WordPress is a free and open-source content management system that allows users to build beautiful websites and blogs. It has a large community of users, contributors, and developers who create themes and plugins to extend its functionality. To use WordPress, you need a domain name, web hosting with PHP and MySQL support, and to install WordPress files either through an automatic installer or manually by uploading and configuring files and databases. Popular plugins add features like contact forms, social sharing buttons, image galleries, backups, and performance optimizations.

1. WordPress 101
WordPress for beginners

2. What is WordPress?
According to WordPress.org:
WordPress is web software you can use to
create a beautiful website or blog. We like
to say that WordPress is both free and
priceless at the same time.
■ Content Management System (CMS)
■ Most popular blogging system, 22% all new
sites are built on WordPress

3. What's great about WP?
■ Lots of users, tutorials & support
■ Lots of contributors & testing
○ easy to use
■ Lots of themes
○ Themes determine how the content is displayed
■ Lots of plugins
○ Plugins extend what WordPress can do
● Contact forms
● Social network buttons
● Image galleries & popups

4. How websites work
http://devgrow.com/complete-guide-to-creating-your-first-website/

5. What's needed to run WP?
■ WordPress.org
○ Domain name (URL)
○ Host server
i. Preferably Linux (rather than Windows)
ii. PHP
iii. mySQL
■ WordPress.com
○ Ready to go, free to sign up, several restrictions

7. Installing WordPress
■ When you have a host and domain...
■ Automatic installers
○ Softaculous
○ Fantastico de Luxe
■ Manual install
○ Download files from WordPress.org
○ Upload to host server using FTP or host's file
manager
○ Create mySQL database via phpMyAdmin or host's
wizard
○ Visit URL and follow the installation wizard
● Will need database name, server, username,
password

8. Softaculous install

11. Manual Install

15. Hosting recommendations
wphosting.com.au
www.anchor.com.au
bluehost.com
hostgator.com
mediatemple.com

16. Free Plugin
recommendations
■ Akismet (spam)
■ WP DB Backup (database backup)
■ BackWPup (whole site backup)
■ Shadowbox JS (image & video popups)
■ WordPress SEO by Yoast
■ WP Super Cache
■ WP Minify

17. Paid Plugin
Recommendations
■ Gravity Forms
■ Formidable (has a limited free version)
■ BackupBuddy
■ Slidedeck 2 (has limited free version)