Do you know that 37.8% of all websites on the internet is powered by WordPress (according to W3Techs)…WOW
I know you must be saying right now, yea Fortune I have heard a lot about WordPress but what does it really mean?
What is WordPress?
According to Wikipedia, WordPress is a free and open-source content management system written in PHP and paired with a MySQL or MariaDB database. Features include a plugin architecture and a template system, referred to within WordPress as Themes.
Personal opinion – Worpdress is the simplest, most popular way to create your own website or blog because, with little or no coding experience, you can still create your amazing website with WordPress. Sounds cool right?
Back to our Topic: How to become a WordPress website Designer in 2021.
Who is a WordPress Website Designer?
A WordPress Designer or Developer is a professional that specializes in creating websites using the WordPress platform. They also work with clients to help create, design, customize, and manage a WordPress website.
As a WordPress Designer, you have be very creative visually and focused, for me whenever I am working a wordpress website, i’m always relaxed.
How to become a WordPress Designer
1. Master how to use graphics software
As a WordPress Designer sometimes you are required to design banners, work on images, etc. Only a few clients will want to pay a graphics artist to design their website banners. And the amazing part of this is when the sliding banners are not beautiful. It affects the User interface.
Not all sites requires a sliding banner but it is important you master how to use these graphics softwares.
My Life Experience: Back then in 2013, I was new in the website thing..lol just like some of you right now. I started taking lessons on how to design with Corel draw and Photoshop which lasted for one month, I remember how my teacher will go on some websites pick their banners, and ask me to design something like that. I realize I was more good at working with CorelDraw than Photoshop.
After one month of training, I started working with Canva (why because it was easy to use especially when creating banners of social media posts). I knew I wasn’t going to be a full-time graphics guy…lol
If you have the time and desire to learn more about graphics design, it’s a good choice.
2. You need a Personal Computer and a Smartphone
This is very important, I understand times are really difficult. You can get a cheap laptop with maybe 1 GB Ram for starters. I know you must be wondering why do you need a personal computer to become a WordPress Designer?
My friend, you need a PC to work perfectly…lol
My Life Experience: I bought my first ever Laptop for N12,000, that laptop was like the love of my life then though it had a bad battery. I never stayed a day without operating the PC. I became more confident with my skills because I could work at any time.
3. Getting Started with WordPress
Now you have PC and you have mastered how to work with graphics,
This point is the starting journey as a WordPress designer, so read carefully;
- You can decide to buy a domain and hosting if you can afford it but if you can’t, no worries I got a way around that.
- You can install WordPress on a local server (this you don’t need to buy a domain and hosting)…Yea Yea..lol
My Life Experience: I actually started with the second option, I can’t forget the challenges I faced the first day, installing a local server and WordPress, my Lenovo PC became so slow like a snail…lol but I figured out a better way which I will be sharing with you in my next post.
Conclusion
I never studied Computer science in school, I actually studied accountancy but here I am today working as a full-time WordPress Designer, yes you also can become a WordPress designer if you believe in yourself. I faced a lot of discouragements back then, especially my mum never liked the idea of me working on PC, they preferred a 9-5 job..lol but today I am one of the best child.
Do Not let your Background determine your future and no knowledge is a waste of time. Continuing striving…
Thanks for reading, I love you!
