Is WordPress Easy to Learn? A Beginner’s Guide

Powering more than 43% of the Internet, WordPress is a popular choice when it comes to building websites. Website owners are drawn to this platform for many reasons, including that it is free and open-source, flexible, and user-friendly. 

But is it easy to learn? There are no simple yes or no answers, as it depends on the goals of the user, whether they are building a simple blog or a complex, e-commerce store. 

This article breaks down the WordPress learning curve into three manageable phases, clarifying what tasks are easy to learn quickly and what tasks require more time, so you start your WordPress journey confidently with the right expectations. 

Phase 1: WordPress Quick Start

In this first phase of becoming familiar with and learning how to use WordPress, the focus is on getting a basic site up and running, including publishing content. There is no coding involved and minimal effort is required to get started. 

• Installation and Setup: It is easy to begin with WordPress as most modern hosting services provide one-click WordPress installation. Installation and initial setup take about 5-10 minutes total. It’s a very simple process to get started with WordPress through Pressable; we pre-install WordPress on new sites. 
• Basic Navigation: WordPress beginners are able to quickly grasp the features on the main dashboard including posts, pages, media, and settings. Basic navigation can be figured out in about 30 minutes.
• Content Creation (Gutenberg Editor): The Gutenberg Editor used to create content is intuitive and functions much like Google Docs thanks to its block-based approach to content. It lets you build new pages, posts, and add basic images. With an hour or two of practice, you can quickly master the basics.
• Theme Selection: WordPress makes it easy to choose and activate one of its pre-built themes. 

WordPress beginners discover that understanding the basics comes quickly and they are able to launch a simple, functional website in an afternoon. Most beginners can publish their first post in under an hour.

Phase 2: Gaining More Control of WordPress Fundamentals

As WordPress users grow more confident and experienced with the platform’s essential tools, they move into the second phase of learning. This phase focuses on greater customization, adding essential functionality, and managing the site’s overall health. Many new tools are explored but coding is not yet a consideration.

• Theme Customizer and Site Editor: These tools allow you to change colors, fonts, and headers on your site. Learning to use Theme Customizer and Site Editor both require a process of trial and error.
• Plugin Management: Being able to manage WordPress plugins (including basics such as SEO, security, and contact forms) and configure them correctly is an intermediate-level skill that requires research and evaluation. When learning to manage plugins, much of the focus is on learning to evaluate plugins critically and knowing when fewer plugins improve performance and stability. 
• Security and Backups: Learning to configure essential security measures (such as 2FA and strong passwords) and automating backup systems are essential WordPress skills to learn. Pressable offers additional security support for beginners with its free Jetpack plugin, as well as core updates, malware protection, and automated daily backups for you.
• SEO Basics: Another valuable area for WordPress skills development  is installing an SEO plugin (such as Yoast or Rank Math) and learning to fill in meta titles, descriptions, and focus keywords.

The learning curve for this second phase of WordPress learning can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks of active use, research, and reading through tutorials.

Phase 3: Advanced WordPress Functionality

Once you have mastered the platform’s fundamentals, you are ready to explore the wider universe of functionality that makes WordPress so attractive to so many site owners. Phase 3 focuses on building custom solutions, implementing advanced integrations (such as connecting WooCommerce to an ERP), and troubleshooting problems. At this stage, coding becomes an important part of the WordPress skills being learned.

• Ecommerce and Membership Sites: Setting up and configuring WooCommerce (which touches on shipping, taxes, and payment gateways) or complex membership plugins are very detailed projects that require strong knowledge of the WordPress platform.
• Troubleshooting: Advanced WordPress users focus on diagnosing plugin conflicts, server errors, and debugging errors that result in displaying blank, white screens rather than content. Reviewing logs and using developer tools are skills to develop your troubleshooting capabilities.
• Advanced Customization: Learning advanced WordPress customizations involves creating custom templates, writing Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) or design changes, and utilizing the WordPress REST API. Coding skills come into play with advanced customization, especially working with HTML, CSS, Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), and JavaScript.
• Custom Feature Development: Advanced users learn to build custom plugins or themes. This requires developing a working knowledge of the PHP scripting language and an understanding of the WordPress action/filter system.

With so many customization tools available to learn, WordPress users approach Phase 3 as an ongoing process of constant learning. Achieving a mastery of any of these areas can take six months or more and often requires specialized training or hiring a developer for assistance.

Starting Your WordPress Journey

When it comes to basic website development and content creation (Phase 1), WordPress is easy to learn. However, this is only the beginning. Once those basic skills are learned, the platform’s wider potential is open to explore. Keep in mind that many stay in the first two phases for a couple of years. You don’t need to learn coding unless you want to.

Moving beyond basic WordPress skills and taking on increasingly complex projects requires dedication and also budget. The best way to begin your WordPress journey is to start simple and rely on quality tutorials. 

You don’t have to learn everything at once. Focus on developing your skills and experience one phase at a time. To make things even easier, start with a beginner-friendly WordPress hosting provider like Pressable that makes it easy to get started. 

Start Strong With Pressable WordPress Hosting

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced WordPress user, Pressable provides a simple and effective launching pad for your WordPress site or sites. With our easy-to-navigate dashboard, automated updates and optimizations, and expert support that’s available 24/7/365, Pressable makes it easy to get started with WordPress, allowing you to focus on developing your own skills with this wide-ranging and powerful platform.

Pressable—part of the Automattic family that also includes WordPress.com, WordPress VIP, and WooCommerce—is staffed by WordPress experts with the skills and knowledge to effectively manage your WordPress site. If you’re thinking about switching to managed WordPress hosting, schedule a demo to see how Pressable can support your continued optimization and growth.

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