new user guide

TheNewUserGuideToWordPress

Aboutme

www.wpteach.com [email protected] (416)907-8396

Program Manager, Hostopia

• WordPress Strategy

Professor, George Brown College

•Intro to WordPress

•intro to Web Development

Former Organizer

•WordCamp Toronto

•Toronto WordPress Meetup

Owner

WPTeach.com

http://www.rework.com/

WheretoStart?The first question I get asked almost every semester is....

.comor.org?



What is

Wordpress.orgThis is the website where the core software lives, along with thousands of themes and plugins.

And they are all free!!



What is

Wordpress.comIs a commercial website where you can host a free WordPress site. It runs on a feature of WordPress called MultiSite

It’s free as well!!!!



So if they are both free, whats the big deal?

Why do I have to choose?



Why choose

WordPress.com• Up and running in mere moments

• No need to have any technical knowledge

• No need to worry about Backups- done automatically for you

• You’ll often get new features before they are made available to .org

• Security of knowing the company behind WordPress is looking after your site

• Limited functionality compared to .org versionCan only use themes providedSite has ads on it unless upgrade purchased to remove

• Cant add plugins- limits ability to extend your site’s functionality

• no FTP access= no access to files

Pros Cons



Why choose

WordPress.org• Full Functionality

• Use any theme or plugin you want

• Full control over your content- no Ads

• Able to fully customize- full access to all code

• Able to monetize site

• Ecommerce capabilities

• Need to have some technical knowledgeYou are responsible for backing up and maintaining your siteYou break it? You fix it

• Additional cost for hosting

• Can add additional functionality- Custom Post types, Event calendars etc.

Pros Cons



Howtochoose?WordPress.com WordPress.org

I want to sell online and need ecommerce capabilities

I want nothing to do with maintaining my site

I think FTP is something I order at Starbucks and want to keep it that way

I have a lot of videos and images I want to use on my site

I don’t have a development budget and dont want to DIY

I want to start a membership site

I want to see if I like WordPress

I’m all about the freedom- at least when it comes to plugins and themes



WordPress needs to be installed on my computer.

FALSE

I can’t do ecommerce with WordPress

ALSO FALSE


MisconceptionsCommon


The Dilemma

PageorPost?What is a Page?

•Static Content- About Us, Contact Form, Services, Location• Content that won’t change often (if ever)

• Content that you don’t want people commenting on



The Dilemma

PageorPost?What is a Post?

•Timely information- News, Announcements, Articles ( but no cat pictures)• Content that changes and gets added to often

• Content that you want people commenting on



Please explain

CategoriesandTagsCategories and tags are applied to your posts only- not pages

•Think of categories as your table of contents for your posts•Tags are then the index words at the back of the book



Example Time

CategoriesNewspapers have been doing this for years in print

•News

•Entertainment•Sports•Classifieds



Example Time

CategoriesLets move online- Real Estate Site

•Cities

• Buffalo

• Cheektowaga

• Orchard Park

• North Townawanda

•Types of Properties

• Detached

• Semi-Detached

• Condo

Other potential Categories

•Local Real Estate News

•Helpful tips for home buyers

•Community Events



Wise Man time

You must strike a good balance between offering as few options as possible, while giving your reader enough choice to satisfy them

Lessismore



You’re it

TagMeTags are descriptors for your content

•Recipe site example•The recipe is for Lemon Meringue Pie•Categories could be

• Baking

• Dessert

• Pies

Tags could be

• Eggs• Custard• Meringue• Lemon• How much can Al eat in one sitting?



Questions?



Wise Man time

50% discount on my Ultimate Guide to WordPress Video Series

http://bit.ly/11BjMDV

Discount code- WPBuff

BonusTime


http://bit.ly/11BjMDV

Thankyou!


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