WordCamp Raleigh 2018 - Beginner's Guide to Wordpress
•
1 like•403 views
Everyone has a story to tell; and you think the web is the perfect place to tell it. But how do you start? Welcome to WordPress for Beginners. WordPress powers over 25% of the websites on the global Internet. There’s a reason for that number. It’s SO simple. Spend an hour and you can publish to a global audience of more than 3.5 billion people. And it’s SO complex. You can spend years learning how it works. So what can we cover in two hours? Enough to get you started & going in the right direction!
Report
Share
WordCamp Raleigh 2018 - Beginner's Guide to Wordpress
- 1. WordCamp Raleigh 2018Course material - bit.ly/2qZgXxU Part 1
- 2. About me Doug Foster dougfoster.me doug@convinsys.com @theIdeaMechanic I’m a geek. I love stories. WordPress is awesome. 2
- 3. This workshop Beginner level Not technically deep Overview & context Enough to get you started Where to learn more 3
- 5. But wait, there’s more … 5
- 6. Drawing at the end - 1 yr license 6
- 7. Caveat Two hours will only scratch the surface … 7
- 10. Agenda - part 1 1. What Is WordPress? 6 2. WordPress.com or WordPress.org 10 3. Getting Started 13 4. Your WordPress Login 17 5. Exploring the WordPress Dashboard 19 6. Using the WordPress Admin Bar 23 7. Exploring WordPress Settings 27 10
- 11. Agenda - part 1 8. WordPress Posts vs. Pages 36 9. Creating a WordPress Post 39 10. Adding Links in WordPress 43 11. Adding Images to Posts & Pages 45 12. Using the WordPress Media Library 48 13. Formatting WordPress Posts 51 14. Scheduling WordPress Posts 54 11
- 12. Agenda - part 2 15. WordPress Categories & Tags 56 16. Creating a WordPress Page 59 17. Applying a WordPress Page Template 62 18. What are WordPress Plugins? 64 19. Installing WordPress Plugins 67 20. What is a WordPress Theme? 71 21. How to Install a WordPress Theme 74 12
- 13. Agenda - part 2 22. Using WordPress Widgets 78 23. Creating a Custom Menu in WordPress 81 24. Managing Comments in WordPress 84 25. Creating Users in WordPress 90 26. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & WordPress 95 27. WordPress Security 97 13
- 14. 1. What Is WordPress? 6 14 Server (host)Client (desktop)
- 15. What Is WordPress? Free, open source (but there _are_ costs) Originally just for publishing blogs Now a full Content Management System (CMS) Easy to use, but HIGHLY customizable Google “WordPress” … lots of hits 15
- 16. 2. WordPress.com or WordPress.org 10 16
- 17. WordPress.com or WordPress.org VERY similar (under the hood is evolving) .com - Automattic does most of the heavy lifting - easier to get started, but limited options .org - DIY - you host your website - harder, but UNLIMITED options 17
- 18. 3. Getting started 13 18
- 19. Getting started Choose your domain name … yoursite.com There is good hosting … and there is bad hosting Local … Shared … Virtual server … Private … Cloud “One click WordPress install” makes it ‘easy’ 19
- 20. 20 Your WordPress site on Bluehost
- 21. Log in at Bluehost … 21
- 22. … choose a theme … 22 Click “Skip This Step”
- 23. … you’ll see this … 23 Click “Start Building”
- 24. … then you’ll see this. 24 Click “Visit Site”
- 25. Bluehost - A fresh WordPress install 25
- 26. 26 I’m going to use MAMP for this demo Why? Because I don’t trust wireless :-)
- 27. 27 MAMP (free) & Pro ($59) - local hosting
- 28. 28 MAMP Pro (14 day trial) - Control panel
- 29. 29 MAMP - One click WordPress install
- 30. 30 MAMP - A fresh WordPress install
- 31. 4. WordPress login 17 31
- 32. WordPress login (MAMP) log in at … yoursite.com/wp-login.php or … yoursite.com/wp-admin user=admin, pass=admin (change it !!!!!) Pick a unique administrator username Pick a strong password More on security at the end of Part 2 32
