Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick & Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Austin WordPress Meetup Group

Presented By: Rich Plakas

http://www.meetup.com/austinwordpress/

A Little Bit About Me

★ IT Background going back to the days of DOS & Novell

★ Began “messing” with WordPress in 2007.★ Switched my focus from IT to WordPress in

2011★ I was tired of doing Windoze Updates &

changing Printer Toners :-)★ Joined the Austin WordPress Meetup Group In

2012.★ I love BBQ & Craft Beer.★ I run a beer blog: www.CraftBeerAustin.com


The WordPress Administration Screen is composed of:

The top ToolBarLeft Main Navigation

The WordPress Dashboard.

The Dashboard comes with 5 WIDGETS by default.

Welcome

At a Glance

Quick Draft

Activity

WordPress News


As you install new Plugins, your Dashboard & Navigation options will

change.

Some themes will also add their own Navigation & Dashboard options.


You can control which widgets are displayed in the Dashboard

without having to delete or modify the plugin associated with it.

Click on the SCREEN OPTIONS arrow:


You can control some of the Administration Screen colors and options in your User Profile:


The Toolbar

The Toolbar mostly contains shortcuts to create New Posts,Pages Media, and Users.


Is this the only way you can Create a New post or Page?

NO!You can also do it from the Navigation Menus!


The Setting Menu

One of most important options in the Navigation is the Settings Menu:


The Setting Menu - General Options


The Setting Menu - Writing Options


The Setting Menu - Reading Options


The Setting Menu - Discussion Options


The Setting Menu - Media Options


The Setting Menu - Permalinks Options


The Appearance Menu - Themes, Widgets & Menus


The Appearance Menu - Widgets


The Appearance Menu - Menus


The Appearance Menu - THE CUSTOMIZER


The Appearance Menu - THE CUSTOMIZER

LIVE DEMO TIME!


How to Pick and Install Plugins



What are plugins?

“Plugins are tools to extend the functionality of WordPress. The core of WordPress is designed to be lean, to maximize flexibility and minimize code bloat. Plugins offer custom functions and features so that each user can tailor their site to their specific needs” — http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins

http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins



What are plugins really?

Plugins are apps or programs composed of PHP scripts that extend the functionality of your WordPress site.



Some plugins are free and others you must pay for.

You can find thousands of free plugins in the WordPress Plugin Directory:

https://wordpress.org/plugins/

There are over 40,000 plugins there!

https://wordpress.org/plugins/



Examples of Plugins:

Backup Plugins

Ecommerce Plugins

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Plugins

Photo Gallery Plugins

Analytics Plugins



How Many Plugins Can I Run on my WordPress Website?

There is no definitive answer.

It depends on how resource intensive those plugins you installed are.



How Can I Tell if a Plugin is OK to Install?

Check how many active installs.

Check the Ratings & Reviews.

Check how many support requests have been resolved and how quickly.

Check when it was last updated.



What Out for Abandoned Plugins!

Check the Last Updated Date!



Before Installing a Plugin Make Sure You have a Backup of Your WordPress Website!

You should also have FTP (or SFTP) access to your website before installing a Plugin.

FTP File access will give a quick way to disable the plugin if your site crashed and becomes unreachable.



What Can Go Wrong?

Worst Case:

A new plugin you install can conflict with another plugin or with WordPress itself and render your WordPress website unreachable.

Not as Bad:

Your website will slow down or act “Weird”



LIVE DEMO TIME!

Questions?

Rich Plakas Connected Systems

@RichP on Twitter [email protected]

The WordPress Beginner's Guide To SEO

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick & Install Plugins

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