We will learn how to make a Magazine site with MH Magazine Lite Theme, step by step, from scratch!
Let’s start!
In this post
Step 1. Buy a Domain Name
Domain Name is address of Website Site. For example: nytimes.com, wikipedia.com, google.com, facebook.com. It includes: Name (nytimes, wikipedia, google, facebook) and extension (com, net, org, co.uk, com.au…)
You need to buy a Domain Name to make a Site (~15$/year). I recommend buying domain name at Namecheap. Good support, easy to configure.
See more: How to buy Domain Name in Namecheap
Step 2. Buy WordPress Hosting
Hosting is used to store data (posts, images, videos,…). I recommended buy Hosting on Cloudways or Kinsta.
Cloudways has good support, powerful, dedicated IP, free SSL, Auto Daily Backup, 2-click WordPress Install and Host Unlimited Domains. BeaverHero hosted on Cloudways 🙂
Read this guide to know How to Buy Managed Cloud Hosting on Cloudways
Step 3. Point Domain Name to Your Hosting
If domain name is house number, hosting is land, website is house. Pointing the domain name is to add the number to the house to create the address.
See more: How to Point Namecheap Domain to Cloudways
Step 4. Install WordPress
WordPress allows you to make beautiful website without coding skills. Read this guide to know how to install WordPress in 5 minutes.
Step 5. Install MH Magazine Lite Theme
First, go to Appearance > Themes > Add New
Type MH Magazine Lite > Hover on Theme Screenshot > click Install
Then Activate
Step 6. Upload Logo
Default MH Theme will display Site Title & Tagline. But if you don’t like this, you can uncheck at “Display Site Title and Tagline” and Upload Logo.
Click Select Logo > Select Files > Select > Skip Cropping
Publish
Step 7. Menu (Navigation)
MH Magazine Lite Theme Menu includes: Custom Link (Home), Post Category (Lifestyle, Travel, Business, Archive) and Page (Contact).
We’ll create Contact Page and these post categories. You can use Pages and Categories you created for your site.
Pages > Add New > Enter Title & Content
Click Publish > Publish
Posts > Categories
Do similar with other categories.
Next, Appearance > Menus > Create a new menu
Name Your Menu > Create Menu
Pages > View All > Tick on Home, Contact > Add to Menu
Categories > View All > Select categories > Add to Menu
Drag to order item > Main Navigation > Save Menu
Step 8. Setup Homepage
You have to setup Homepage to show Slider, Custom Posts,….
First, create a page with name “Home”
Next, click Page Attributes > Template: Homepage > Publish > Publish
Next, Settings > Readings > Your homepage displays: A static page (select below) > Homepage: Home > Save Changes
Step 9. Slider
First, Appearance > Widgets > Drag MH Slider Widget [lit] > Drop to Home 2 – 2/3 Width
Save
Step 10. Custom Post (Under Slider)
Appearance > Widgets > Drag MH Custom Posts [lite] > Drop Home 3 – 1/3 Width & Home 4 – 1/3 Width
Edit MH Custom Posts [lite]
Step 11. Custom Post 2
Appearance > Widgets > Drag MH Custom Posts [lite] > Drop to Home 3 – 1/3 Width & Home 4 – 1/3 Width
Edit MH Custom Posts [lite] > Save
Do Similar with Custom Post 3
Step 11. Section “Upgrade to…”
Appearance > Widgets > Drat Text Widget > Drop to Home 5 – 2/3 Width
Edit this widget > Save. You will need to use CSS to create background (will write in Final Step)
Step 12. Footer & Copyright
Footer
Appearance > Widgets > Drag Widgets: Text, Categories, Recent Posts > Drop to Footer 1, Footer 2, Footer 3 and Footer 4
Edit Recent Posts Widget at Footer 1 – 1/4 Width. You can enter new title or leave default
Edit Text Widget at Footer 2 – 1/4 Width (NEED Title)
Edit Categories Widget at Footer 3 – 1/4 Width
Edit Text Widget at Home 4 – 1/4 Width (NEED Title)
Copyright
I’ve written a detailed post on how to customize MH Magazine Lite Copyright.
Step 13. Right Sidebar on Homepage
Right Sidebar in MH Magazine Lite Demo includes: Search, Image, Recent Posts, Advertisement Image 2, Tags Cloud
Search
Appearance > Widgets > Drag Search widget > Drop to Home 6 – 1/3 Width
Image 1
Appearance > Widgets > Drag Image widget > Drop to Home 6 – 1/3 Width (Under Search Widget). Click Add Image to Upload New Image.
“You may also like” Section
Appearance > Widgets > Drag MH Custom Posts [lite] > Drop to Home 6 – 1/3 Width
Edit MH Custom Posts [lite]
and result
Image Ads 2 & Tag Cloud
Appearance > Widgets > Drag Image & Tag Cloud Widgets > Drop to Home 6 – 1/3 Width
Done!
Step 14. Global Right Sidebar (except Home page)
Do Similar Step 13, but Drop Widgets to Sidebar
Step 15. Contact Page
We will create a Contact Form with Caldera Forms Free. First you need to install and configure Caldera Forms follow this guide.
Next, create a Contact Form follow this guide.
Step 16. Install SSL Certification
If you use Cloudways Hosting, follow this guide to know how to install SSL Certification (Free)
Done!