How to use WordPress as a basic CMS for your website Or “How non-geeks can use WP to make a website in a day”

It’s more than a blog engine We’ve known WP can do cool stuff Since 2.1 setting a Page as the “home page” has been built in. Do you use it? Why not?

We’ve known WP can do cool stuff

Since 2.1 setting a Page as the “home page” has been built in.

Do you use it?

Why not?

Why is this good? When the design & the content are together in the code Updating can be less than fun Result: Websites aren’t updated Agencies charge arms, legs, first-born children, to make simple changes A “simple change” breaks links and several pages

When the design & the content are together in the code

Updating can be less than fun

Result:

Websites aren’t updated

Agencies charge arms, legs, first-born children, to make simple changes

A “simple change” breaks links and several pages

Is this the right solution? Need easily updated content User control Flexible design Static info & a blog SEO tuned Fast initial build out

Need easily updated content

User control

Flexible design

Static info & a blog

SEO tuned

Fast initial build out

First steps to your first site Decide that it’s the right way to do it. Make two static pages Go to the Reading section under Settings Make two changes from pull-down menus Save Done! Well almost

Decide that it’s the right way to do it.

Make two static pages

Go to the Reading section under Settings

Make two changes from pull-down menus

Save

Done!

Well almost

Step one: Make two pages Home page: Call it what you want Use Lorem ipsum text if needed Blog page Static page I like to call it “Blog” it’s really up to you No content, just a title

Home page:

Call it what you want

Use Lorem ipsum text if needed

Blog page

Static page

I like to call it “Blog” it’s really up to you

No content, just a title

Step Two: Reading Settings

Step Three: Menus

That’s pretty much it, for the basics Yeah, but that’s boring What’s next? Tweaks, Themes, and plugins

Yeah, but that’s boring

What’s next?

Tweaks, Themes, and plugins

Tweaks Make those Permalinks pretty! Settings -> Permalinks I like /%postname%/ for websites .htaccess will have to be updated Not “Just another WordPress blog” Don’t forget a good title and tag line!

Make those Permalinks pretty!

Settings -> Permalinks

I like /%postname%/ for websites

.htaccess will have to be updated

Not “Just another WordPress blog”

Don’t forget a good title and tag line!

Plugins All in one SEO WP Supercache WP Backup Google Sitemaps XML Akismet Cform WPTouch & WP Mobile

All in one SEO

WP Supercache

WP Backup

Google Sitemaps XML

Akismet

Cform

WPTouch & WP Mobile

Picking a template This is the hardest part Finding a non-bloggy template important Newspaper style Magazine Navigation

This is the hardest part

Finding a non-bloggy template important

Newspaper style

Magazine

Navigation

Navigation sometimes presents a problem… Templates build the navigation by listing all the static pages… And sometimes they also hard code in a “Home”

Templates build the navigation by listing all the static pages…

And sometimes they also hard code in a “Home”

Here’s the trick Exclude listing some pages: <div id=&quot;navigation&quot;> <!-- Begin navigation  <ul> <li><a href=&quot;<?php echo get_option('home'); ?>/&quot;>Home</a></li> <li><a href=&quot;http://ces.blogm2o.com/blog/&quot;>Blog</a></li> <?php wp_list_pages('exclude=2,10&title_li=&depth=1'); ?> </ul> </div><!--End navigation -->

Exclude listing some pages:

<div id=&quot;navigation&quot;>

<!-- Begin navigation 

<ul>

<li><a href=&quot;<?php echo get_option('home'); ?>/&quot;>Home</a></li>

<li><a href=&quot;http://ces.blogm2o.com/blog/&quot;>Blog</a></li>

<?php wp_list_pages('exclude=2,10&title_li=&depth=1'); ?>

</ul>

</div><!--End navigation -->

iNove

Azul

deCoder

DeepBlue

Layers

Monochrome Demo

Modicus Remix

Digital Remix

And now the prizes… When it comes down to it Free is great, but paid … 1 license for Thesis 2 licenses for Revolution2

When it comes down to it

Free is great, but paid …

1 license for Thesis

2 licenses for Revolution2