Firstly, let's tackle one common misconception. The point of a static website isn't to make the content hard coded into the HTML or PHP files at all. The actual point is to abandon the standard chronological organization of content (to abandon the blog functionality) and to focus on building a site where pages exist on their own, independently of one another. So, in the end, we can still edit everything pretty easily through wp-admin, and the only difference is that we're not using the standard WordPress posts for anything. Instead, we're focusing on the WordPress pages.
During the setup process of a good static page, you'll have to do the following:
- Pick a WordPress theme that fits your goals and looks attractive for your particular project (something we talked about in Chapter 7, Choosing and Installing Themes); this is a mandatory step for all types of non-blog websites. Quite simply, not every theme will fit every type of website. So, whenever picking a specific one, keep in mind what you want to use the website for—this is going to make your work easier as a developer and make the website better for future visitors once the site is launched.
- Create a list of all of the static pages that you want to make a part of your website. For instance, for a local pet grooming service, the pages could be a gallery, offers and pricing, testimonials, a contact page, and a map.
- Create each page in the wp-admin (through Pages | Add New).
- Create one more page, call it HOME, and tweak it to provide a good home page experience. For instance, start by focusing on the elements that a first-time visitor would consider useful on your home page. A good home page should answer the question, what is this site about?
- Create easy-to-grasp menus to make navigation a breeze.
Steps 1 to 3 are pretty straightforward, so let's just focus on the last two.