I started as a web developer in 2008. Divi is a very popular WordPress theme and is my go-to for most development projects. People often ask how hard it is to make a website with Divi or WordPress in general. That’s why I’ve started offering workshops and tutorials to help business owners manage their tech and learn to make and maintain their websites themselves.
Want to build your own website without feeling overwhelmed? Whether you’re just starting out or finally tackling a site you’ve been putting off, this beginner-friendly Divi and WordPress tutorial is for you. In it, I’ll walk you through every step—from buying your domain to launching a polished site—using Divi, one of the most powerful WordPress themes for non-techy users.
You can access the full video series completely free by signing up here:
Get the Full Free Divi Website Tutorial
Let’s get started!
What You Need to Make a Website with Divi
In the tutorial, I cover everything a beginner needs to know:
- Welcome and overview of the process
- Purchasing your domain name
- Choosing a hosting plan
- Installing WordPress
- Pointing your domain
- Purchasing and downloading Divi
- Setting up your SSL certificate
- Understanding sections, rows, and modules
- Adding your homepage
- Creating your header and footer
This series is perfect for small business owners, creatives, and anyone who wants to build a website without hiring a developer.
Watch the First Lesson: Course Overview.
Here’s a preview of the full course. To unlock all the steps, just enter your email here:
Get Free Access to the Full Course
Choosing and Purchasing Your Domain Name
When picking your domain name, think long-term. Can people spell it easily? Will it make sense if you say it over the phone? Is it short, clear, and memorable?
Believe it or not, I once had the domain: interestexterminator.com. Try explaining that. No one knew what I did. No one knew how to spell it. No one understood how to read it. It was a mess. And, my email rarely fit into the little boxes you have to fill in to sign up for things. Before you purchase your domain, ask a few friends who aren’t afraid to tell you if you have a bad idea.
I recommend using Namecheap to purchase your domain, but there are many options. Whatever you choose, keep your domains all in one place so you can avoid scams and stay organized.
Choosing a Reliable Hosting Plan
There are a lot of hosting providers out there, and I’ve tried many of them. Currently, my recommendation is Siteground. They offer a good balance of speed, security, and affordability, along with daily backups, site monitoring, email tools, and excellent support.
Installing WordPress
Most hosting providers offer a one-click installation process for WordPress. Siteground makes this especially easy. In just a few clicks, you’ll be ready to start building.
Pointing Your Domain to Your Host
This step can be intimidating, but I walk you through it in the course. First, you’ll copy your hosting provider’s nameservers. Then, paste them into your domain settings. It sounds complicated, but it only takes a few minutes.
Watch the tutorial by signing up here.
How to Purchase and Download Divi
Back when I started building websites, you had to buy a new theme for every single site—often for hundreds of dollars per year—and most of them weren’t very customizable. You had to relearn how to use each theme for every build. It was a mess! It was frustrating. And, it was expensive!
Divi changed the game.
With a one-time purchase, you get lifetime access to a visual drag-and-drop builder that lets you design as you go, with no coding required. It’s flexible, modern, and incredibly beginner-friendly, which is why I use it in all of my tutorials and workshops.
Once you purchase Divi, you’ll need to download and install the theme. I explain how in the free video series.
Set Up Your SSL Certificate
Google requires websites to be secure, and most browsers will block access to unsecured sites. That’s why every website today needs an SSL certificate.
Siteground includes free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt. Once installed, make sure to update your site settings to use “https” instead of “http.” The tutorial videos will guide you through every click of this process.
Working with Sections, Rows, & Modules in Divi
Divi uses a simple structure:
- Sections are the large background blocks (blue)
- Rows go inside sections and divide space into columns (green)
- Modules live inside columns and contain your content like text, images, and buttons (black)
Editing is visual and intuitive. You click the gear icon to make changes and the green checkmark to save.
Adding Your Home Page
To add a homepage, go to “New > Page” from your WordPress dashboard, give it a name, and click “Use Divi Builder.” You can build from scratch or choose a prebuilt layout. Once your page is saved and published, set it as your homepage in “Settings > Reading.”
More detailed guidance is in the course videos.
Sign up here for free access
Adding Your Header and Footer
To make a custom header and footer with Divi, go to the Divi Theme Builder in your WordPress dashboard. From there, you can design your global header and footer with the same visual builder tools you use for pages.
The videos in the full tutorial walk you through this step by step.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls When Building Your Site
Building your first website is like learning a new city—getting a little lost helps you learn faster. Give yourself permission to explore, experiment, and even mess up a little. You’ll learn so much more by doing.
And you don’t have to do it alone. I host free weekly Tech Tea Parties where you can bring your questions and get live help from me. It’s a great way to troubleshoot problems and get inspired by other learners.
Join a free Tech Tea Party here
Want Personalized Help? Join My Live Website Workshop
If you’d rather not go it alone, I offer a live Make-Your-Own Website Workshop where I walk a small group through the entire website-building process in real time. It’s part tech training, part marketing class, and part community.
You’ll get personal feedback, guidance at every stage, and a finished site you can be proud of.
Learn more about the upcoming workshop here
Wrapping Up
Building your own website is a powerful way to take control of your business, your brand, and your online presence. I hope this guide and the free video series help you feel more confident as you get started.
I’d love to see what you create.
Hope to meet you soon!
Amy
