How to Connect a Domain to WordPress + Add SSL (Beginner Tutorial)

🎯 Build your next WordPress website with Breakdance: https://breakdance.com/free-site-builder/ Learning how to make a WordPress website is not just about designing pages. To make your site accessible to visitors, you also need a domain name, DNS records, and SSL so your website can load securely over HTTPS. In this beginner-friendly WordPress tutorial, Elijah shows you how to buy a domain name in Cloudflare, connect that domain to your WordPress site on Cloudways, check that the website is live, and set up a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate. By the end, you’ll understand how your domain, hosting, DNS, WordPress site, and SSL certificate work together when launching a website. === Chapters === 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Get a domain name for your WordPress website 00:45 Understand domain pricing 01:33 Purchase a domain in Cloudflare 04:45 Connect your domain to Cloudways 06:17 Manage your WordPress domain in Cloudways 06:42 Check that your WordPress website is live 06:50 Set up SSL with Let’s Encrypt 07:19 Outro === FAQ === What is a domain name for a WordPress website? A domain name is the easy-to-remember address people type into their browser to visit your website, such as example.com. Your domain points visitors to the server where your WordPress website is hosted. Do I need a domain name to make a WordPress website? You can build a WordPress website on a temporary URL, but you need a domain name if you want visitors to access your site using a professional custom address. What is DNS? DNS stands for Domain Name System. It connects your domain name to the correct web server so browsers know where to load your WordPress website from. What is Cloudflare DNS? Cloudflare DNS lets you manage the DNS records for your domain. In this video, we use Cloudflare to buy the domain and point it to the WordPress site hosted on Cloudways. How do I connect a domain to WordPress? To connect a domain to WordPress, you usually add the domain in your hosting account, then update the DNS records so the domain points to your server’s IP address. What is SSL for WordPress? SSL helps secure the connection between your website and your visitors. Once SSL is active, your WordPress website can load over HTTPS instead of HTTP. Do I need SSL on my WordPress website? Yes. SSL is important for visitor trust, browser security warnings, forms, logins, checkout pages, and any website that should look professional and secure. Is Let’s Encrypt SSL free? Yes. Let’s Encrypt provides free SSL certificates, and Cloudways supports installing Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for applications hosted on its platform. === Related resources === Breakdance Free: https://breakdance.com/free-site-builder/ Breakdance Builder: https://breakdance.com/ Learn Breakdance Tutorials: https://breakdance.com/learn/ Cloudflare Registrar: https://www.cloudflare.com/products/registrar/ Register a Domain with Cloudflare: https://developers.cloudflare.com/registrar/get-started/register-domain/ Cloudways: Take Your Website Live: https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/4805075-how-do-i-take-my-website-live-from-cloudways Cloudways: Create an A Record: https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5156623-how-to-create-an-a-record Cloudways: Install Let’s Encrypt SSL: https://support.cloudways.com/en/articles/5129591-how-to-install-let-s-encrypt-ssl-certificate