An overview of WordPress including types of websites, theme selection and customization, and web and WordPress resources.

1. WordPress Workshop
PRESENTED BY
NADINE WILDMANN, MEEPLE COMMUNICATIONS
JUNE 13, 2014

2. What is WordPress?
 Web publishing platform
 Easy to learn and use Content Management System (CMS)
 Open source, community support
 Powerful blogging tool
 A way for non-programmers to create professional websites and
blogs
2

3. 3The World of WordPress
 WordPress.org, WordPress.com
 Matt Mullenweg, founder and
open-source evangelist
 Automattic, WordPress
company
 WordPress Foundation
 WordCamp
 WordCamp Israel was held
May 27 at Google in Tel Aviv

4. 4WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org
WordPress.com WordPress.org
Your
Computer
Your
Web Host
Your Website
Backend
Your
Computer
Your Website
Backend

5. 5WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org
WordPress.com
 Easier to use
 Built-in functions
 Limited customization
 Paid upgrades available, such as
your own domain name
 Exportable to self-hosted WP
 Free hosting and maintenance
WordPress.org
 Expanded functionality
through 30,000 plugins
 External resources such as
commercial themes
 More control, more
responsibility
 You need to pay a web host
 Best for businesses

6. Website Elements
wordpress.org = Self-hosted
 A domain name is your URL, such as www.yourdomain.com.
You pay a registrar or a web host annually to own the domain
 Hosting account – you pay a web host such as A Small Orange
and assign your domain to your hosting account
 Use a platform such as WordPress for building you website,
installed through your web host
If your domain name is not registered through your web host, then you need to
point the domain name from the registrar to the web host. This is different than
transferring domain registration from one registrar to another.
6

7. Self-hosted WordPress
wordpress.org
You buy a hosting plan
You install WordPress
through your host
You can access your
WordPress website as
well as your hosting
control panel
7
Your
Computer
Your
Web Host
Your Website
Backend

8. 8
Websites and Blogs

9. 9Types of WordPress Websites
 Blogs
– Content is sorted by Category
– Created as Posts
 Websites
– WordPress can create traditional websites
with static pages
 Hybrids
– Blog is integrated into a website
– Mixed page types in menu

10. 10Websites

11. 11Blogs

12. 12
Hybrid

13. 13
Inside WordPress

14. 14WordPress Elements
 Core / Loop
 Content – Text, Images, Media
 Theme – Design, Functionality
 Plugins – Added functionality
 Widgets
 Menu
 Dashboard Settings

15. Web Pages vs. Blog Posts
Page
 Static
 Updated rarely
 Accessed from main menu
Post
 Dynamically generated
 Displayed in reverse
chronological order
 Can show up in multiple
locations
 On the Home page
 On one or more Category pages
 In sidebars or sections of pages
 As full posts or excerpts
 With or without thumbnail images
 Excerpt links to full post
 Individual posts are normally
not accessed from main menu
15

16. Static Web Page
 Page is always the same
 It can be updated
16

17. Full Post 17

18. Post Excerpt
 Title is linked
 Read More link
18

19. How do Posts know where to show up?
 WordPress default is the Home Page
 You can change the Home Page to a static page
 A Post will go to all pages of the Categories to
which it is assigned
 These are called Category or Archive pages
 Posts can show up in Widgets such as Recent
Posts
 There is always a Post Page linked from the post
19

20. Blog Page
Dynamically
calls in Posts
20

21. Post Locations
Post Page
• Displays the full Post
Category Page
• Displays multiple Posts
• Full posts
• Or post excerpts
• Default is reverse chronological
order
Widgets
• Recent Posts
• Popular Posts
• Others via plugins
21

22. Posts by Category
Category: Cloud Category: Mobile
22

23. Category Page Options
Show some or all post info
 Date, Time, Author, Category, Tags,
Comments, Sharing
 Title, Excerpt or Full Post
Integrate posts into website
 Show no post info:
23

24. Theme Selection
24

25. Theme Sources
 WordPress.org Free Themes
Tested
Popular | New | Featured
Remember to install directly through Dashboard
 Other Free
Risky, evaluate source and reason for free offer
 Commercial
http://wordpress.org/themes/commercial/
are usually fine
Theme Forest - investigate developer reputation
25

26. Evaluating Themes
 Navigation bar
 Widgetized areas
 Theme Options
 Featured Image treatment
 Graphics
 Date
 Popularity
 Responsive for mobile
Remember to research wordpress.org themes at wordpress.org,
but INSTALL through the Dashboard!
26

27. Theme
Customization
27

28. Theme Structure
 Files
 PHP
 CSS
 Others – Javascript, Ajax
 Images
 Can be replaced via FTP
 Use same file name
28

29. Theme Modification Methods
 Edit code files through WP backend
 Appearance / Editor
 Image replacement
 WordPress default theme options
 Header
 Background color
 Theme Options for a specific theme
29

30. Themes With Extensive Options
 Weaver II
 Atahualpa
 Montezuma
They allow detailed customization – a good way to
become familiar with CSS.
30

31. Plugins
 WordPress has over 30,000 plugins.
You can usually find one to do what you need.
 Evaluation is similar to Themes – Date, Popularity
 Try them out
 Research at wordpress.org, INSTALL through the Dashboard
31

32. 32Content Management
 User-friendly content management
– Formatting
– Media
– Drafts and Reviewing
– Page Preview
– Category and Tag labeling
 Visual Editor and HTML views
 Permalinks - WordPress makes it easy to control
the url links that Google sees

33. Widgets
 Widget Sources
 WordPress
 WordPress comes with standard default widgets
 Widgets are managed in Appearance / Widgets
 Plugins
 Many Plugins will install widgets
 Plugin widgets will be added to Appearance / Widgets
 Widget Display Areas
 Themes come with one or more widgetized areas
 Common areas are sidebars, footer, home page
 In Appearance / Widgets you select the display area for each widget
 Widgetized areas are relevant when selecting a theme
33

34. Dashboard
A look at –
 Screen Options
 Settings / Reading / Discussion / Media / Permalinks
 Posts
 Media
 Pages
 Appearance / Themes / Widgets / Menus / Header / Background
 Plugins
34

35. 35Menus
 Static and Category pages can be combined on one
navigation bar
 Or create two separate menus
 Drag and slide menu for sub-pages

36. WordPress Resources
 LinkedIn WordPress Group
 Facebook WordPress Help and Share
 Popular Plugins
 WordPress Lessons
 Matt
 Automattic
36

37. Web Resources
 Web Hosting
 Web Designer Depot
 Smashing Magazine
 Mashable Social Media News
and Web Tips
 W3Schools Coding Education
 Open Web Graphics Backgrounds
 Windows Mac Fonts
 Favicons
 Free Logo Design
 Fonts
 Stock Photos
 WDL Seamless Patterns
 Free Flat Icons
37

38. Now you’re ready to play
WORDPRESS THE BOARDGAME!
38

39. Thank You!
Nadine Wildmann
Meeple Communications
www.meeplecom.com
nadine@meeplecom.com
(A Meeple is a human or animal shaped
wooden token used in board games.)
39
The WordPress Board Game was
introduced at WordCamp
Indonesia, January 29, 2011