Note: None of the links here are affiliate or paid links. They are resources I recommend and have gotten value from, and that is all.
Building a site is difficult and it is much more difficult if you have no idea of where to start. The first big question is, do you want to code it yourself or use a theme to get the look you want (you can also make child themes)?
If you choose to code the site yourself, then I might not be helpful. I did not code my site and I have no idea of how to go about doing so. If you want to learn, though, I recommend checking out Codecademy, where you can find free, introductory courses on HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP. Codecademy also offers a Career Path in Web Development and a 10-week Skill Path called “Learn How to Build Websites.” The Career and Skills paths cost money but provide more structure and resources than you will find in the free courses. Dabble in a free course to see if you like Codecademy’s model, then consider investing in a Path if you want to continue.
I haven’t used Codecademy enough to give a list of all the pros and cons or why the service is better or worse than other options. In the past, I have dabbled in coding with Codecademy (and loved the experience), but coding is not a skill I have prioritized developing. Eventually, maybe. When that “eventually” becomes “today,” I’ll use Codecademy.
I used WordPress.org to build my site and I host it with HostGator. I paid to have my favicon (the “PQG” that appears in the tab for this site) masterfully created by Headerspk on Fiverr.
However, if I can recommend any resource above them all, it was Thomas Frank’s article, “The Ultimate Guide To Building A Personal Website,” on College Info Geek that helped me decide to build a site, realize that I can build my own site, and guide me through the process of building my site from nothing to a published, simple site.
If you are curious about building a site of your own, I hope at least one of these resources helps you take the next action toward creating and publishing your site.
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash.
