Kathryn Presner gave a beginner's guide to WordPress at Podcamp Toronto 2012. She covered intro topics like the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, common WordPress uses like blogs and CMS, and basic WordPress structures. She demonstrated themes, plugins, widgets and the admin panel. Presner recommended WordPress resources like the Codex and forums. She closed by taking questions and providing her contact details for further assistance with WordPress.

1. Podcamp Toronto 2012
A Beginner’s Guide
to WordPress
with Kathryn Presner
February 25, 2012
#pcto2012

2. Kathryn Presner
Zoonini Web Services
www.zoonini.com
@zoonini

3. What We’ll Cover
Welcome
Intro to WordPress
Intro to the Admin Panel
Resources
Closing
Questions

4. Intro to WordPress

5. Diving into WordPress
What is WordPress?
WordPress.com vs.
WordPress.org
What is it used for?
http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

6. Blog
http://julienchung.com/blog/

7. CMS+Blog
http://www.boxofcrayons.biz/

8. CMS
http://www.thewittyoffice.com

9. Photo Portfolio
http://www.silviaphotography.com/

10. Video Portfolio
http://www.presner.com

11. Interactive
http://passups.ca/

12. Some WordPress Basics
Structure Presentation
Markup
Language ➜
Database vs. files
PHP vs. HTML Dynamic Functions
Scripting
Do I need to know
Language ➜
PHP?
Data
Database ➜

13. Posts vs. Pages
Page

14. Posts vs. Pages
Post

15. Posts vs. Pages
Posts

16. Introduction to Themes
A WP Theme is a collection of Template files -
(X)HTML + PHP + CSS
The CSS (aka stylesheet) usually controls the
layout and design
Only two template files are required: index.php,
style.css
Some are optional: sidebar.php, comments.php,
etc.
http://codex.wordpress.org/Stepping_Into_Templates
http://codex.wordpress.org/Template_Hierarchy

18. http://www.lonelythebook.com/emily-white-author/

19. Get Started With
Blank Themes
Starkers
http://starkerstheme.com/
DIW Blank Theme
http://themeclubhouse.digwp.com/
Whiteboard
http://whiteboardframework.com/
Base
http://fresh01.co.za/2008/07/14/base/
Roots
http://www.rootstheme.com/
HTML5 Boilerplate
https://github.com/iamamused/wp-theme-html5-boilerplate

20. Get Started With
A Pre-made Theme
WordPress.org Directory
http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
WooThemes
http://www.woothemes.com/
elegantthemes
http://www.elegantthemes.com/
Press75
http://www.press75.com/
WPswitch
http://wpswitch.com/
Smashing Magazine - Free WordPress Themes: 2011 Edition
http://wp.smashingmagazine.com/2011/07/05/free-wordpress-themes-2011-edition/

21. Introduction to Plugins
What is a plug-in?
Where do you get plug-ins?
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/

22. Managing Plug-ins

23. Introduction to Widgets
What is a
widget?
What is a
widget-ready
theme?
http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Widgets

24. Intro to the Admin Panel

25. The Admin Panel
Let’s go spelunking!

26. WordPress Resources

27. Official
wordpress.org (of course!)
The Codex
http://codex.wordpress.org/
Support Forum
http://wordpress.org/support
wordpress.tv
http://wordpress.tv/

28. Cheat Sheets
WP Candy Cheat Sheet - Basic and Advanced
http://wpcandy.com/teaches/the-advanced-wordpress-help-sheet
WordPress Template Tags Reference Guide
http://www.dbswebsite.com/design/wordpress-reference/V3/
Optimization Cheat Sheet for WordPress
http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Optimization/Cheat_Sheet
Various 3.0-Ready Cheat Sheets
http://www.webanddesigners.com/11-extremely-helpful-wordpress-cheatsheets/
Remember: Cheat sheets need to be current

29. Theme Development Tools
Theme Test Drive Plugin
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/theme-test-drive/
Official Theme Development Checklist & Sample Data
http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development_Checklist
Book: Digging Into WordPress
http://digwp.com/
Online and In-Person Classes
http://zoonini.wordpress.com/wordpress-resources-wcto/

30. WordPress Inspiration
We Love WP
http://welovewp.com/
WPInspiration
http://wpinspiration.com/
WP Float
http://wpfloat.com/
WP Showcase
http://wordpress.org/showcase/

31. Recommended Plugins
All in One SEO Pack or DirtySuds - Embed
WordPress SEO by YouTube
Yoast
Bad Behavior
FeedBurner
WordPress Database
FeedSmith Extend
Backup
Subscribe to
Secure WordPress
Comments Reloaded
WordPress File
Obfuscate Email
Monitor Plus
Contact Form 7
WP-DB-Backup

32. Closing

33. What Next? Questions?
Get the presentation at Slideshare
http://www.slideshare.net/zoonini
Company links
http://www.zoonini.com
Twitter @zoonini
http://www.facebook.com/zoonini