@beckyddesign beckydavisdesign.com take control of your site with wordpress

@beckyddesignBeckydavisdesign.com

Take Control of Your Site with

WordPress

Beckydavisdesign.com @beckyddesign

What is WordPress?

WordPress is an open source blog tool and publishing platform powered by PHP and MySQL. It's often customized into a Content Management System (CMS). It has many features including a plug-in architecture and a template system.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Different Flavors of WordPress

Wordpress.com –

Set up a site for free and start blogging!

Limited template choices

Restricted plug-in use

Non-commercial only

Limited traffic allowed

Yourdomain.wordpress.com


Different Flavors of WordPressWordpress.org –

Install the software on your hosting server – many hosts have a quick way to do this through the control panel

Famous less than 5 minute install (after DB has been configured)

Almost unlimited design and functionality options

Keep it updated!

Recommend using a pro to get things designed and setup. Coding knowledge is necessary.


WP as a CMS

Clients can log in and edit/create blog posts or pages for their sites easily.


Posts and Pages

Pages - for most of the regular “static” pages of the site, i.e. Home, Contact, About

Pages can be edited and changed at any time

They generally do not have dates attached to them

Posts – for the “blog”

“Dymanic”, because of comments

Default at Latest First

All posts show up in a list


Custom Post TypesWith programming knowledge, the back-end can be customized for users and “custom post-types” can be created.

Custom post types can be configured to suit the need

Product pages

Chamber of Commerce members

Real-estate listings

Wherever you need a specific type of entry with the formatting locked down

Or multiple blog types are needed


What are Themes?Themes control the Look, Feel and Functionality of a WordPress site.

Ready-made themes

wordpress.org/extend/themes/ - free

themeforest.net/category/wordpress - $20-50

woothemes.com – subscription pricing

Carefully investigate the documentation and support before purchase.

Themes can be built from scratch

Child themes can be built based on a parent (Recommended!)


Core Theme Files

All of these files connect to the mySQL database. That’s where the content lives.

Widgets mostly live in the sidebar, but can be in the footer or header too!


Plug-ins & Widgets

Widgets come from Plug-ins, not all Plug-ins create Widgets.

Plug-ins create functionality:

Backup, slideshow, add videos, create forms

Widgets are modules that can be placed in certain locations, like the sidebar.

Forms, twitter feed, testimonials, shopping cart


Plug-insAvailable on wordpress.org/extend/plugins

Some cost $, most don’t

Look for ratings, last update, popularity

If one doesn’t work, try another!

Contact forms

Photo galleries/slideshows

Videos

E-commerce

E-mail sign up form

Social links

Over 6,000 to choose from, test and play!


ImagesThe newest themes allow the header and background images to be changed by the user.

Images for a specific page can be added/changed easily

Caution! Edit the image size BEFORE uploading


Examples of WP sites

Zhuliajewels.com – ecommerce, custom post type for products

Gailzelitzky.com - multiple footers

Belmontcentral.org – custom post type for members

Newageprep.com – slideshow, custom maps

Lionelhandbags.com - ecommerce

Glenellynmoving.com – custom contact form

2011.chicago.wordcamp.org

Clementsbenefits.com

Rbbrenner.com – classic blog w/ fancy sidebar

@beckyddesignBeckydavisdesign.com

Contact

[email protected]

@beckyddesign beckydavisdesign.com take control of your site with wordpress

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