Should You Use

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For Your Non-Profit Website?

Presented by: Bethany Siegler at http://www.t4gdenver.org/

!Slides available at www.UniqueThink.com/t4g

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Let’s Connect: !Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/uniquethink/  Google+: http://google.com/+Uniquethink  FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/UniqueThink  Twitter: http://Twitter.com/uniquethink LinkedIn: http://www.Linkedin.com/in/uniquethink  

What is WordPress?

• Originally – Created for Blogging – To easy add new posts (content) !

• Now – Used to run a complete website

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Who Uses WordPress?

• WordPress is used by 59.9% of all the websites whose content management system we know. !

• This is 22.1% of all websites.

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http://w3techs.com/technologies/details/cm-wordpress/all/all

From Your Community

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Thanks Sarah Mapes for pointing out these

and other sites

From Your Community

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http://www.boettcherfoundation.org/

http://www.hungerfreecolorado.org/

http://cchn.org/

http://familyvoicesco.org/

http://www.ccmu.org/

http://coloradohealthstory.org/

What is WordPress?

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

– Suggestion: Use Firefox or Chrometo edit content

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CMS: Content Management System

– System that Manages Your Content:

• Organizes content into:

– Pages, Posts, Media (images, video...)

– Add, find, edit and archive content

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The Technology Behind it–GEEK TALK:

•WordPress uses: – PHP files: talks to the Database – MySql Database: stores YOUR content and settings

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How does it function?

– GEEK TALK: – HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

» displays web content » creates the site’s structure

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

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Why do they say it’s so easy?

• You don’t need to know how to code to add content

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Why is it so popular?

• Easy to: • add, change and style text copy • add images and PDFs • embed a YouTube Video

• Can use existing layouts - called “themes” • easily brand it - make it your own

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The Tool that Makes it Easy

• 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)

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B for Bold I for italics

View of Visual Editor

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Visitor’s View: Theme control the Look

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• Current Default Theme: TwentyFourteen comes installed on WordPress

• Check out theme Demo: https://twentyfourteendemo.wordpress.com/

Make it Their Own

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http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/customizing-twenty-fourteen/

What is a Theme

!– 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

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http://www.healthislocal.org/ Built on the DonateNow ThemeThanks Sarah Mapes for pointing these out

Making a Themes Your Own

Making a Themes Your Own

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http://historicorps.org/ Built on the Dandelion Theme

Responsive Designed Theme Scales to any Device

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http://AgingServicesFoundation.org/ Built on the Akita Theme

Making a Themes Your Own

Action Steps: Ask Yourself

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‣ What is your site’s purpose? !‣ How do you want it to look? !‣ What do you want it to do (functionality)? !‣Will media (images/videos) be prominently featured? And how will it display? !‣ Will you be Blogging? !‣ How will the navigation work? !

‣ How will it look to mobile visitors?

Finding Themes

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‣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 - Mobile-Friendly

Finding Themes (Recommendations)

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Free Premium

Finding Themes (Recommendations)

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Free

Premium

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

http://weavertheme.com/

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

http://bit.ly/studiopresswpthemes

What Are Widgets?!

• Add Content and Featuresto your sidebar

• Want to show your Recent Posts on your sidebar?

• Automate the process

• A piece of code or scriptdoes the work for you

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More Widget Sections:

• Widgets aren’t only for sidebars, anymore

– Some themes allow these codes/scripts in the footer area

–Some themes also allow them to be placed within the content area of a page *check with your theme’s developer

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What Are Plugins?

• They Plug Into the Site

– A mini piece of software/app

– Automates or adds functionality

– May be for visitor or admin’s experience

– Like the iPhone has Apps, WordPress has plugins to do most things you need

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About Plugins

• Remember, in most cases these developers are doing it on their own time and giving it away free

• Not all plugins are created equal

• Sometimes developers don’t continue to support future changes

• Too many plugins can weigh down your site

• Plugin conflicts can bring down your whole site

• Look for up to date and highly recommended

• Check the WordPress’s Plugin Directory for more insights: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins

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Plugin Suggestions: These are my free must have plugins

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• 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

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

• BackWPup Free https://wordpress.org/plugins/backwpup/ Schedule complete automatic backups of your WordPress installation. Decide which content will be stored (Dropbox, S3…).  

• WordFence https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence/ Security plugin - with a notification system, of when plugins need to be updated

!

GetJetpack!

