Before you start
- WordPress on HTTPS
- Administrator access to wp-admin
Plan pages before installing plugins
Typical set: Home, About, Services, Contact, Privacy Policy, and optional Blog.
Sketch navigation in a document first — fewer menu changes later means fewer broken links in Search Console.
Create pages and assign a static front page
Pages → Add New for each section. Use block patterns sparingly — heavy demo stacks slow small hosting plans.
Settings → Reading → “A static page” → choose Home as homepage and a separate Posts page for news.
Add a contact form (one plugin)
Pick one form plugin (Contact Form 7, WPForms Lite, Fluent Forms, etc.) — not three.
Send test submissions to a real inbox; configure SMTP or transactional mail if messages land in spam.
Legal and trust pages
Publish Privacy Policy and, if you use analytics or forms, a short cookie notice.
Link them in the footer on every template — shoppers and regulators expect visible policies even without a shop.
When to add WooCommerce later
If you start selling physical or digital products, install WooCommerce in a maintenance window after a backup.
Simple sites can keep the same theme if it declares WooCommerce support; otherwise switch to a shop-ready theme before launch.