For the Arnprior WordPress Community's inaugural meeting September 30 2015, I've created a presentation highlighting the basics of WordPress.
Includes: What you can do with WordPress, Difference between .com and .org, what are Themes and Plugins, how does one get started, and a resource list.
2. A bit about Meagan!
20+ years designing websites
Started using WordPress in 2005
Works on sites as small as ants and as large as elephants
Favourite colour: Rainbow!
@mhanes on Twitter
3. What is WordPress?
NOT Wordpress, not wordPress, not wordpress. WordPress
“WordPress is an online, open source website creation tool written in PHP. But in
non-geek speak, it's probably the easiest and most powerful blogging and
website content management system (or CMS) in existence today.” – iThemes
“WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog.
We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.” –
WordPress.org
4. What can I build with WordPress?
Simple personal blog – one author, multiple subjects
One page website – landing page, Coming Soon page ($)
Basic 5 page website – About Us, Services, Contact ($$)
Multi-author blog – with customized author pages
Complex multipage website – hardware company’s Support section ($$$)
Online Magazine – many authors, many pages, heavy commenting
The Ottawa Citizen is on WordPress.com!
Fully fledged e-commerce website with advanced tracking, remarketing
and automated lead generation process ($$$$$)
Complex web + mobile applications using REST API (coming soon)
5. What is Open Source/Free Software?
“Everything you see here, from the documentation to the code itself, was
created by and for the community. WordPress is an Open Source project, which
means there are hundreds of people all over the world working on it. It also means
you are free to use it for anything from your recipe site to a Fortune 500 web site
without paying anyone a license fee and a number of other important freedoms.”
““Free software” means software that respects users' freedom and community.
Roughly, it means that the users have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study,
change and improve the software. Thus, “free software” is a matter of liberty, not
price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech,”
not as in “free beer”.” - GNU
6. Components of WordPress
Themes
• Change the look and feel
• Examples of Theme Styles:
• Blog
• Magazine
• Portfolio
• Corporate Website
• One-page
http://wordpress.org/themes
Plugins
• Change functionality
• Examples of Functionality:
• Google Analytics
• SEO Optimizing
• Advanced Image Gallery
• Contact Forms
• E-Commerce
http://wordpress.org/plugins
Core
http://wordpress.org
7. WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
WordPress.org - “Self-hosted” - is managed by WordPress Foundation
Hosts the community + forums, the software, themes and plugins, etc
Can upload plugins, themes, anything you want!
You must set up web hosting to use the software
GoDaddy, Bluehost, WPEngine
YOU must worry about security, updates, backups
WordPress.com – “Dot Com” - is managed by Automattic
Anyone can sign up for “myname.wordpress.com” free blog/website
Premium features available (custom domain name, Google Analytics tie-in) for $
NO ability to upload plugins or themes! Must pick from their approved ones.
NO need to worry about security, updates, backups
8. Where Do I Start?
Sign up for a free blog at WordPress.com
PLAY with it! Create a blog or site dedicated to your favourite hobby
Ask help: Google, Support Forums, Arnprior WordPress Community
Watch videos on Youtube and WordPress.tv
Migrate to self-hosting when you need to!
Need more features offered by plugins
Want to track website traffic using Google Analytics
GREAT way to learn about the “true” WordPress experience
9. WordPress Dashboard
https://arnpriorwp.wordpress.com/wp-admin/
• Where you manage content, themes,
plugins, settings, etc.
• Setup Sections
• Settings
• Appearance
• Users
• Content Creation Sections
• Posts
• Pages
• Testimonials, Feedback
• Day to Day Operation Sections
• Comments
10. Posts vs Pages
Post = “blog post”
Timely content
Usually viewed in reverse chronological order
More complex URL: http://www.mysite.com/2015/09/30/my-new-post-here
Page = “static page”
Long term content (store location and hours, About Me page)
Only shows what’s on that page
Short URL: http://www.mysite.com/about
11. More Resources!
The Codex WP’s official documentation
https://codex.wordpress.org/New_To_WordPress_-_Where_to_Start
https://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Semantics
https://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Themes
https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins
https://wordpress.org/support/ Self Hosted Support Forums (Search first!)
https://learn.wordpress.com/ Great for getting started with Dot Com
http://wordpress.tv/ hundreds of WordCamp presentations!