Creating a beautiful website is no longer the arduous task it once was. Whether you are a writer wanting a space to host your ideas or an entrepreneur wishing to have a beautiful online space that attracts customers, creating a website is easier than ever. If you are intimidated by coding, don’t be. With WordPress with its built-in tool known as ‘Gutenberg,’ the process is easier than ever. This particular plugin offers you easy ways to build stunning websites using blocks, which can be very helpful for both newbies and seasoned web designers.
Our guide will take you on a step-by-step journey on how to use Gutenberg Page Builder to create a stunning website for yourself or others. We will also share useful tips and tricks to make your workflow as easy as possible.
Let’s dive in shall we?
Table of Contents
- Prologue: What is Gutenberg, the in-built WordPress Page Builder
- Selecting a website name and a hosting provider
- Selecting a WordPress Block Theme
- Customizing your website using Gutenberg Page Builder
- Creating some pages for your website
- Writing your posts
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Gutenberg?
Gutenberg is a powerful design and writing tool that you can use directly within WordPress. Like how Photoshop/Microsoft Word drag and drop interface allows users to easily edit images using just the mouse, Gutenberg allows you to edit and style web pages without having a lick of coding knowledge. No more mucking around with HTML/CSS/JavaScript, just use its simple drag-and-drop interface and create the website you want.
Think of Gutenberg as an all-in-one tool where you can build everything about your WordPress site – like adding text content, images, videos, quotes, and more – using intuitive controls that are familiar even if they’re not used in everyday web design tasks (like crafting a simple HTML page). The interface uses blocks that serve as individual pieces of content or functionality you can arrange on your posts or pages.
Before we go further, it helps to know some basic terminology used by Gutenberg (WordPress Page Builder). Understanding those terms will improve your workflow and allow you to work faster and more intuitively. Don’t be alarmed, the concepts which we will discuss below are extremely simple and easy to understand.
- Blocks: A block is an individual piece containing a section or function on your page e.g., text editor, image gallery, etc. Think as if these are similar components in design software but interactive for WordPress site creation (like how frames work). Furthermore, Block Types define what kind of content the Block supports i.e., text-only block (paragraph), image gallery blocks, etc
- Layout: Layout refers to the overall structure of any content i.e., where blocks should be placed and arranged relative to each other; think this like the way you place elements on a web page or drawing board, except it’s done using Gutenberg interface in WordPress dashboard itself without writing code!
- Column and Panels: A Column is a horizontal section for placing contents within a Block (like dividing your content into sections horizontally) and a Panel refers to the vertical division of blocks. In simpler terms think of containers where you can place different types of information or media on a page. This way, users with design skills are familiarizing themselves with new terminology without needing technical knowledge in code writing!
If all of this sounds a little confusing to you, don’t be. As you go down further this article we will break it down further with easy-to-follow instructions and screenshots galore.
Without wasting any time, let’s get cracking!
Step 1: Selecting a website name and a hosting provider
One of the most crucial aspects is selecting a domain or website name for your website. Think of it as a billboard name for your business or blog. A memorable domain name ensures ease of recall and brand recognition, which are vital for business growth or name recognition. It is easy for people to find your website if it has an interesting/unique name as they can easily remember it while searching for it. Try to look for names that define what you want to do with your website. Be creative with names, it doesn’t have to be a real name at all (ex: Google). Remember, at the end of the day, all names are made up 🙂
Having a unique name can positively impact marketing efforts by simplifying the process through social media sharing or word-of-mouth recommendations when people remember a striking domain name easily.
You also need someone to host your website on some kind of web server (a remote computer). There are many great WordPress hosting providers but for our purposes, we are going with Bluehost, one of the most recommended and oldest hosting providers on the planet. Rest assured about the quality, Bluehost is recommended by the creators of WordPress itself.
Step 2: Selecting a WordPress Block Theme
As we explained before Gutenberg WordPress Builder uses the concept of Blocks to power its underlying functionality. It is therefore important that the theme you select for your website is compatible with Gutenberg. Such themes are called Block Themes. For this tutorial, we will use the latest Default theme by WordPress developers themselves called Twenty Twenty-Four. Here is how you can install this theme:
Adding Twenty Twenty-Four
Start by exploring the WordPress theme directory by going to your WordPress dashboard and clicking on Appearances → Themes → Add New. Click on the search box and add the following text “Twenty Twenty-Four” (Without Quotes)
To install the theme hover your mouse cursor over the theme card. You will see the option to install it. Click on install and then on activate to apply the theme to your website.
