My Journey as a WordPress Developer
As an aspiring WordPress Developer, I’ve been learning and building with WordPress for the past five months. When I first started creating websites, I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of themes and plugins available. It felt like being lost in a sea of choices, unsure of where to begin.
Getting Started: A Messy Beginning
When I began working on my own website, I didn’t have a clear plan. I’d see elements I liked on other websites and thought, “That looks cool, I’ll add it to mine!” Choosing a brand name, color palette, and fonts took me hours—sometimes 6-8 hours just to decide. The result? A disorganized website that lacked focus.
I also overlooked some technical aspects, like converting images to web-friendly formats. These small details might seem insignificant, but I later learned how much they impact website performance.
My First Step: The Trisha eCommerce Project
The first demo website I created was Trisha eCommerce Project, inspired by a tutorial from an influencer. I followed step-by-step, building what turned out to be a decent-looking website. That project became my stepping stone to becoming a WordPress eCommerce specialist. Through it, I learned:
- Setting up WooCommerce and adding products
- Writing blog posts
- Configuring payment gateways
- Automating email notifications
- Optimizing website speed
- Integrating APIs
- Setting up email hosting and configuring DMARC
- Basic on-page SEO using Yoast
- Using Google Analytics
At first, I didn’t fully understand how SEO worked—I was just focused on making my Yoast SEO indicators turn green. I thought having all green lights was the ultimate goal. I didn’t realize it’s okay if some indicators are red because what truly matters is how you want your website to appear on Google Search. Over time, I learned that crafting meaningful meta descriptions, thoughtful keywords, and accurate alt text plays a bigger role in creating a website that’s discoverable and relevant.
Overcoming Challenges
My journey hasn’t been without its hurdles. I’ve faced issues like:
- DNS misconfigurations
- Apache and .htaccess errors
- API integration challenges
- Cache and performance bugs
I’ve spent countless hours troubleshooting, relying on tools like YouTube, Google, forums, and even ChatGPT to guide me. If I couldn’t solve an issue, I turned to the WordPress Developer Facebook group for support. With persistence, I’ve been able to resolve every challenge that came my way.
Lessons I Learned
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of resourcefulness. As a self-taught developer working alone, I don’t have a senior mentor or IT friend to lean on. This has pushed me to become independent and creative in finding solutions.
I’m proud of the skills I’ve gained, including:
- Building eCommerce websites from scratch
- Integrating APIs for payment systems and third-party tools
- Configuring email automations and improving deliverability
- Understanding the basics of SEO and analytics
Looking Ahead
There’s still so much more to learn about WordPress, and I’m eager to continue expanding my skills. While it’s been challenging to navigate this journey alone, it’s also been incredibly rewarding. Every obstacle has taught me something new, and every success has boosted my confidence.
This journey has shown me that with determination and the right resources, I can overcome any challenge. I’m excited to see where this path will take me and the opportunities that lie ahead.
