Best WordPress Resources for Newbies: Beginner Guide (2025)

Want to learn more about WordPress?

By the end of this guide, you will know about the different WordPress resources available for anyone new to using it.

Here’s some of what we’ll cover here:

• Official WordPress resources
• Online learning platforms
• Blog and community resources

Ready? Let’s get started.

Official WordPress Resources

If you want to go the official route, WordPress prepared some resources for you, albeit a little hard to understand than others. 😅

1. WordPress Codex

The WordPress Codex is the official online manual compiled by the developers of WordPress.

It serves as an extensive repository of documentation covering every aspect of WordPress, from basic installation to advanced theme and plugin development.

Some of the topics it covers are:

• Installation and updates
• Getting started and WordPress lessons
• Glossary and troubleshooting
• Theme and plugin development

Despite its wealth of information, the Codex is not without its flaws — some articles are outdated, and the technical language can be challenging for beginners.

However, it remains an “okay” resource for anyone serious about mastering WordPress.

2. WordPress.org

WordPress.org is the official website of the WordPress project and serves as a central hub for all things WordPress.

It offers a wide range of resources for users of all skill levels, from complete beginners to advanced WordPress developers.

The site features:

• Extensive documentation, including handbooks for APIs, plugin and theme development, and the block editor
• A comprehensive code reference and developer blog
• A “WordPress Playground” that allows users to run WordPress entirely in their browser for testing and experimentation.

Simply stated, WordPress.org is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to build, manage, or contribute to WordPress websites.

Its extensive documentation and active community support make it a cornerstone of the WordPress ecosystem.

👉 Related: Why Is WordPress Free: What You Need to Know

3. WordPress.tv

WordPress.tv, overseen by WordPress.org, is a video platform that provides an extensive array of tutorials, presentations, and interviews focused on WordPress.

It’s an excellent resource for those who prefer watching demonstrations over reading text-based guides.

On the site, you can find a wide range of video tutorials that cover various topics, including:

• Basic WordPress usage
• Theme and plugin development
• Advanced customization techniques. 

Interestingly, many of the videos on WordPress.tv are contributed by members of the WordPress community.

The extensive library of tutorials and community-driven approach make it a valuable tool for both beginners and experienced users.

Online Learning Platforms

If you prefer learning platforms, there are also a bunch of them that offer information about WordPress.

1. SkillJet Academy

SkillJet Academy is a specialized online learning platform designed to provide actionable business training for those working with WordPress and web design.

The courses are tailored to help entrepreneurs, developers, and freelancers build successful WordPress-based businesses.

Notable WordPress online courses include:

• A Beginner’s Guide to WordPress
• A Masterclass for Growing Your Web Design Business
• A Guide to Boost Your SEO by Using Schema Markup

The courses are created by industry veterans like Dave Swift, Chris Lema, and John Whitford.

Unlike other platforms, SkillJet emphasizes business growth, offering courses on topics such as speeding up WordPress websites, closing deals, and building recurring revenue streams.

2. Udemy

Udemy is a popular online learning platform that offers thousands of WordPress courses suitable for beginners to advanced users.

The courses often include video tutorials, quizzes, and downloadable resources to enhance the learning experience.

It offers extensive courses such as:

• WordPress 2024: The Complete WordPress Website Course
• Advanced WordPress & Elementor 2024

These courses cover everything from basic WordPress site setup to advanced customization and plugin development.

Udemy also provides forums where students can ask questions and interact with instructors.

It’s a great choice for WordPress beginners looking to learn at their own pace and gain comprehensive knowledge of WordPress.

3. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda.com, offers a robust selection of WordPress courses that cater to different skill levels.

It’s an excellent resource for those looking to build a professional skill set in WordPress and the added benefit of professional certification.

Many of its courses provide foundational knowledge for beginners, covering topics such as installation, theme customization, and SEO configuration.

Some of these courses are:

• WordPress Essential Training
• WordPress.com Essential Training
• Learning Elementor for WordPress Design
• WordPress: Introduction to Custom Block Building

What’s nice about this platform is that it offers certificates of completion that can be showcased on LinkedIn profiles.

Blogs and Community Resources

Some people (like me) sometimes like the raw and well, “opinionated” information from other resources like blogs and community resources.

1. Darrel Wilson’s Blog and YouTube Channel

As you may know, Darrel Wilson is a prominent figure known for his extensive tutorials and resources aimed at helping beginners create and manage WordPress websites. 

This website is a treasure trove of free WordPress tutorials and reviews, covering a wide range of topics, from basic WordPress setup to advanced customization techniques.

The blog provides step-by-step guides that make complex processes easy to understand. 

The YouTube channel, on the other hand, complements this website by offering video tutorials that visually guide users through the process of building and enhancing WordPress websites.

The channel is particularly beneficial for visual learners who prefer watching demonstrations over reading text. 

2. WPBeginner

WPBeginner is widely recognized as the largest free WordPress resource site for beginners.

The development team behind WPBeginner is also the same team behind the popular WordPress plugins OptinMonster and MonsterInsights.

WPBeginner offers:

• Comprehensive tutorials
• WPBeginner dictionary
• Video tutorials

WordPress users can also join the WPBeginner Engage Facebook group – a vibrant community with over 97,000 members – for community support.

3. ThemeIsle Blog and YouTube Channel

ThemeIsle is another prominent resource for WordPress users, known for its practical tutorials and reviews.

The ThemeIsle Blog covers a wide range of topics, from basic WordPress setup to advanced customization and optimization techniques.

The blog offers step-by-step guides on various aspects of WordPress, as well as reviews of WordPress themes, plugins, and hosting services. 

ThemeIsle’s YouTube channel, on the other hand, offers additional tutorials and reviews, catering to users who prefer video content.

The channel covers a wide range of topics, from basic WordPress setup to advanced customization techniques.

Theme and Plugin Shops

This list wouldn’t be complete without the favorite places where you can buy themes and plugins that you can use for your website. 🙂

1. Elegant Themes

Elegant Themes is a popular WordPress theme shop that has earned a stellar reputation for its high-quality themes and plugins.

Founded by Nick Roach in 2008, the company has grown from a small operation to a large, distributed team of WordPress enthusiasts.

The flagship product of Elegant Themes is the Divi theme, which is one of the most popular WordPress themes globally.

Divi is renowned for its powerful visual drag-and-drop builder, the Divi Builder, which allows users to create custom layouts without any coding knowledge.

The Elegant Themes community is vibrant and supportive, with numerous tutorials, a dedicated blog, and active forums.

2. Envato Market

Envato Market is a leading online marketplace for creative assets, including WordPress themes and plugins.

It’s part of the larger Envato ecosystem, which also includes Envato Elements and Envato Tuts+.

One of the most popular marketplaces within Envato Market is ThemeForest, where users can purchase a wide variety of WordPress themes.

ThemeForest offers themes for different niches, including blogs, portfolios, ecommerce sites, and corporate websites.

Another key marketplace is CodeCanyon, which specializes in plugins and code scripts.

Here, users can find plugins to extend the functionality of their WordPress sites, from SEO tools to ecommerce enhancements.

Envato Market is home to thousands of authors who sell their creative assets, and it has paid out over $1 billion in community earnings.

This platform supports a diverse range of creators, from freelancers to large agencies, and fosters a collaborative environment.

Using WordPress Resources

The good news is that you can master WordPress using a variety of resources designed for beginners (though it may take some time).

With the right guidance and tools, beginners can build a strong foundation for creating and managing successful websites.

By continuously learning and exploring new techniques, users can confidently navigate the WordPress ecosystem and achieve their website goals.