Developing a
Website with
WordPress
Heather Acton
http://heatheracton.com
Chicago Code Camp
May 19, 2012
Introduction
Mechanical Engineer turned Web Developer
  ○ http://heatheracton.com

Develop client sites using WordPress

Organize WordCamp Chicago
  ○ http://2012.chicago.wordcamp.org

Organize WordPress Lake County Meetup
   ○   http://wplc.us
What is WordPress
CMS

PHP / MySQL

WordPress.org
Why Develop with WordPress


Faster

Easier

Flexible

Community
What Can WordPress Do?

Blogs (of course...)

Business Sites

Social Networks

E-Commerce
How to Build a WordPress Website
1. Choose a host

2. Install WordPress

3. Choose & install a theme, or build your own

4. Plug it in...

5. Take care of it!
1. Choose a Host
YAY!               Meh...

                   GoDaddy
Bluehost
                   Yahoo
Hostgator
                   DirectNic
WP Engine
                   Hosting24

   Linux              Windows
2. Install & Setup WordPress
Pick your poison
  ○ One-click
  ○ Famous 5 minute install


Configure
  ○ No admin user
  ○ Settings-->Permalinks set to /%postname%/
  ○ Settings-->General
3. Themes
Free themes repository

Premium themes
  ○ StudioPress
  ○ WooThemes
  ○ Theme Trust


Build your own!
  ○ Toolbox
  ○ WP Bootstrap
4. Plugins (& other functionality)

BackupBuddy         Google Analytics

Gravity Forms       Google Feedburner

WordPress SEO       Webmaster Tools
5. Ongoing Ownership

Make sure backups are running

Clickity click to update
   ○ WordPress version
   ○ Plugins
   ○ Theme or theme framework
Continuing Ed
Online                    WordPress Meetups
  ○   WordPress.org         ○ Lake County

      Codex                 ○ North Side

  ○ WP101.com               ○ Milwaukee

  ○ Lynda.com

WordCamps
Milwaukee - 6/2 & 3
  ○ Chicago - 8/25 & 26
Questions?

Developing a Website with WordPress

  • 1.
    Developing a Website with WordPress HeatherActon http://heatheracton.com Chicago Code Camp May 19, 2012
  • 2.
    Introduction Mechanical Engineer turnedWeb Developer ○ http://heatheracton.com Develop client sites using WordPress Organize WordCamp Chicago ○ http://2012.chicago.wordcamp.org Organize WordPress Lake County Meetup ○ http://wplc.us
  • 3.
    What is WordPress CMS PHP/ MySQL WordPress.org
  • 4.
    Why Develop withWordPress Faster Easier Flexible Community
  • 5.
    What Can WordPressDo? Blogs (of course...) Business Sites Social Networks E-Commerce
  • 6.
    How to Builda WordPress Website 1. Choose a host 2. Install WordPress 3. Choose & install a theme, or build your own 4. Plug it in... 5. Take care of it!
  • 7.
    1. Choose aHost YAY! Meh... GoDaddy Bluehost Yahoo Hostgator DirectNic WP Engine Hosting24 Linux Windows
  • 8.
    2. Install &Setup WordPress Pick your poison ○ One-click ○ Famous 5 minute install Configure ○ No admin user ○ Settings-->Permalinks set to /%postname%/ ○ Settings-->General
  • 9.
    3. Themes Free themesrepository Premium themes ○ StudioPress ○ WooThemes ○ Theme Trust Build your own! ○ Toolbox ○ WP Bootstrap
  • 10.
    4. Plugins (&other functionality) BackupBuddy Google Analytics Gravity Forms Google Feedburner WordPress SEO Webmaster Tools
  • 11.
    5. Ongoing Ownership Makesure backups are running Clickity click to update ○ WordPress version ○ Plugins ○ Theme or theme framework
  • 12.
    Continuing Ed Online WordPress Meetups ○ WordPress.org ○ Lake County Codex ○ North Side ○ WP101.com ○ Milwaukee ○ Lynda.com WordCamps Milwaukee - 6/2 & 3 ○ Chicago - 8/25 & 26
  • 13.