Ready to take your gaming experience to the next level? Building a gaming website can not only help you create a thriving gaming community, but also allow you to share your insights through a popular gaming blog and even generate extra income. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of creating a gaming website using WordPress, even if you have no technical skills. So, let’s jump right in!
Why Choose WordPress for Your Gaming Website?
With the immense popularity of gaming, there is a large community of gamers constantly seeking the latest news, reviews, and other gaming-related content. By creating a gaming website, you can tap into this community and provide them with the content they crave. Whether you want to build a gaming blog similar to IGN, Kotaku, or GamesRadar, or create an online platform to connect gamers, WordPress is the perfect tool to bring your vision to life.
Getting Started: Selecting the Right Platform
When it comes to creating a gaming website, choosing the right website builder is crucial. Our top recommendation is WordPress, and that’s the platform we will focus on in this tutorial. However, it’s important to note that there are two types of WordPress software: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. We suggest using the self-hosted WordPress.org version as it provides more control, flexibility, and access to all of WordPress’s features. To learn more about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, you can check out our detailed guide.
Setting Up Your Gaming Website
To get started, you’ll need a domain name and web hosting. We highly recommend Bluehost, a hosting provider recommended by WordPress. They offer our readers an exclusive offer that includes a free domain, SSL certificate, and a discount on their web hosting services. You can get started for as low as $2.75 per month by clicking on the link below:
[Click Here to Claim This Exclusive Bluehost Offer](link)
Once you’ve secured your domain and hosting, Bluehost will automatically install WordPress for you. However, if you prefer to install WordPress yourself, you can follow our detailed WordPress installation tutorial. Once WordPress is up and running, it’s time to set up the rest of your gaming website.
Choosing the Perfect Theme
When it comes to selecting a theme for your gaming website, it’s important to choose a high-quality and customizable theme that allows you to add the desired features. While there are gaming-specific themes available, they often come with unnecessary features and restrict your options in the long run. We recommend choosing a customizable theme and adding functionality through WordPress plugins. If you’re looking for quick options, you can check out our list of the best WordPress magazine themes, as they work exceptionally well for gaming websites.
Once you’ve found the perfect theme, simply install and activate it. If you need any help with the installation process, refer to our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress theme.
Enhancing Functionality with Plugins
Plugins can be considered as the apps for your WordPress website, allowing you to add various features and enhance the functionality of your gaming website. There are plenty of gaming plugins available, enabling you to add features like game reviews, forums, Twitch stream embedding, or even simple fun games on your site.
For game reviews, we recommend using the WP Review plugin, which helps you manage and display gaming reviews on your website. If you want to add a forum, you can utilize plugins like bbPress or BuddyPress. In case you wish to embed Twitch streams, the Twitch TV Easy Embed plugin is an excellent choice. And if you’re interested in including simple games on your site, plugins like Dinosaur Game or Word Search Puzzles Game will do the trick.
Moreover, if your goal is to sell game-related products on your website, WooCommerce is the most popular plugin for creating an eCommerce store. It allows you to sell both digital and physical products within WordPress. If you plan to sell courses and exclusive membership content, you can also check out our guide on how to create a membership site in WordPress.
Growing Your Gaming Website
With your gaming website up and running, it’s time to focus on growth. WordPress offers a wide range of plugins that can help you elevate your website to the next level. Some highly recommended plugins include:
– WPForms Lite: The best contact form plugin for WordPress, enabling you to quickly create contact forms for your website.
– AIOSEO: The top WordPress SEO plugin to boost your website’s search engine rankings.
– MonsterInsights: Install Google Analytics in WordPress to gain valuable insights into your website’s performance.
– Smash Balloon: Seamlessly integrate your social media feeds into WordPress with this robust plugin.
– SeedProd Lite: A user-friendly page builder plugin that allows you to customize your website without any coding required.
– RafflePress: Run giveaways and contests to engage your audience and expand your following on various platforms.
For more plugin recommendations, feel free to explore our list of must-have WordPress plugins for business websites.
Learning and Support Resources
WordPress is a user-friendly, yet powerful platform. While building your gaming website, you may have questions or need quick answers. WPBeginner offers various resources to support your learning journey. Here are a few useful resources to bookmark:
– WPBeginner’s WordPress Tutorials: A comprehensive collection of tutorials covering all aspects of WordPress.
– WPBeginner’s Guides: Helpful guides to save you time and money in the long run.
– WPBeginner’s Search: Use Google to find answers on WPBeginner by adding ‘wpbeginner.com’ at the end of your search query.
– WPBeginner’s Contact Form: If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, reach out to us directly using our contact form.
We hope this guide has provided you with the necessary guidance to create a gaming website using WordPress. For more helpful guides on topics like creating an email newsletter or adding web push notifications to connect with your visitors, make sure to explore our website. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials and follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Happy gaming!