- 33. 5. WordPress dashboard 19 33
- 34. WordPress dashboard Navigation on the left Dashboard (especially WordPress Events & News) Help at the top Screen options at the top! Log out at top right 34
- 35. 6. Admin bar 23 35
- 36. Admin bar Only see it if _you_ are logged in Some love it, some hate it You can turn it off (page 26), I leave it on I prefer the two window approach 36
- 37. 7. WordPress settings 27 37
- 38. WordPress settings Show or hide the site from search engines Get these set before your first post Pick your media URL strategy now Pick your permalink URL strategy now Is your front “page” a page or a post? 38
- 42. 8. Posts vs. pages 36 Posts have a time context (e.g. news updates) Posts have categories, tags, & an RSS feed Pages are a type of post (but no tags, …) Pages tend to be more static (e.g. dictionary page) Pages can be nested in a hierarchy (parent/child) Publish now or later 42
- 43. 9. Creating a post 39 43
- 44. Creating a post TinyMCE editor (careful about Visual <—> Text) “slug” comes from the title (but can be changed) Screen options at top to show more Publish options (Draft/Pending/Published) Post format = theme feature to customize content 44
- 45. 10. Adding links 43 45
- 46. 46 Link details
- 47. Adding links Links inside the site - open in the same window Links outside the site - open to a NEW window Watch for broken links (yours & others) Links are good, but not too many & don’t “stuff” 47
- 48. 11. Adding images to posts & pages 45 48
- 49. 12. Media library 48 49
- 50. Media library Images can be .jpg, .png, .gif - .svg (needs a hack) Also be audio, video, .pdf (you need a viewer) Your media should be not too big, not too small Media into post: needs to be in library (or upload) Stored in /wp-content/uploads/year/month/… 50
- 52. 13. Formatting posts 51 52
- 53. Formatting posts Formatted style is controlled by you & the theme Most themes now support the WP customizer Customizing without coding Careful, a few themes don’t “like it” yet You can add your own CSS styles & stylesheets 53
- 56. 14. Scheduling posts 54 56
- 57. Scheduling posts Posts display (sort) by reverse chronological order Schedule a post: pick a future date & time Plugins can be used to “expire” posts 57
- 58. Questions? 58
- 59. 59 Break
- 60. WordCamp Raleigh 2018Course material - bit.ly/2qZgXxU Part 2
- 62. Drawing at the end - 1 yr license 62
- 64. Caveat Two hours will only scratch the surface … 64
- 65. Agenda - part 1 What Is WordPress? - ✓ WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org - ✓ Getting Started - ✓ Your WordPress Login - ✓ Exploring the WordPress Dashboard - ✓ Using the WordPress Admin Bar - ✓ Exploring WordPress Settings - ✓ 65
- 66. Agenda - part 1 WordPress Posts vs. Pages - ✓ Creating a WordPress Post - ✓ Adding Links in WordPress - ✓ Adding Images to Posts & Pages - ✓ Using the WordPress Media Library - ✓ Formatting WordPress Posts - ✓ Scheduling WordPress Posts - ✓ 66
- 67. Agenda - part 2 WordPress Categories & Tags 56 Creating a WordPress Page 59 Applying a WordPress Page Template 62 What are WordPress Plugins? 64 Installing WordPress Plugins 67 What is a WordPress Theme? 71 How to Install a WordPress Theme 74 67
- 68. Agenda - part 2 Using WordPress Widgets 78 Creating a Custom Menu in WordPress 81 Managing Comments in WordPress 84 Creating Users in WordPress 90 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & WordPress 95 WordPress Security 97 68
- 69. 15. Post categories & tags 56 69
- 70. Post categories & tags A way of organizing your content Categories (major) are like drawers in a file cabinet Tags (minor) are like red, blue, green file folders or … Category=Animal, Tag(s) = Dog, Cat, Stories SEO hint: add descriptions Create no more than needed 70
