This document provides instructions for setting up a test WordPress site on Expressions, Syracuse University's free WordPress hosting service for students. It explains that Expressions allows students to create WordPress sites on the expressions.syr.edu domain to learn WordPress tools. The document outlines how to sign up for an Expressions account, name the site, access the admin interface, change themes, find and activate new themes, and remove demo content from posts, pages, and widgets. The goal is to use Expressions to test WordPress functionality before setting up a live site on your own domain.

1. Setting up a Test
WordPress Site
Expressions.syr.edu

2. What is WordPress?
• Free blogging software that runs on any
standard web server.
• Fully “reskinnable” without need for much
HTML knowledge at all.
• Can extend way beyond simple blogging
through plugins.

3. What is Expressions?
• A free way for every Syracuse University
student to create a WordPress site.
• Same tools, same functionality, but …
• It’s on the expressions.syr.edu domain.

4. Good for …
• Expressions is good for testing out a WordPress site
and getting to know the WordPress tools.
• It’s not a good fit your final public site for a few
reasons:
– It’s on an syr.edu domain rather than your own domain
name.
– You can’t upload plugins, etc. directly into the FTP
(although there is a workaround).
• We will go over how to set up WordPress on your own
domain in a future class. For now, learn using
Expressions.

5. Getting started
• Go to expressions.syr.edu. Note: you must be
on the campus OrangeX network.
• Log in with SU ID.
• Click Sign Up.

6. Name it
• Create a name. You can change it later.
• Description (short is better for SEO).

8. Admin URL
• From this …
• To this …
Just put /wp-admin/ at end of URL
Not working? Include a / at the end.

9. Admin interface
Blog posts that you add to the blog.
Usually appear on the home page,
too.

10. Admin interface
Any media you upload will show up
here so you can use it again. Or, you
can upload media that you think you
will want to add to posts in the
future.

11. Admin interface
Static links that appear in “widgets,” usually in
your sidebar. For example …

12. Admin interface
Static pages (different from blog posts) that are
usually standard navigation in your site. A few
examples:
• About Us
• Contact Us
• Editorial Policies
• Advertising Rates

13. Admin interface
Anything below this line changes your
entire site, not just individual
contents. And these tools are where
all the power lies!

14. Change Theme
• Go to Appearance > Manage Themes. Then “Install
Themes” tab. Click Install for one you like.

15. Find a new theme

16. If successful ….
• Look for “successful” message. If not there,
find another theme.

17. Activate theme
• Click Themes again on left, and you will see
the theme in list.
• Click “Activate” next to it.

18. Voila! Site changes.

19. Remove all demo content
• Demo content will be throughout in posts,
pages, and elsewhere.
• Let’s walk through all of the places you need
to look and customize ….
(Show in real time in class)

20. Widgets

21. Plugins