Create a WordPress Portal: 10 Tips for Implementation

WordPress is the best-known and oldest content management system (CMS) on the internet. It’s known for allowing people without experience or prior knowledge to create a website easily.

But: With WordPress, you can also create complex online portals and web shops or even program your own extensions. This is possible thanks to the plugin function and the integration of a custom theme for the design.

What should you pay attention to, and how can you make your project a success?

In this article, we’ll show you ten tricks to help you create a professional WordPress website with your own plugin, theme, as well as user and password functionality.

THE KEY FACTS IN BRIEF

WordPress Website: What Is a Content Management System (CMS)?

A content management system is software or a framework. A CMS allows users, without special expertise or prior knowledge, to create their own website. This site can then be expanded via extensions and plugins and personalized through themes. Pre-configured HTML or PHP pages are installed on the server to set up everything necessary for the website. In the end, the user only needs to create the appropriate content, insert images, etc. They also need to install the necessary themes and plugins.

If you just want to create a simple website with no special features, you can do so in a few clicks and be online in about five minutes. CMSs like WordPress therefore allow anyone to create their own website.

Despite this simple functionality, there are many things to consider. Because WordPress can also be used for very complex and elaborate projects—and you can even create your own plugins to integrate the desired functions into the CMS. Today, there are very few things that WordPress can’t handle.

Installing WordPress: How Do You Create a WordPress Platform?

As mentioned above, a simple WordPress website consisting of web pages can be set up in just a few minutes. Most web hosts use Softaculous, a one-click installer that allows you to install WordPress on the server with just one click. You then only need to create text and content, and you’re done.

It’s important to know that WordPress is free. However, using many themes and plugins is not. You may incur monthly, yearly, or one-time fees. You need to consider this in your planning and ensure you have the plugins you need, without duplicates.

If, on the other hand, you want to create a complex platform, like an online shop or a learning portal, it’s no longer quite so simple. You then need to install the corresponding plugins and build the necessary infrastructure. You may also need to have custom plugins programmed if they are not already available.

Even though WordPress makes developing platforms and portals much simpler and can save you a lot of money, it is still time-consuming and complex, requiring the assistance of an agency with the right experts.

10 Tips to Create a WordPress Platform With Plugins and Custom Themes

So how can you successfully create your own WordPress platform? What can help make this complex task a bit easier?

In this section, we present ten expert tips from Shopboostr. They are intended to help you succeed with your project. We show you the important things and factors to consider.

We hope that these tips will resonate with you and that we can provide a bit of inspiration for this topic.

Tip 1: Thorough Planning and Creating a Concept for Your Website With WordPress

The first step—and one of the most important—for your own WordPress platform is thorough planning. Think about what your project should be able to do, what goals you want to achieve, and create a concept based on these considerations. If you wish, you can seek advice from a professional agency. We recommend this, as an agency can tell you whether your concept is viable or whether anything needs improvement.

Shopboostr offers a free, no-obligation initial consultation in which you can present your WordPress project. We will look at your plan and evaluate it. If we see that your project has a good chance of success, we’ll discuss with you the next steps to put the project into action. This makes creating a website as straightforward as possible for you, and we make sure you get your own website that’s easy to use.

Tip 2: Secure Funding to Have a Website With WordPress and Plugins Created

Developing portals and platforms takes time and money. A WordPress platform is no exception, even if it’s cheaper than programming a web platform from scratch.

During the development phase, you have no revenue from the project itself. That means you need to address the issue of funding before you implement your project, and you need to ensure the funding is solid.

If you already own an online shop or are the owner of another business, this may help cover the costs. Alternatively, you can look at loans or seek a business partner who can assist with financing.

Tip 3: Create a Competitor and Market Analysis for Your WordPress Website

Online business is a highly competitive market. People all over the world now buy almost everything online and have more than enough choices. Of course, Amazon and eBay remain hugely popular marketplaces, but there are also other portals like AliExpress or eBay Kleinanzeigen. Nowadays, there’s almost no service or product that isn’t available online, and the market for a WordPress platform is highly contested.

A thorough market analysis doesn’t just help you see whether your idea can be successful. It also gives you important information and may help you find a niche where you can position your website.

In addition, it’s crucial that you create or commission a competition analysis. See what’s out there already, what’s missing, and what could be improved at companies already in the market. You’ve likely been a customer yourself on eBay, Amazon, or in another online shop. Just think about what you liked and where you were dissatisfied.