• Lots of tools from this one WordPress created plugin. Learn about it: http://jetpack.me/about/

• It has options for stats, comments, subscriptions, contact forms, sharing, photo gallery extensions, and can even handle the load time on images for you.

• You will need a WordPress.com free account to get access

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• UniqueThink.com Helps Build Your Complete Online Presence with: !

• WordPress Websites & Blogs • Social Media • EMail Marketing • Web Usability and SEO Lite

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

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Slides available at www.UniqueThink.com/t4g

Take 10% off my WordPress workshops in Boulder or Denver

!

Use Coupon Code: SieglerBDA16 !

http://boulderdigitalarts.com/training/details.php?offering=217&source=bethany

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!

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Bonus Materials

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Same, but Difference?

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

WordPress.COM

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• 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 266 (some premium from $20 up) • Custom Design: a paid upgrade that costs $30.00 per year. • Tools: Limited 3rd party tools, no plugins • Ads: They can place ads to your site. You can pay to remove

ads from WordPress.com - No-Ads Upgrades cost $30.00 per year

• Space: 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

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• 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 up • Themes: 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 plugins • Ads: You can either run ads or not, it is up to you • Space: 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 theme OR Use a Premium Theme OR Hire a developer for a unique custom look

Hosting Service ProvidersHere  are  a  few  hos+ng  solu+ons  I  recommend:    !HostMonster:  This  company  has  a  low  yearly  price,  24  hour  Utah  based  “technical  support”  (not  just  customer  support,  but  folks  who  can  answer  technical  quesIons)  and  are  good  with  WordPress/security  and  backup  issues:  hOp://www.hostmonster.com/track/uniquethink/  !They  also  recently  added  a  “PRO”  account  –  which  is  more  money,  but  provides  faster  speed,  your  own  dedicated  IP  address,  and  more  !BlueHost  is  the  sister  company  of  HostMonster  and  offers  the  same  product  for  about  $1  more  a  month  –  and  are  a  recommended  WordPress.ORG  vendor:  hOp://www.bluehost.com/track/unqiuethink/  !HostGator:  This  company  has  reasonable  monthly  plans  and  uses  renewable  energy  –  they  are  also  a  good  choice  for  folks  with  are  planning  to  have  a  store  on  their  site.  They  also  offer  plans  for  sites  that  might  grow  too  large  or  prefer  not  to  be  on  a  shared  server  (which  I  can  explain  beOer,  if  you  have  a  need  for  this):  hOp://secure.hostgator.com/cgi-­‐bin/affiliates/clickthru.cgi?id=bethink  !WP  Engine:  This  company  is  considerably  more  expensive,  but  has  a  lot  to  offer.  They  specialize  in  hosIng  WordPress  sites,  do  backups  and  upgrades  for  you,  so  you  don't  have  to  worry  about  doing  them  on  your  own.  The  one  draw  back  is    they  do  their  support  via  email,  not  phone.  If  you  are  not  the  type  to  maintain  updates  on  your  site,  you  should  seriously  consider  this  type  of  opIon  (or  one  of  the  other  plans  and  then  hire  someone  to  do  the  maintenance  for  you):  hOp://uniquethink.com/wpengine  !HostMonster,  BlueHost  and  HostGator  were  all  recently  purchased  by  EIG,  who  owns  many  other  hosIng  companies.  !There  are  a  lot  of  companies  I  would  not  recommend,  they  either  for  price,  security  or  other  factors,  so  please  consider  of  these  as  an  opIon.    !I  typically  encourage  folks  to  purchase  their  domain  name  registraIon  somewhere  else  and  then  point  it  to  your  hosIng  company  (think  of  it  like  forwarding  a  phone  number).    The  reason  for  this  is  if  you  ever  want  to  change  hosIng  companies,  it  is  potenIally  easier.  !These  are  affiliate  links,  but  the  reason  I  recommend  them  is  because  I  think  they  are  beOer  soluIons  than  other  providers  like  GoDaddy  and  Network  SoluIons.  

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WordPress Installation• 1-click install of WordPress makes it easy

• DEMO it on HostMonster:

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

Notes on how to use:

https://my.hostmonster.com/cgi/help/wordpress

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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/

• WP101 Videos: http://www.wp101.com/videos/

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• UniqueThink.com Helps Build Your Complete Online Presence with: !

• WordPress Websites & Blogs • Social Media • EMail Marketing • Web Usability and SEO Lite

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

.com (720) 771.3271 41