WordPress Website Development in Ghana: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that can be used to develop and manage websites. CMS is simply a software that makes it possible to create and manage content on the internet without needing to know how to write code from scratch. WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet, making it the world's most popular website builder.

The platform provides thousands of plugins for adding features and strong SEO support, making it easy for WordPress websites to rank higher on Google. For e-commerce websites, WordPress offers WooCommerce — a powerful plugin that transforms any website into a fully functional online store. You can read more about website costs in Ghana including e-commerce options.

In this article, we provide the complete step-by-step guide on choosing a WordPress website, setting it up and whether to hire a WordPress developer or develop it yourself.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

In choosing a WordPress website, it's important to know the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. While they are both powered by WordPress, they differ in a way that's crucial for business owners.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com provides managed hosting, where WordPress manages security, backups, maintenance and updates. It comes with many exceptional themes and built-in plugin functionality which can all be used to develop a website.

WordPress.org

Unlike WordPress.com which offers managed hosting, WordPress.org allows for self-hosting where you can download the WordPress software and pay for a third-party hosting service of your choice. Here, you have full control and ownership of your website. You get to install a wider variety of themes and plugins and make changes directly in the code. This means that you can build any website you want. Discover more about website development in Ghana.

Choosing WordPress Hosting in Ghana

Web hosting is a service that allows you to publish and access your website on the internet. When someone searches for your domain name, hosting is what allows it to pop up. Think of it as renting a space online where your website lives.

WordPress hosting is a specific type of hosting offered for WordPress websites. It comes with one-click installation, domain name (e.g., faciotech.com), built-in security against hackers, performance optimisation and dedicated WordPress support.

WordPress offers managed and unmanaged hosting. With managed hosting, WordPress handles important updates, security, backups and performance. You don't need to troubleshoot problems or maintain your website — all those technical details are handled for you. This makes it ideal for business owners who prefer less hassle with the backend of their websites. While managed hosting is often more expensive, it is worth the investment for people who want a reliable and well-maintained website.

Under unmanaged WordPress hosting, WordPress provides the server but you handle WordPress setup, updates and maintenance yourself. This is suitable for business owners who want more control or those on a lower budget but with some technical knowledge.

For businesses building WordPress websites in Ghana, WordPress's unmanaged hosting is a great choice since it allows you to gain the benefits of a WordPress website and the flexibility of purchasing hosting from a local provider. Local hosting providers like Faciotech understand the Ghanaian market and can provide support during local business hours. Compare your options in our guide to the best web hosting providers in Ghana.

Factors to Consider When Choosing WordPress Hosting Providers

WordPress hosting is made available by web hosting providers. The web hosting provider you choose directly impacts the performance, visibility, cost and overall function of your website. When choosing WordPress hosting, consider the following:

1. Reliable Uptime

Since your hosting affects your website's availability online, your WordPress hosting provider should guarantee consistent uptime to avoid disrupting sales.

2. Built-In Security

Your WordPress hosting should come with SSL certificates that ensure sensitive information is protected, malware scanning which inspects and removes viruses or spyware, and automatic backups at no additional cost.

3. Ease of Use

You should be able to navigate the hosting platform without needing advanced technical skills.

4. Speed

The servers used should be optimised for WordPress, ensuring that the website loads faster.

5. Access to Support Team

You should have access to support teams that are well-versed in WordPress and are available at local hours.

Essential Setup Steps (Domain, Hosting, Installation)

One advantage that makes WordPress websites a good choice for business owners in Ghana is how easy it is to install and get running. If you want to set up WordPress on your own, it is totally possible without advanced technical skills.

Before you install WordPress, there are a few things to consider:

1. Domain Name

Think of a domain name as your website name. It is what customers type to search for your website. Examples include: faciotech.com and azunusrealty.com. It helps if your domain name can be easily memorised so customers can reach you faster. Learn more about how domain names affect SEO.

2. Web Hosting

WordPress.com provides in-built hosting, however, in Ghana using WordPress.org is suitable. This is because WordPress.com doesn't charge in local currency or provide support during Ghana hours. That makes a local hosting provider a better choice for Ghanaian businesses.

3. WordPress Files

To install WordPress, you need to download the latest version from the official WordPress website. This ensures that the features are up-to-date. You can either download the zip file or upload the files directly to your hosting server.

How to Install WordPress

It is possible to install WordPress using one-click installation. A lot of web hosting providers offer this one-click installation along with cPanel. cPanel uses Softaculous to make this process a breeze.

To use Softaculous, log in to your host's cPanel account and locate the Softaculous/WordPress installer icon in the Auto Installers section. Click on one of these icons to launch an auto-installer for WordPress.

Now follow these instructions to install WordPress using Softaculous:

1. Log into your cPanel
2. Select the Softaculous Apps Installer icon
3. Click the WordPress logo
4. Click the Install tab to proceed and then click the Install WordPress button
5. On this page, fill out the details of your WordPress installation:
   • Choose the domain — enter the domain you wish to install WordPress on
   • Specify the root folder for installation (the Directory field is empty by default)
   • Database Name can be left as the default
   • The default wp_ Table Prefix can remain, but for increased security, we recommend changing it to something unique, like wpwebsitename_
   • Fill in the Site Settings (you can change these at any time as needed)
6. Hit Install when you're ready

Softaculous will now run the installer with the settings you provided and deliver a success message on completion. There will also be a website link and another link to your WordPress admin area. Click the admin link to log in to your WordPress Dashboard.

