Take Control of Your Site w/ WordPress

Take Control of Your Site with WordPress

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 WordPress
Wordpress.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 Types
With 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-ins
Available 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!

Images
The 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

Contact
773-809-5640
[email_address]
beckydavisdesign.com

Take Control of Your Site w/ WordPress

by Becky Davis on Jul 24, 2011

Accessibility

Categories

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

1 Embed 62

Statistics

Take Control of Your Site w/ WordPress — Presentation Transcript