Beginner’s Guide to

For Non-coders

.com (720) 771.3271 1

Bethany Siegler Slides available at

www.UniqueThink.com/wcd

Connect at:

Twitter.com/UniqueThinkFacebook.com/UniqueThinkPinterest.com/UniqueThink

.com (720) 771.3271 2

Who Are You: Raise Those Hands

.com (720) 771.3271 3

What is WordPress?

WordPress Software/Application: – Browser-based– Lives online - NOT on your computer

.com (720) 771.3271 4.com (720) 771.3271

How does it function?

–GEEK TALK: WordPress uses HTML and CSS– HTML or HyperText Markup

Language»displays web content»creates the structure

– CSS or Cascading Style Sheets »defines appearance »stylizes: fonts, colors and sizing

.com (720) 771.3271 5.com (720) 771.3271

How does it function?

–GEEK TALK: WordPress is based on PHP - a server-side scripting languages - that works with a MySQL database– PHP files - make site function– Database - stores YOUR content

.com (720) 771.3271 6.com (720) 771.3271

Same, but Difference?

.com (720) 771.3271 7

https://wordpress.org https://wordpress.com/

WordPress.COM

.com (720) 771.3271 8

Free hosting: No install/upgrades, but domain contains WordPress.com: www.YourBlogName.WordPress.com

1. Use a domain you already own on WordPress.com account - $13.00 per domain, per year.

2. Register a domain thru WordPress.com, starting at $18.00 per domain, per year

Themes: Limited to 211 (45 premium from $39 up)Custom Design: a paid upgrade that costs $30.00 per year.Tools: Limited 3rd party tools, no pluginsAds: They can add ads to your site. You can pay to remove ads from WordPress.com - No-Ads Upgrades cost $30.00 per yearSpace: 3GB free -10GB Upgrade: $20.00 per year

.COM Options: either use Free As Is OR get WordPress Value Bundle a $99 yr

WordPress.ORG

.com (720) 771.3271 9

Self-hosted: Pay for hosting - and domain name - need to install and maintain upgrades

1. hosting can cost about $83 in the first year with free domain registration thru HostMonster, BlueHost or HostGator

2. Use 1-click install to get WordPress set upThemes: Unlimited free and premium (between $25-$150)Custom Design: to get a look that really meets your vision, you could move to WordPress.ORG and use any theme (layout, the look of your site) or have someone custom create a look for you Tools: Unlimited 3rd party tools and pluginsAds: You can either run ads or not, it is up to youSpace: depends on hosting plan

You have to host, install, backup and upgrade on your own - but it is fairly easy to do

.ORG Options: Get started at about $83 using Twenty Eleven or another free themeOR Use a Premium ThemeOR Hire a developer for a unique custom look

WordPress Installation1-click install

DEMO HostMonster: http://www.hostmonster.com/cgi/demo

.com (720) 771.3271 10.com (720) 771.3271

WordPress Installation

.com (720) 771.3271 11.com (720) 771.3271

Visitor’s View: Front End of Site

.com (720) 771.3271 12.com (720) 771.3271

Current Default Theme: TwentyEleven comes with WordPress installation

Where to Go:

Admin Section:

– Backdoor to your site (lives online)

– Administrative area Way to edit/add content to site

– Login with username & password via http://yoursitename.com/wp-admin

.com (720) 771.3271 13.com (720) 771.3271

Admin Panels – Where do I login?

14.com (720) 771.3271

Getting around the WordPress Dashboard

15.com (720) 771.3271

Finding Help and Inline Documentation

16.com (720) 771.3271

WordPress Glossary of Terms

Content Management System (CMS): – System that Manages Your Content:

Organizes content into:– Pages

– Posts

– Media (images, video...)