Theme Selection for Ghanaian Businesses

The kind of WordPress theme you choose affects the number of page visits you get and how long customers stay on your page. Think of a WordPress theme as the outfit for your website. It is a collection of templates and stylesheets that determines how your website appears to visitors. Explore our guide on website development in Ghana for more on design choices.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Theme:

1. Speed Optimisation

The theme you choose determines how fast your website loads. This affects your website ranking on Google when people search for what you sell. The right theme improves the experience of customers on your website, keeping them longer and more likely to take action.

2. Mobile-Friendliness

A responsive theme is necessary for the proper functioning of your website on both computers and mobile phones. Since most people search for websites on their phones, having a theme that adjusts to every screen size makes sure that potential customers have a positive interaction with your website.

3. SEO-Ready Structure

Websites that have themes that include schema markup and clean code perform tremendously better. Search engines are increasingly favorable toward well-structured websites.

4. Customisation Features

Themes that can be customised allow you to use colours, fonts and layout of your choice. This means you can use your brand colours, fonts, patterns and any other brand asset that helps customers identify your business.

5. Security and Updates

Choose themes that are often updated because the fundamental WordPress software is always evolving. Using an outdated theme can affect WordPress security, leaving your website vulnerable to attacks and affecting how visitors interact with your website.

6. Customer Support

No matter the theme you decide on, it's likely you'll have issues or enquiries. It's important to check whether the theme offers customer service. In the absence of customer support, online resources and a community dedicated to the theme are helpful.

7. Support for Essential Plugins

Plugins are applications that add new specific functionalities or expand the existing ones on your site. For instance, you can build an e-commerce store, directory sites, portfolios, etc. on WordPress using plugins. Your chosen theme should support necessary plugins.

Must-Have Plugins for Ghana Sites

1. Security — Jetpack

Jetpack is a plugin created by WordPress to make WordPress websites safer. With its 24/7 auto site security, Jetpack guards your website ensuring real-time backups, easy restores, malware scans and spam protection. It also improves site speed and performance, ensuring a better customer experience on your website.

2. SEO — Yoast SEO

Search Engine Optimisation helps your website rank on Google and thus attract more visitors. WordPress is SEO-friendly but there's still an opportunity to boost your website traffic via SEO best practices using Yoast SEO.

Yoast SEO helps you learn SEO best practices by providing templates for titles and meta descriptions. It also checks for keywords and the readability of content, ensuring that your content ranks high and reaches your target audience.

3. Backup — Jetpack

Data backup means creating a copy of your website data and storing them in case your original data gets lost, corrupted or hacked. Backup plugins like Jetpack ensure automated regular backups and assist you to recover important data in case of website issues.

4. Mobile Money Integration — WooCommerce + Paystack

For businesses that require an e-commerce website, WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that transforms a website into an online store. If you sell products and want customers to purchase online, WooCommerce provides the tools to manage your store.

Through Paystack, you can accept payments through:

• Mobile money for businesses in Ghana
• Debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Verve)

Paystack enables businesses in Ghana to receive payments instantly from customers and access their payments seamlessly through Paystack's checkout. It also detects fraud and helps business owners understand their revenue through analytics.

WordPress Developer vs. DIY

Building your own WordPress website as a business owner in Ghana will save you some money and allow you to design your website just the way you want. However, it can also be overwhelming trying to figure everything out on your own, especially if this is your first time building a WordPress website. For a professional finish, hiring a WordPress developer can save time and deliver a polished result. Check out our guide on website checklists for what to look for in a finished site.

Factors to Consider When Hiring a WordPress Developer

1. Portfolio

In choosing a developer to handle WordPress development for your business in Ghana, it's necessary to check their body of work. You need to see if they've worked on similar projects in your industry. Their portfolio should demonstrate their ability to deliver professional, functional websites.

2. Expertise

You don't need just any web developer — you need one who is well versed in WordPress and has strong technical skills in WordPress theme customisation, plugin development, mobile optimisation, HTML, CSS, and related technologies. Strong WordPress developers can troubleshoot quickly and proactively improve your site.

3. SEO Knowledge

It's important that your WordPress website shows up on search engines. The WordPress designer you choose should have a good understanding of SEO practices, including writing SEO-friendly content, structuring web pages properly, and optimising for speed and performance.

4. Collaboration

The ability of your WordPress designer in Ghana to communicate and collaborate goes a long way to ensure that you have a great WordPress website. They should be able to communicate their work process and update you on their progress.

5. Transparent Pricing

It's important that the agency or freelancer you hire for your WordPress development is clear with how much everything costs. Pricing of web development, hosting and maintenance should be made clear so that you can prepare accordingly. You can learn about typical website development costs in Ghana to benchmark pricing.

Faciotech is a WordPress development agency in Ghana with a wide range of work across several industries. The Faciotech team is well versed in WordPress and provides hosting services for websites. We also offer support during local business hours.

Contact Faciotech for your website development in Ghana.