- 71. 71 Post categories & tags
- 72. 16. Creating a page 59 72
- 73. Creating a page Remember earlier, a page is a type of post … but no categories, tags, & RSS feed More for static content Can future schedule too Some themes have page templates http://www.andersnoren.se/teman/hemingway- wordpress-theme/ 73
- 74. 17. Applying a page template 62 74
- 75. 18. What are WordPress plugins? 64 75
- 76. What are WordPress plugins? Plugins are … 1) Awesome! 2) Awful #$%$@!! Add functionality Why reinvent the wheel? Free, Freemium, Paid, Subscription Too many plugins = 4 tons on a 1/2 ton pickup Research. Test. Don’t assume they will always work. 76
- 77. add code to WP: themes, plugins, functions.php The WordPress “Loop” - for content WP core functions - “the_post()” Action hooks - actions do something Filter hooks - filters modify content 77
- 79. 19. Installing plugins 67 79
- 80. Installing plugins Look for ratings Look for downloads Look for when last updated Look in the support forums & “compatible with …” Always do a backup first (I love BackupBuddy) 80
- 81. Let’s take a quick look … 81
- 82. 20. What is a WordPress theme? 71 82
- 83. What is a WordPress theme? Style your content Themes are “front-end” like plugins are “back-end” Be very careful, just like plugins Twenty Seventeen is free You often get what you pay for (think ahead) 83
- 84. 21. Install a WordPress theme 74 84
- 85. How to install a WordPress theme Works “almost” like plugins Search, install, activate, enjoy Easy to change themes (unless you get locked in) Theme - child theme (or try a framework theme) wordpress.org/themes/ 85
- 86. Themes & plugins live here … 86
- 87. Let’s take a quick look … 87
- 88. 22. Using widgets 78 88
- 89. Using widgets “Splotches” of content Widgets depend on the theme (Twenty Seventeen) A simple way to re-apply code (calendar) Usually in sidebars & footers 89
- 90. 23. Creating a custom menu 81 90
- 91. Creating a custom menu Create the menu Your theme has a place to “hook” it into Menus can be hierarchical You can buy amazing menu plugins (UberMenu) Menus should be mobile friendly 91
- 92. 92 Multiple menus (depends on the theme)
- 93. 24. Managing comments 84 93
- 94. Managing comments Don’t have to show comments Akismet plugin will block SPAM comments Might want to NOT auto-approve comments An excellent way to boost SEO (authoritative) Upgrade with plugins & services 94
- 95. 25. Creating users 90 95
- 96. Creating users Subscriber/Contributor/Author/Editor/Administrator Use secure passwords Replace “admin” with … “wpwizard” ?? Have a backup admin account Roles can be extended (“for your eyes only”) You can build membership sites, forums, … 96
- 97. 26. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 95 97
- 98. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) You want to be found … right? SEO for the site SEO for pages, posts (images, …) Social media Check out Tony Zeoli’s workshop tomorrow 98
- 99. 27. WordPress security 97 99
- 100. WordPress security Good backups are part of your security plan Keep everything updated (WP, theme, plugins) LOTS of ways in - be aware LOTS of ways to secure your site Can you go overboard? Some say yes, some no. 100
- 101. Backups - plugin 101
- 104. Questions? 104
- 105. Recap Two hours only scratched the surface … 105
- 106. This workshop Beginner level - ✓ Not technically deep - ✓ Overview & context - ✓ Enough to get you started - ✓ Where to learn more - ✓ 106
- 107. About me Doug Foster dougfoster.me doug@convinsys.com @theIdeaMechanic I’m a geek. I love stories. WordPress is awesome. 107
- 108. Drawing at the end - 1 yr license 108
- 109. WordCamp Raleigh 2018Course material - bit.ly/2qZgXxU End