Set up your computer for today – Welcome!

Welcome!

Join Our Slack Group!

You can chat, ask questions, and keep up with fellow GDI members between classes.

Slack works with its own app, or in your web browser.

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There's a channel called #introwordpress, where you're welcome to post questions, links, etc. related to class today.

Meet Your Instructor

Leeann Drees

Let's meet the class!

Tell us your name

Have you used WordPress before?

What was your first concert?

What is WordPress?

WordPress is an open-source blogging platform and content management system created in 2003.

Let's break that down...

WordPress is an open-source blogging platform and content management system created in 2003.

Let's break that down...

WordPress is an open-source blogging platform and content management system created in 2003.

Let's break that down...

WordPress is an open-source blogging platform and content management system created in 2003.

Let's break that down...

WordPress is an open-source blogging platform and content management system created in 2003.

All that to say...

WordPress is a tool that lets you get your content & ideas published on the web, fast, with a minimal budget – or no budget at all.

Let's Try It!

Navigate to wordpress.com.

Click the big blue "Create Website" button.

Steps:

Welcome to WordPress.com!

Let's get settled in & take a look at our settings.

Settings

We're starting at the bottom (cue Drake).

Settings > General

• Change your title
• Choose your tagline
  • a good one will include keywords and help your search engine rankings!
• Check your timezone

Settings > Writing

• Set your default category
  • you'll only have "Uncategorized" for now, but you can choose others later!
• Set your default post format

Settings > Discussion

• Choose whether and how people can comment on your writing
• You can moderate comments as strictly as you wish

Settings > Google Analytics

• Only for premium plans!
• Google Analytics helps you track your site's visitors

Settings > Import

Adding content you've published elsewhere is no problem!

(Yes, even if it's not WordPress. Click "Other Importers" and see.)

Other "Configure" Stuff

Let's take a quick look at:

• Sharing
• People
• Domains

Let's Write Our First Post!

Give your post:

• A title
• A few paragraphs of content

Let's add:

• An image
• A link
• Some bold & italicized text
• Some headings

Your editor has two modes: visual & HTML

Visual editor: what you see is (mostly) what you get.

HTML editor: makes code nerds happy!

I don't recommend using the post editor to change your text color, even though you can.

Any guesses as to why not?

How can I change the date & time of my post's publication?

(WordPress is a little bit like a time machine!)

Before We Publish: Post Options

Categories & Tags

Categories & Tags help you sort your blog's content.

Categories are for higher level sorting.

• Use 1 or 2 per post
• Have few total categories for your site
• Categories are usually capitalized, though it's a matter of preference
• Think of them like chapters in a book's table of contents

Categories & Tags

Tags can help link all related posts to each other.

• Use as many as you need per post
• Tags are often lowercased, though again it's up to you!
• Think of them like index entries

Categories & Tags

An example:

• Post title: Chocolate Chip & Coconut Cookies
• Categories: Dessert, Recipes
• Tags: chocolate, coconut, cookies, holiday favorites

Featured Image

From WordPress Support

Sharing

...is caring

Post Format

Your theme may or may not display content differently based on this choice.

Guide to WordPress post formats.

More Options > Slug

• The URL fragment that will refer to this post
• Example: myfoodblog.wordpress.com/chocolate-chip-coconut-cookies
• WordPress generates one and usually it's fine, but you may want to make it shorter or more relevant
• No capitalization or spaces – use hyphens instead
• Use keywords here to help your SEO!

More Options > Excerpt

• Some themes may display an excerpt on your home page
• WordPress usually generates one, but you can set a custom one here

Ok can we publish now?

• Preview first!
• Then go for it :)

Let's Add a Page

Spoiler alert: It's almost exactly like adding a post!

Page Hierarchy

Pages can be hierarchical, if you set a "Parent Page."

Think of your site like an outline:

• Home
• About
  • Our Team
  • Our History
• Contact

"About" is the parent page to "Our Team" and "Our History."

Posts vs. Pages

Pages are best for static, timeless material you want your users to always be able to find easily. They can serve as a backbone for your site. Examples: About, Contact, Location, Mission

Posts are best for time-sensitive updates and creating conversation. If you're running a blog, most of your content will be in the form of posts! Examples: This Month's Workshops, Springtime Recipes, We're in the Newspaper

Menus

How do we get to all those pages?

Menus

• Your theme controls how many menu areas you have
• Common menu areas:
  • header
  • sidebar
  • footer
• Social links menus will convert your Twitter, Facebook, etc. links into nifty icons!

Themes

What is a theme?

• Themes control the appearance of your site, but they don't alter the content at all
• Try changing your theme and see what happens!
• Click "Try and Customize" to make sure you like it first.

Choosing the Best Theme

• There are tons out there and it can be overwhelming!
• What kind of content are you planning to show? Does this theme have all the areas you need to display images, text, sidebars, etc.?
• Is it responsive?
• Is it fast?

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

Yes, they're different things!

We've been using WordPress.com to create a blog that is hosted and managed by WordPress.com.

Another option is to purchase your own hosting and install the WordPress software (available from wordpress.org) on a site you own and manage.

These sites are called self-hosted WordPress sites.

Which one is best for you?

It depends what you want to do!

In short, WordPress.com is easier but gives you less control. With a self-hosted site, you have more power and more responsibility.

Which one is best for you?

WordPress.com is like renting an apartment; self-hosted sites are like buying a house.

Let's look at this comparison from Skillcrush.

(If you're curious about self-hosted sites, look out for our Intro to WordPress workshop.)

Good news: you can always move!

Remember the handy import/export tool? It'll help you move your content from WordPress.com to a self-hosted site, or vice versa, if your needs change!

What Now?

You're a blogger, baby!

What Now?

• Keep it up!
• Keep learning!
• If you get stuck:
  • Google it
  • Ask our Slack team
  • Ask on Twitter with #WordPress
• Get involved in the WordPress community
  • Metro Detroit WordPress Meetup