wordpress 101 for solo professionals

An IntroductionThe Basics of WordPress

Renee Shuperenee@RedheadVA.comRedheadVA.com | WPSitesMadeEasy.com | LetsLearnWP.comTwitter: @ReneeShupe

Presented at VA Virtuosos; April 14, 2011

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What I’ll be sharing…

Who am IBrief History of WordPress & Why I love WordPress.com & .org – Confusion DemystifiedNon Techie Tips for Getting the most out of Wordpress & when to ask for help Pages, Posts, Widgets & Plugins Oh My!

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WHO AM I

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Meet Renee…Creator of Wordpress Sites Made Easy & Let’s Learn WordPressChief Redhead at Redhead Business SolutionsBlog Strategist, Wordpress Developer & Mentor/CoachWorking as a Virtual Assistant on & off since 2006, full time since 200820 + years in marketing & technology fields

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BRIEF HISTORY OF WORDPRESS

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Matt MullenwegReleased WordPress in 2003 as an Open Source Software

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200 Million+Currently run using Wordpress

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Why Wordpress?

Simple to UseUsability

Looks GoodAesthetics

Easy to ModifyWeb Standards

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.COM & .ORGConfusion Demystified

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Basic Functionality

Posts & PagesComments & TrackbacksCategories & TagsPhotos & GalleriesWidgetsSelect ThemesMulti-LanguageMultiple Users

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WordPress.org

All the Basic FunctionalityUnlimited number of Themes & Template CustomizationsPluginsCustom Content TypesCustom Taxonomy

Custom MenusDomain Shortened URLsMultiple BlogsAccess to all the backend filesAnd more….GET MORE!!

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When to use what?

.com• Primarily a blog• Up & running quickly• Don’t need a custom theme• Want to be part of a

community

.org• Stand alone site (right

choice for a business site)• Unique themes & plugins• More than just a blog• Gives you FULL control over

your site

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Installing Wordpress1-Click Install

• A web hoste.g. Hostgator, Blue Host

• The web hosting must have the 1 Click install for Wordpress

• A Web Browser

Manual Install• A web host

e.g. Hostgator, Blue Host

• A text editore.g. Notepad, TextEdit, Dreamweaver, BBEedit

• FTP Cliente.g. Filezilla, Cute FTP

• Web Browser

Not too Techie

More Techie

http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_Wordpress

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TIPS FOR THE NON-TECHIE

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Non Techie Tips

Seek helpDon’t Change anything you don’t understandIt’s okay to have someone set it up for youUse a reputable hosting provider• Hostgator• Bluehost

Use the 1 button install available with your hosting service

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Non Techie Tips

Choose a reputable theme– Find good free themes at

http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/– Research for Premium themes (more options &

support)• iThemes.com, WooThemes.com, ElegantThemes.com

– Consider a framework• Thesis, Headway, Hybrid Theme

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PAGES, POSTS, WIDGETS & PLUGINS

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Pages vs Post

Pages Posts

PermanentContent

Timely Content

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Categorize Your Content

Makes it easy for your readers to filter your contentCategories = Table of Contents in a bookTags = The Index in a book

Posts and pages can be categorized & subcategorized

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Change your theme

Themes provide the look of your siteExperiment & change your theme like you change clothes!99 pre-set themes on Wordpress.com (premium themes now available)1000’s available for self hosted sites

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Add widgets!

Small applications you can put on your side bar of your site

• Twitter Feed• Latest Comments• Social Book Marks• And more…

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Add plugins!

Extend the functionality of Wordpress• Akismet (fights spam)• Social Bookmarks• SEO• Fancy Galleries

There’s a Plugin for that!

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Plugin in Sampling…

Plugin Must Haves…Google XML SitemapAkismetFD Feedburner PluginW3 Total CacheGoogle Analytics for WordpressWP-DBManager

Very usefulAll in One SEOEditorial CalendarBackup BuddyRedirectionBlackbird PieBlubrry

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WordPress as a Website

Use pages to build your site

TIP: Set a Page as Your Homepage instead of displaying your blog

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Resources

• WordPress.orghttp://wordpress.org

• Wordpress Lessonshttp://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Lessons

• WPBeginners.comhttp://www.wpbeginner.com

• WordPress Tutorialshttp://www.wp-tutorials.org

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Let’s Learn WordPress Training for Solo Professionals

LetsLearnWP.com

• 35+ Videos for Immediate viewing• 2 Monthly Seminars for Members• Access via forums for direct access

& community training• Learn how to set up your own

WordPress site• Customization• Understand all the options

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WordPress Installs Simplified

WPSitesMadeEasy.com

• Learn how to choose a domain name• How to choose a web hosting

service• Step by Step walk through of setting

up our first Wordpress Site• How To Customize and Secure your

Website• And much more!!!!!

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Find me online….

Twitter: RedheadVA.com/Twitter or @ReneeShupeFacebook: RedheadVA.com/FacebookLinkedin: RedheadVA.com/Linkedin

My SitesRedheadVA.com

WPSitesMadeEasy.comReneeRecommends.com