Tip 4: A Professional Partner Is Essential to Have a Website Created With WordPress

The development of a WordPress platform is a complex matter. It’s an elaborate platform with many features. It not only needs to be planned, but also designed.

Additionally, you must be able to implement, manage, and market the platform. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to look early for a suitable partner who can assist you with your project—perhaps a professional agency specializing in e-commerce.

Our agency, Shopboostr, has been active in the industry for many years and, as one of the market leaders in the DACH region, has already successfully launched and supported many projects, including WordPress platforms. We not only work with you to plan and implement but also handle programming and marketing. After the platform goes live, we handle maintenance and updates.

Tip 5: Plan the Infrastructure for Your WordPress Website and WordPress Plugins

An online platform, like a WordPress platform, requires not only the necessary software (the website) but also the appropriate infrastructure. If the portal isn’t to run on your own servers, you’ll need to find a suitable host that offers sufficient bandwidth, storage space, databases, modern software, email, and high security standards. You also need to ensure your website is protected from unauthorized access, hacking attempts, etc. It would be disastrous if just a few hours after launching your new portal, it became inaccessible due to exceeded bandwidth. This primarily affects larger projects where high visitor numbers and traffic are foreseeable.

Shopboostr works with various partners in the hosting sector and can also help you find a suitable provider here. That way, you won’t have to worry about the infrastructure and can be sure everything meets the necessary requirements and standards.

Tip 6: Look for Trustworthy Third-Party Providers for Your Domain, Web Design, and Additional Features

If you decide to create a professional WordPress platform, you won’t be able to avoid working with various third-party providers. This might be for using specific plugins that provide certain functions or for integrating payment providers like Stripe, PayPal, Skrill, etc.

Moreover, you’ll usually need to collaborate with credit card institutions and meet various security standards, such as encryption. This is especially important in the EU. You’ll need experienced and trustworthy third-party providers, and you’ll typically have many options. Only through detailed comparison and thorough research will you find a provider that fits your project and can meet your requirements.

Tip 7: Organize Support and Accounting for Your WordPress Website

If you want to sell something with your WordPress portal—whether a product or service—and thus engage in e-commerce, you need a support infrastructure. That support team handles problems and questions, such as managing customer orders.

You’ll also need accounting software, as you’ll have to process and monitor payments from your customers. You must be alerted to fraud, process chargebacks and returns, etc. That means you can’t avoid appropriate professional software or plugins. You also need to determine who will handle these tasks.

In some of these areas, our agency, Shopboostr, can help you. In others, we can advise you and give recommendations. Nevertheless, it’s important for you to address these topics yourself in advance.

Tip 8: Legal Advice and Ongoing Support for Your WordPress Website

For your WordPress platform, you need an expert who provides legal advice and oversight. You must ensure that all laws and regulations are followed, take action against fraudsters, and handle issues such as collection procedures and related lawsuits.

You also need to draft legal terms of service and require valid data protection policies. In case of legal problems and lawsuits against your WordPress platform, you must be able to defend yourself. A professional partner is thus indispensable. This partner should be involved in the development of your WordPress website right from the start and can offer valuable advice to ensure everything meets legal standards and that you are legally protected.

Tip 9: Additional Features and Options for Your WordPress Platform

To stand out from other providers and competitors—and to make your WordPress platform more appealing to customers—you’ll need to consider additional offerings and options, including extra features, sooner or later.

Perhaps you could give your customers the ability to rate buyers and sellers, or you could introduce certain levels that allow sellers and possibly buyers to “level up,” receiving better conditions, for example. This is where your creativity comes in, and Shopboostr would be happy to help you plan and implement your ideas.

By being creative and coming up with original ideas, you can significantly enhance the success of your WordPress-based platform and gain a clear advantage over the competition.

Tip 10: Don’t Forget Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Newsletter, and PR

To ensure your WordPress platform is successful despite competing with similar portals, you need to make sure your shop is known to your target audience. This requires a well-thought-out marketing and PR strategy to build a loyal community of buyers and sellers on your platform.

You will need experienced experts who understand email marketing, social media, SEO, etc. These professionals know how to promote and improve your portal. Shopboostr has the relevant experts. Our team includes marketing professionals from all areas who can help you market your WordPress website and maximize your business potential. High rankings in Google and other search engines are thus guaranteed.

WordPress Step-by-Step Guide to Success: Conclusion and Summary

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