This was my talk at Detroit Startup Week 2017. The goal was to cover a broad range of what is WordPress to how to use it and how to grow with it.

1. BUILDING A WEBSITE
WITH WORDPRESS

2. Hello!
I am Anthony Montalbano
WordPress developer since 2007.
Hosted the first 3 WordCamp Detroit.
Cofounder of AMBR Detroit.
You can find me at:
@italianst4 or ambrdetroit.com

3. SEO
Playing nice with Google is an
important role in building a site that
becomes discovered by others. Let’s
talk Search Engine Optimization.
The Admin
Let’s get familiar with the WordPress
dashboard; a screen you’ll be
interacting with quite often.
A glimpse into the future.
Intro to...
Let’s learn about what is WordPress,
why WordPress, and how WordPress
works. This will set the stage for more
to come!
Find a Host
There’s a wide range of hosting
options for WordPress, let’s explore a
few and understand their pros and
cons.
Picking a Theme
Making any website look good is a feat
in itself. Let’s explore how WordPress
can help you look good.
Managing Content
A website is really only as good as it’s
content. So let’s understand how to
manage your content.

4. 1.
The What, Why and
How of WordPress?
Let’s build a foundation.

5. What is WordPress?
WordPress is like an operating system for your
website.
WordPress Themes are the design; they
provide things such as color and fonts
WordPress Plugins are the apps; they provide
additional features and functionality.

6. ■ Extendable
■ Support
■ Free
Why WordPress?
■ Easy to use
■ Community
■ Open source
■ Extensible
■ Free

7. 27.5%
Of the internet
50K
New sites a day
75M
Websites
50,234
plugins
100+
Languages
409M
People/Month
WordPress by the Numbers
(As of 04/2017)
Source: http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/wordpress-statistics/

8. How does WordPress work?
Web Host Installed on server:

9. The “W” and “P” are always capitalized.

10. 2.
Finding a host for
your WordPress site
Let’s give it an address.

11. General Web Host WordPress Only Web Host
Can host other software other
than WordPress
Easier to setup a WordPress
install
More control of server
settings
No control of server settings
No limit on WordPress installs Optimized for WordPress
Two Types of Web Hosts

12. WordPress Only Web HostGeneral Web Host
Two Types of Web Hosts

13. WordPress.org is a website dedicated to the
WordPress software.
WordPress.com is a WordPress only web host
with restrictions on the WordPress software.

14. 3.
A quick tour of the
WordPress admin
Let’s get acclimated.

15. The WordPress Admin

16. The WordPress Admin

17. The WordPress Admin

18. The WordPress Admin

19. The WordPress Admin

20. The WordPress Admin

21. 4.
Picking a theme to
give your site look
Let’s make it beautiful.

22. WordPress Themes Galore

23. ■ Is there a demo site of the theme?
■ How are the reviews?
■ Premium themes typically cost between
$50-$250
■ Must be responsive and cross-browser
compatible
■ Do I need support?
Things to think about when selecting a theme

24. ■ WordPress.org (all free)
■ Themeforest (all paid)
■ Themify (paid membership)
■ Elegant Themes (paid membership)
■ Artisan Themes (paid membership)
■ Code In WP Blog (paid and free)
Where to get themes

25. 5.
Tips and tricks for
managing your content
Let’s become kings.

26. WordPress Post Editor

27. The “What You See Is What You Get” Editor
gives you some basic content formatting.
WYSIWYG Editor
Important:
What you actually see can vary based on what
plugins or theme you have installed.

28. WYSIWYG Editor

29. Adding Images

30. Adding Images

31. Adding Images

32. Adding Images

33. Adding Images

34. Editing an Image

35. Editing an Image
Image Manipulation
by
● Crop
● Rotate Left/Right
● Flip Horizontal/Vertical
● Undo/redo
● Scale
● Aspect Ratio
● Fine Tuning

36. Third-Party Embeds

37. Third-Party Embeds

38. Third-Party Embeds

39. Third-Party Embeds

40. Third-Party Embeds

41. Documents
Mixcloud
ReverbNation
SoundCloud
Spotify
Video
CollegeHumor
DailyMotion
Hulu
Vimeo Vine
Youtube
Images
Flickr Imgur
Instagram
Photobucket
Third-Party Embeds
and More!
Kickstarter
Meetup.com
PollDaddy
Reddit Scribd
Slideshare
Speaker Deck
Twitter
All Available Embeds: https://codex.wordpress.org/Embeds

42. Adding Links

43. Adding Links

44. Adding Links

45. The Publish Box - Preview

46. The Publish Box - Status

47. The Publish Box - Visibility

48. The Publish Box - Post Date

49. The Publish Box - Permalinks

50. Post vs. Page Comparison
Posts Pages
Time sensitive Timeless
Organized by Categories and
Tags
Organized by hierarchy
Available in feeds Not available in feeds
Layouts by Post Formats Layouts by Page Templates
Ordered by reverse
chronological date
Ordered by order number

51. 6.
Enough SEO to put you
on the Google machine
Let’s be found.

52. Yoast SEO Plugin - Search Engine Preview

53. Yoast SEO Plugin - Social

54. Yoast SEO Plugin - Social

55. Yoast SEO Plugin - Webmaster Tools

56. Google Webmaster Tools
Important:
With Yoast SEO installed and active, just at
“sitemap.xml” to get your Sitemap URL

57. Google Webmaster Tools

58. ■ Make sure your site is HTTPS (SSL)
■ Is site mobile friendly?
○ https://search.google.com/search-console/mobile-friendly
■ Speed up site with Google PageSpeed
Insights
○ https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/
○ For developers only
Additional SEO Tips

59. ■ Keep WordPress up-to-date
■ Publish content regularly
○ Create weekly reminders
■ Make sure WordPress Permalinks are
enabled.
○ Settings > Permalinks
■ Add “alt text” to images
Additional SEO Tips

60. Merci Beaucoup!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
@italianst4
anthony@ambrdetroit.com