This presentation was given at Orange County WordCamp, 2013.

1. WordPress 101
Lucy Beer
@webtw
WebTrainingWheels.com
Understanding the Fundamentals
of WordPress

2. Who Am I?
WordPress-in‟ since 2004
Helping individuals & small businesses WordPress since 2009
Find me :
Lucy Beer | www.WebTrainingWheels.com | @webtw
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

4. Posts
 Displayed in reverse chronological
order
 Organized with categories and tags
 Archived by
categories, tags, date, author
 Appear in RSS feed
 Can be „subscribed‟ to
 For regularly updated content –
news, blog posts, client
projects, recipes etc
 Categories vs. Tags
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

5. Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

6. Pages
• Are not organized by date
• Do not use categories or tags
• Can have „child‟ (sub) pages
• For „static‟ content that is not
updated frequently
• Do not appear in RSS feed
• Cannot be „subscribed‟ to
• About, Services, Contact etc
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

7. Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

8. Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

9. Menu
s

10. Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

11. Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

12. Themes
What is a theme
How to switch themes
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

13. Themes
Appearance > Themes > Install
SearchWordPress directory for free themes
Upload a premium theme
e.g. WooThemes, StudioPress, Themify.me, Organic Themes,
Graph Paper Press, Elegant Themes etc
Only one theme can be active at a time
Think about content and purpose of your sitebeforechoosing a theme
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

14. Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

15. Themes
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

16. Themes
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

17. Themes
Do’s & Don’ts
Do not Google for “free WordPress themes” and download
random themes
Use the WordPress directory for free themes, or many premium
theme shops also offer a few free ones
Remember you have to provide the content – don‟t get
suckered in by beautiful demos
Themes with tons of features vs. plugins
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

18. Plugins
Plugins> Add New
Search the WordPress directory
Premium plugins also available
A plugin = code
May include a widget to display content on
your site, e.g.
> Simple Social Icons
But doesn‟t have to:
>WordPress SEO
>BackWPUp
There is a plugin for everything !!!
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

19. Plugins
Do’s & Don’ts
Choosing plugins
 Recently updated
 Check the rating
 Check the support forum for
problems
Keep them updated
Delete (not just de-activate) ones
you don‟t end up using
Plugins can conflict with each
other or cause site slowness
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

20. Widgets
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

21. Widgets
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

22. Resources
WordPress TV
Natalie MacLees : Setting Up A WordPress Site The
Right Way
Chris Lema : Themes 101
WPBeginner.com
Meetup.com
SoCalWP.org
Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw

23. Finding the right plugin
A real comment!
Connecting with other bloggers
Making your first sale

24. Lucy Beer | WebTrainingWheels.com | lucy@webtrainingwheels.com | @webtw
Lucy Beer
WebTrainingWheels.com
@webtw