– Allows you to easily add, find, edit and archive content

.com (720) 771.3271 17.com (720) 771.3271

The Media LibraryAdd PDFs, Images, Audio, Video

(max size for most web hosts is 5-8MB, can increase via php.ini file)

18.com (720) 771.3271

Managing Your content

WordPress Glossary of Terms

Visual Editor (WYSIWYG): – What You See is What You Get

– Toolbar with buttons for stylizing your content (as in Word and other text editors)

– Don’t need to know HTML (but sometimes helpful)

.com (720) 771.3271 19.com (720) 771.3271

View of Visual Editor

20.com (720) 771.3271

WordPress Glossary of Terms

Widgets: – Typically WordPress Blogs have a sidebar– Content within sidebar can be dynamic

Automatically pulled in Piece of code Widget Example: Recent Post Widget

– Widgets aren’t only for sidebars

.com (720) 771.3271 21.com (720) 771.3271

Widgets

22.com (720) 771.3271

WordPress Glossary of Terms

Plugins: – Plug it into core – A mini piece of software – Automates or adds functionality– May be for visitor or admin’s experience

.com (720) 771.3271 23.com (720) 771.3271

Managing plug-ins

24.com (720) 771.3271

Plugin Suggestions

.com (720) 771.3271 25.com (720) 771.3271

Akismet- http://akismet.com/ - Eliminates Spam in Comments

All in One SEO Pack - http://semperfiwebdesign.com/documentation/all-in-one-seo-pack/all-in-one-seo-faq/  Helps you add keywords to titles and descriptions for search engines

Broken Link Checker   http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/broken-link-checker/ Checks for broken links and missing images

Custom Post Widget https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/custom-post-widget/ Adds 'content blocks' to a widget - without knowing code

Google Analyticator: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-analyticator Adds Google Analytics code (a tool to track visits to your site)

Google XML SiteMap: https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-sitemap-generator/ Adds a sitemap to help the search engines index you better

Limited Login Attempts: https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/limit-login-attempts/

TinyMCE Advanced http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/tinymce-advanced/  Add on tools for your editor tool bar.

WordPress Database Backup https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-db-backup/On-demand backup of your WordPress database. 

Wordpress Firewall 2 https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-firewall-2/Monitors web requests to identify and stop the most obvious attacks.

WordPress Glossary of Terms

Themes:– Controls the PRESENTATION (look) of site– Separate from Content (text and media) – Can be easily switched

(to give a site a new look)– 1000s and 1000s of free and

premium (paid) themes available– Not all are created equal

.com (720) 771.3271 26.com (720) 771.3271

Action Steps: Ask Yourself

.com (720) 771.3271 27

What is your site’s purpose?

How do you want it to look?

What kind of media (images/videos) do you have?

What do you want it to do (functionality)?

Will you be Blogging?

How will the navigation work?

Do you have mobile visitors?

Default Theme

28.com (720) 771.3271

Finding Themes (recommend researching throughly)

29.com (720) 771.3271

https://wordpress.org/extend/themes/

Finding Themes

30.com (720) 771.3271

What to Look for: – How it looks and functions– Does it have/do what you need– Documentation and Support– Reviews and Ratings– Browser Compatibility– Responsive Design

Finding Themes (Recommendations)

31.com (720) 771.3271

Free Premium

Finding Themes (Recommendations)

32.com (720) 771.3271

Free

Premium

https://wordpress.org/extend/themes/

http://weavertheme.com/

http://themeforest.net/user/ThemeBlvd?ref=uniquethink

http://bit.ly/studiopresswpthemes

Resources

WordPress.org: http://wordpress.org/

WordPress Plugin Directory: https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/

WordPress Themes Directory: https://wordpress.org/extend/themes/

How-To Videos from WordPress.com: http://wordpress.tv/category/how-to/

Recommended hosting solutions (I do get a referral fee, but only recommend easy to use companies, with good customer service, who are also affordable – about $6.95 a month):

– HostMonster: http://www.hostmonster.com/track/uniquethink/ – BlueHost (sister company of HostMonster): http://

www.bluehost.com/track/unqiuethink/

– HostGator: http://secure.hostgator.com/cgi-bin/affiliates/clickthru.cgi?id=bethink

.com (720) 771.3271 33

UniqueThink.com Helps Build Your Complete Online Presence with:

WordPress Websites & BlogsSocial MediaEMail MarketingWeb Usability and SEO Lite

Bethany Siegler can be reached at 720.771.3271 or email at Bethany@UniqueThink.com

.com (720) 771.3271 34

Slides available at www.UniqueThink.com/wcd