Complete Curriculum Archive (/start/, /ebooks/, /videos/)

Getting Started With Websites Made Simple: The 2-Step Blueprint & 7-Step WordPress Course

Welcome! Hi there, I am Todd Pettee, founder of Websites Made Simple. Whether you learn best from screenshot ebooks or over-the-shoulder screencast videos, this page consolidates our complete beginner curriculum.

Part 1: The 2-Step Website Blueprint

Before registering a domain or installing a single plugin, successful website creators follow a structured two-phase workflow:

  • Blueprint Phase 1 - Plan Your Website: Define your primary audience, clarify the single core problem your site solves, map out your top-level navigation pages (Home, About, Services/Portfolio, Blog, Contact), and choose a memorable, brandable `.com` or `.org` domain name using our Website Planning Blueprint.
  • Blueprint Phase 2 - Build Your Website: Select the right platform for your goals (either an all-in-one cloud builder like Squarespace or a self-hosted WordPress.org installation on reliable cPanel hosting) and execute the 3-Module, 7-Step deployment checklist below.

Part 2: The 3-Module, 7-Step Self-Hosted WordPress Course

Originally published across our 7 dedicated course guides and demonstrated live on our tutorial demo site (simplesamplesite.com), here is the complete step-by-step curriculum:

Module 1: Domain Registration, Web Hosting & DNS Nameservers

  • Module 1 - Step 1: How To Register A Domain Name With Namecheap (/how-to-register-a-domain-name/): Why we recommend separating your domain registrar from your hosting company. How to search for available domains on Namecheap, avoid unnecessary checkout upsells, enable WhoisGuard privacy protection, and secure your domain ownership.
  • Module 1 - Step 2: How To Sign Up For Web Hosting With HostGator or SiteGround (/how-to-sign-up-for-web-hosting/): Comparing Hatchling, Baby, and Business shared plans (or SiteGround StartUp/GrowBig), entering an existing domain you registered at Namecheap, choosing billing cycle length to lock in introductory rates, and receiving your welcome email with cPanel credentials and server nameservers.
  • Module 1 - Step 3: How To Transfer A Domain Name From Namecheap To HostGator (/how-to-transfer-a-domain-name/): Pointing your domain to your web host without paying a transfer fee. Log in to your Namecheap dashboard, select Custom DNS under Nameservers, paste the two primary nameservers (`ns1` and `ns2`) from your hosting welcome email, and verify DNS propagation.

Module 2: Installing WordPress, Themes & Essential Plugins

  • Module 2 - Step 1: How To Install WordPress On Your Website (/how-to-install-wordpress/): Logging into cPanel, launching QuickInstall or Softaculous 1-Click WordPress Installer, selecting your root domain (leaving the subdirectory field blank so WordPress installs at `/`), setting a strong administrator username (never use `admin`), and logging into `/wp-admin/` for the first time.
  • Module 2 - Step 2: How To Install A WordPress Theme On Your Website (/how-to-install-a-wordpress-theme/): Navigating to Appearance > Themes > Add New, searching the official WordPress theme repository or uploading a `.zip` package such as WP Explorer's free responsive Pytheas theme, ModernThemes BLDR Pro, or StudioPress Genesis Framework (`centric-pro`), previewing layout responsiveness, and clicking Activate.
  • Module 2 - Step 3: How To Install WordPress Plugins On Your Website (/how-to-install-wordpress-plugins/): Navigating to Plugins > Add New to extend WordPress functionality without writing code. Installing and activating essential plugins including Yoast SEO, Akismet Anti-Spam, WordPress Backup to Dropbox, W3 Total Cache, Contact Form 7, and TablePress.

Module 3: Core Configuration, Permalinks & Publishing

  • Module 3 - Step 1: How To Configure WordPress On Your Website (/how-to-configure-wordpress/): Cleaning up default sample content (deleting the "Hello World!" post and "Sample Page"), updating Settings > General (Site Title, Tagline, Timezone), configuring Settings > Reading (choosing between a dynamic blog feed or a static front page), setting Settings > Discussion to hold first-time comments for moderation, and changing Settings > Permalinks to `Post name` (`/%postname%/`) for clean, SEO-friendly URLs.

Part 3: Free Ebooks Library Archive (/ebooks/)

For students who prefer reading offline with annotated screenshots, our three flagship manuals summarize the entire curriculum:

  1. How To Make A Website With WordPress (107 Pages): Complete screenshot walkthrough building a functional WordPress site using the free responsive Pytheas theme.
  2. Learn How To Build A Small Business Website (107 Pages): Tailored specifically for local service businesses (modeled on our client build for kalispellcommunications.com), covering service pages, lead capture forms, and local credibility.
  3. How To Find The Right Web Hosting Provider & Website Planning Blueprint: Our objective buyer's manual decoding disk space, bandwidth, SSDs, uptime guarantees, and renewal pricing traps.

Part 4: Over-The-Shoulder Video Tutorials Archive (/videos/)

Our seven-part screencast series (headed by the 1-hour 51-minute complete WordPress masterclass and the "So Easy A Child Can Do It" sessions featuring 9-year-old Masa) demonstrates every click in real time so you never get stuck on a technical screen.