Note: Twenty Twenty-Four may already be installed by Bluehost or your hosting provider of choice. If that is the case you can skip the above step.
Step 3: Customizing your website using Gutenberg Page Builder
Imagine walking into a world where every website is as unique as its creator’s personality – this is what Gutenberg blocks bring to WordPress! With just a few clicks and taps, you can change every aspect of your website, using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface
Editing Global Styles
Global styles or just Styles is a very powerful part of Gutenberg Page Builder where you can apply style settings which apply across your entire website. For example, you can change which font you want to use across the entire website, or what color scheme to follow.
Gutenberg themes come with pre-defined styles that you can choose when creating your website. Test them out and apply the one you like. Let’s take them step by step:
First, navigate to the Site Editor from Appearance -> Editor. Wait for a few seconds for the Site Editor to load. You will see a preview of how your website looks based on the theme you have selected (In our case Twenty Twenty-Four)
Now enter the style section by clicking on the styles button. When you do so you shall see the style variations your theme offers (In our case Twenty Twenty-Four)
Hover your mouse over at any of the styles available and you will see the name of the style highlighted. In our case, we will select Ember as our chosen style. Click on it and voila, you will see a preview of how your website will look like.
Click on Save and you are set.
You are very close to creating a website for yourself. Keep reading on how to create a beautiful website with Gutenberg.
Step 4: Creating some pages for your website
Congratulations! The hard part of how to create a website is over. All that is left creating some pages and writing some posts. With Gutenberg page builder creating pages is easier than ever. Here’s how you can create pages such as About Us, Blog, or Contact:
- First, go to the WordPress dashboard.
- Next, click on “Pages” in the left-hand sidebar and then select “Add New.” This will open a new page for editing.
Select a pattern which you want to apply to the newly created page - Choose a template that matches your desired page’s purpose. If you have customized your homepage template, make sure to pick the “Pages” template to maintain a consistent layout.
- To start using patterns, click on the “+” icon inside the block where you want to add a pattern. This will open up the Patterns tab in the block insertor. Choose from the available patterns that suit your desired page type.
- Want more options? You can expand the Patterns tab by clicking on it. This expanded view includes an Explore all patterns button. It also features a search bar to help you find specific patterns quickly.
Creating content for your WordPress website using Gutenberg is a breeze! Here’s how you can do it:
- Ready to write? First, go to “Posts” and then click on “Add New.” This will open up a new blog post for editing.
- Pick the right template for your blog post. If you’ve already customized a template specifically for blog posts, choose that one to make sure all your articles look great.
Writing beautiful blog posts is easy with the help of blocks. Use accordingly to your post content. - Want your blog posts to stand out? Use templates dedicated to blog posts, like the Single Post template, for a tailored design that’s sure to grab attention!
Conclusion
In conclusion, with Gutenberg’s many powerful features, creating a stunning WordPress website has never been easier! Here’s a quick summary of how to do it:
- Choose a reliable managed WordPress hosting service and pick a domain name that suits your site.
- Select an awesome block theme to use as the foundation for your website.
- Edit the appearance of your site using the built-in WordPress customizer.
- Create pages for your site, such as About Us, Blog, or Contact.
- Write engaging blog posts and other content for your new site.
- If you don’t want to start from scratch, try out patterns to help with layout and design.
Now that you know the steps, you can let your creativity run wild and create a website that truly reflects your vision!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We understand that you may have questions about using Gutenberg for building your WordPress site! Let’s address some common queries:
What’s the difference between a page builder and Gutenberg?
Gutenberg is the built-in block editor for WordPress, offering an intuitive way to create content. On the other hand, third-party page builders provide more design options and advanced layout choices.
Will changing themes affect my site?
When you switch themes, your website’s appearance and structure can change. However, Gutenberg and block templates make it simple to preserve your content while adjusting the look of your site.
Can I create custom templates with Gutenberg?
Yes! With Gutenberg, you can design custom WordPress templates for pages and posts using block templates and patterns. This helps streamline website creation and gives you flexibility in designing unique layouts.
Don’t worry – we’re here to help guide you through the process of creating your perfect WordPress site with Gutenberg! Bookmark this article as we keep updating it with tips and tricks on how to create a website using Gutenberg, the free WordPress Page Builder.
Happy writing 🙂
