Can I learn WordPress on my own, and how?
By: Nicolo Grossi
Tags: Blog, Wordpress Web Development, Website Development, WordPress

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Yes, you absolutely can learn WordPress on your own but the method you choose will depend on your current skill level, and what you actually want to do with WordPress.

Option 1: Set up a free site

If you want to set up a simple site and just understand the basics of how WordPress works, you can create a free blog on WordPress.com. Use the on-screen guidance to help you installing themes (which affects how your website looks) and installing plug-ins (which affects how your website behaves).

But a free WordPress.com site has certain limitations, especially if you want to make money from the site. Also, if you’re using WordPress to set up a professional online presence, you may prefer to install WordPress with a single click from your web host. That lets you use WordPress on your own domain, and you’re free to promote and sell your products and services.

Option 2: Create a local WordPress installation

If that’s the route you go, you can still learn by doing, but there is a better option. Set up a local installation of WordPress so you can experiment with everything you want to try without breaking your live site. A good tool for creating a local version of WordPress is Local by Flywheel. It’s much easier to use than some of the other popular options like XAMPP.

Option 3: Learn to code

If you want to code your own WordPress site, then you need to learn PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These are the code languages that WordPress is built on. HTML is the markup language that powers most of the web. PHP is a website scripting language. JavaScript is another scripting language that lets you create interactive elements or pull in functionality from external sites. And CSS helps to apply a style or format to your website. You can learn about some core web technologies on the Mozilla Developer Network.

Option 4: Join WordPress forums

There are several forums where you can learn more about using WordPress. Because WordPress has been around for quite a while, it’s got a huge community of developers and users worldwide.

For example, there are forums on WordPress.org where people share their technical problems and get answers. For most issues, you will often find that your burning questions have already been asked and answered.

In addition, if you are using a premium WordPress theme, those developers usually have their own forums where they deal with any issues their customers are facing. Simply reading through the forum content can give you a good idea of what’s possible in WordPress.

Option 5: Learn from books and courses

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of books and courses when trying to learn WordPress on your own. But note that with major interface updates to WordPress between 2018 and 2019, you need to ensure that the resources you choose give you information about the latest version of the software.

Use all of these options together, and you will be able to work on your own to get a comprehensive education in WordPress. See below for some additional resources which will help you:

1) Online resources

2) Books

3) Podcasts

4) Conferences