of these stuff within its free scope:
- Test new themes, plugins, changes, and custom codes without affecting your real website. It’s like having a safe playground to experiment and learn without risking anything.
- Allow you to choose your preferred environment, including PHP versions and types of databases like MariaDB or MySQL.
- You can connect to multiple hosts, such as local, Flywheel and WP Engine.
- Your WordPress sites and data are stored forever as they are hosted on your computer hard drive.
- It works perfectly on Windows, Mac Intel, Mac Apple Silicon, and Linux operating systems.
- Fancy feature: It’s not literally local, but provides Live Links that enable you to turn your locally-built site into a working viewable site for testing across multiple devices. Just send your team members the live link and its credentials, and then they will see your whole work instantly!
Once you’re happy with your changes, you can easily transfer them to your live website. It’s like finalizing your edits in your practice space before going live with them in front of everyone.
So, to summarize, LocalWP is a desktop tool that helps you manage, test, and develop your WordPress websites safely and conveniently without messing up your live site.
3. Using TasteWP (Free with premade templates)
If you just want a quick look and don’t care much about trying on plugins and themes, then, simply try TasteWP. It is one of my favourite choices to spin up a new site. You can enter the WordPress sandbox without having to create an account, however, logged-in users will have a longer duration for storing their sites. So, with a free account, your working copy can last for up to 7 days.
With TasteWP, installing plugins can be limited as it prevents certain functionalities from working on its shared environment. These can include:
- Unable to send emails or use SMTP plugins.
- Limited user roles and data.
- Each site is limited to 1GB of storage (unless you upgrade to a paid plan).
Overall, TasteWP provides a valuable entry point for beginners to test basic WordPress functionalities, but its limitations are important to consider. If you need more advanced features, longer testing periods, or complete access to your site’s environment, you might need to explore alternative local development solutions like LocalWP.
4. Using ZipWP
ZipWP offers a forever free plan for you to get started or test how WordPress works.
Once logged in, you will be able to quickly spin an instant WordPress website.
You can create a new blank site or a full-fledged site with tailored content powered by AI and your idea input.
Quick note: It also allows you to create and test a multisite network. FYI – a WordPress multisite is a group of websites that share a common domain name, such as myamazingsite.com, us.myamazingsite.com, shop.myamazingsite.com, etc.
Within ZipWP, you have a centralized dashboard of multiple sites that you’ve created. And once entering an individual site, you will see the regular WordPress admin dashboard.
As your WordPress draft will expire in 24 hours, it’s advisable to copy or migrate it to another host. Yet it may require technical knowledge. So, for your best usage, you can export the list of created pages, posts, media and content, so you can import them to another WordPress site.
5. Using InstaWP (Cloud-based)
InstaWP provides a free forever plan for you to test drive the service before upgrading to a paid plan. You’re allowed to create 3 temporary sites and they expire after 7 days of usage.
On premium plans, it offers transfering your Shopify store to WooCommerce. If this is your interest, the InstaWP is backed by a full-fledged resource of plugins and themes. Especially, you will find a unique WordPress ecommerce themes in their growing template hub.
Wrapping up – Thoughts on building with WordPress for no-code users
After giving WordPress a whirl using the recommended methods above, you may now have an informed decision.
If you wish to proceed to building with WordPress, here are our recommendations:
1. Choose a managed WordPress hosting
- Reduced technical burden: Managed hosting providers take care of server maintenance, security updates, and backups, allowing no-code users to focus on creating content.
- Pre-installed WordPress: Many managed hosting plans come with WordPress pre-installed, eliminating the need for manual installation.
- One-click installation: Some providers offer one-click installation of popular themes and plugins, further simplifying the setup process.
2. Use drag-and-drop page builders
- Visual interface: Drag-and-drop page builders like Elementor, Divi Layouts, and Beaver Builder allow creating beautiful and complex layouts without any coding knowledge.
- Wide range of pre-designed templates: Choose from a vast library of pre-designed templates for various purposes, saving you time and effort.
- Intuitive editing tools: Easily edit text, images, and other content elements using a visual interface.
3. Explore free WordPress themes
- Thousands of options: WordPress offers a vast collection of free themes in its official directory, catering to diverse styles and functionalities.
- Easy installation and customization: Most themes allow easy installation and basic customization options within the WordPress dashboard.
- Starter point for further customization: Choose a theme that aligns with your vision and use plugins for further customization if needed.
4. Leverage user-friendly plugins
- Extend functionality without coding: Plugins add various functionalities to your WordPress site, like contact forms, galleries, SEO optimization, and social media integrations, all without coding.
- Wide range of free and paid options: Choose from a large selection of free and premium plugins based on your specific needs and budget.
- Beginner-friendly interfaces: Many plugins offer user-friendly interfaces and step-by-step guides for easy setup and configuration.
5. Utilize online resources and tutorials
- Abundant learning materials: There are tons of free online resources and tutorials dedicated to teaching WordPress for beginners and no-code users.
- Step-by-step guides and video tutorials: Learn about specific tasks, from creating content to managing plugins, through detailed guides and video tutorials.
- Communities and forums: Connect with other WordPress users in online communities and forums to ask questions and learn from their experiences.
Check out these Facebook groups that we’ve found particularly helpful:
- WordPress Explained – Help for Beginners: A good place to start engaging regarding WordPress
- Woo Community: Best group for those who aim to build ecommerce sites with WordPress/WooCommerce. In this group, you will receive serious answers once asked.
- Niche Website Builders: See how the creators progress over time. You will also see many acquisition potentials here.
- WordPress Experts: Well, this is for when you have more advanced questions or need custom-built functionalities.