WORDPRESS AS A CMS Mark Kirby The Werks Whuffie Club

TALK IS AIMED AT THOSE Thinking of using WordPress as a CMS or want a simple CMS solution With HTML and CSS skills Perhaps PHP skills WordPress beginners, or newbies Advanced users – perhaps help with the questions at the end!

Thinking of using WordPress as a CMS or want a simple CMS solution

With HTML and CSS skills

Perhaps PHP skills

WordPress beginners, or newbies

Advanced users – perhaps help with the questions at the end!

THE TALK Introductions Why I use WordPress as a CMS Brief introduction to WordPress Themes Its easy to create a simple theme Creating more complex themes is still pretty simple Pro’s and con’s of using WordPress as a CMS Questions (feel free to interrupt though)

Introductions

Why I use WordPress as a CMS

Brief introduction to WordPress

Themes

Its easy to create a simple theme

Creating more complex themes is still pretty simple

Pro’s and con’s of using WordPress as a CMS

Questions (feel free to interrupt though)

QUICK INTRODUCTIONS Spent some time freelancing as a WordPress specialist based in The Werks After setting up the talk started working full time at Ribot Not marketing my services, passing on ideas and advice [email_address] with questions You?

Spent some time freelancing as a WordPress specialist based in The Werks

After setting up the talk started working full time at Ribot

Not marketing my services, passing on ideas and advice

[email_address] with questions

You?

WHY I USE WORDPRESS AS A CMS Used WordPress for 2 years for my own sites Experimented with Drupal for a documentation solution, but switched to Wordpress Created my first theme Found clients liked using WordPress Built a number of themes for myself and others

Used WordPress for 2 years for my own sites

Experimented with Drupal for a documentation solution, but switched to Wordpress

Created my first theme

Found clients liked using WordPress

Built a number of themes for myself and others

INTRODUCTION TO WORDPRESS

Started out as a blogging platform http://www.brightonculture.co.uk/

Started out as a blogging platform

http://www.brightonculture.co.uk/

Has many features you would expect from a fully fledged CMS Add pages Add posts within categories to create blogs, news sections etc – with different themes to each category (more later) Multiple users with different authorisation levels Many more including…

Has many features you would expect from a fully fledged CMS

Add pages

Add posts within categories to create blogs, news sections etc – with different themes to each category (more later)

Multiple users with different authorisation levels

Many more including…

Menus can be displayed automatically

Revision history

Easy to install Need PHP and MySQL Set up a database Upload WordPress Run it http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Famous_5-Minute_Install ..or with Subversion - http://mark-kirby.co.uk/2008/how-to-install-wordpress-using-ssh-and-svn/

Easy to install

Need PHP and MySQL

Set up a database

Upload WordPress

Run it

http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Famous_5-Minute_Install

..or with Subversion - http://mark-kirby.co.uk/2008/how-to-install-wordpress-using-ssh-and-svn/

Easy to use I find the interface really simple Demo

Easy to use

I find the interface really simple

Demo

THEMES A theme controls the look, feel and content of the site The theme consists of HTML surrounding editable content CSS for all content – non editable and editable More info available here http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Themes#What_is_a_Theme.3F Download or make your own

A theme controls the look, feel and content of the site

The theme consists of

HTML surrounding editable content

CSS for all content – non editable and editable

More info available here

http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Themes#What_is_a_Theme.3F

Download or make your own

CREATING A SIMPLE THEME Demo – really simple! Example WordPress theme for a brochureware site 5 pages the client can update http:// www.handsonphysiotherapy.co.uk / This simple theme has very few files and is easy to create Learn more here - http:// codex.wordpress.org /Templates

Demo – really simple!

Example

WordPress theme for a brochureware site

5 pages the client can update

http:// www.handsonphysiotherapy.co.uk /

This simple theme has very few files and is easy to create

Learn more here - http:// codex.wordpress.org /Templates

A SIMPLE SITE

BROCHUREWARE

BACKEND - WORDPRESS

CLIENTS CAN EDIT THEIR PAGES

THE SITE WITH DEFAULT THEME

CODE TIME!

A SIMPLE THEME http://codex.wordpress.org/images/1/18/Template_Hierarchy.png

STYLE.CSS http:// codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development#Theme_Style_Sheet

INDEX.PHP http:// codex.wordpress.org/The_Loop http:// codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development#Basic_Templates

HEADER.PHP http://codex.wordpress.org/Pages#Listing_Your_Pages_on_Your_Site Alternative way of doing menus -

FOOTER.PHP

SELECT OUR THEME

ADVANCED THEME The theme for my (simple looking) blog - http://mark-kirby.co.uk/ Site contains a blog and tutorials Homepage contains latest 2 tutorials, and latest 3 blog posts The blog main page lists entire posts Tutorial main page lists summaries

The theme for my (simple looking) blog - http://mark-kirby.co.uk/

Site contains a blog and tutorials

Homepage contains latest 2 tutorials, and latest 3 blog posts

The blog main page lists entire posts

Tutorial main page lists summaries

HOME.PHP http:// codex.wordpress.org/Template_Tags/get_posts

HEADER.PHP Title – varies according to page Menu

Title – varies according to page

Menu

CATEGORY-27.PHP - BLOG Uses the_content

CATEGORY-28.PHP - TUTORIALS Uses the_excerpt

PRO’S Quick and easy to set up an installation Easy to create themes Huge user base hence Great support Lots of documentation Many plugins covering all kinds of functionality Regular updates

Quick and easy to set up an installation

Easy to create themes

Huge user base hence

Great support

Lots of documentation

Many plugins covering all kinds of functionality

Regular updates

CON’S Security issues – you will need to keep sites updated to the latest version at all times Stigma, some clients won’t be happy using it Ordering pages is a little awkward – not ideal for sites with loads of pages Any suggestions for pro’s and con’s?

Security issues – you will need to keep sites updated to the latest version at all times

Stigma, some clients won’t be happy using it

Ordering pages is a little awkward – not ideal for sites with loads of pages

Any suggestions for pro’s and con’s?

CONVERSATION Questions for me (and each other) Questions for you! Would you consider using WordPress for your clients, if so, what size client/what type of client and why? What features would you like to see in a CMS, we can see if WordPress has them, or if there is a plugin which provides them What concerns would you have about using WordPress as a CMS Have you any comments on the content of my talk, for the next group

Questions for me (and each other)

Questions for you!

Would you consider using WordPress for your clients, if so, what size client/what type of client and why?

What features would you like to see in a CMS, we can see if WordPress has them, or if there is a plugin which provides them

What concerns would you have about using WordPress as a CMS

Have you any comments on the content of my talk, for the next group