Upgrade to Pro — share decks privately, control downloads, hide ads and more …

Website Weekend WP Basic Training by Karen McCamy

Website Weekend WP Basic Training by Karen McCamy

Presentation slides by Karen McCamy FreelanceTechnologyReview.com

Suzette Franck

October 23, 2016
Tweet

More Decks by Suzette Franck

Other Decks in Technology

Transcript

  1. ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com About WordPress  Why WordPress?

     Content Management System (CMS): ◦ “…a web application [software] designed to make it easy for non- technical users to add, edit and manage a website.” -- https://plone.org ◦ Natively Handles (“behind the scenes”):  User accounts & permissions  Security  Maintenance (updates & backup)  Navigation elements (MENUs)
  2. Dashboard: remember…  When you login, this is where you

    start!  Where editing takes place  Where you add to your site  Where you customize elements  Where you modify/view WP settings Your Theme affects Dashboard appearance! ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  3. *Contextual HELP The Dashboard TOUR ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com

    *What shows here is specific to the page or section you are viewing
  4. Customizing the Content Area Use: the “Screen Options” area 1.

    Click on the ▼ 2. The Options tab expands 3. Check or uncheck the options 4. Your changes appear immediately 5. Click on the ▲ to close the tab ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  5. Settings  Where you configure WordPress…  General  Reading

     Writing  Discussion  Media  Permalinks ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  6. WordPress Elements  PAGES  Posts  Plugins  Widgets

     Templates ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  7.  Purpose: for “evergreen” or “static” content  Examples 

    HOME page  ABOUT page  CONTACT page  PRIVACY POLICY/DISCLOSURE  As PARENT for sub-pages  Codex: http://codex.wordpress.org/Pages  Difference from Posts:  No Categories or Tags  No Comments (typically) Pages ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  8. ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com Walk-thru: Creating a PAGE 1.

    PAGES Menu 2. Select “New” 3. Enter a Title 4. Enter some content 5. Click “Publish” That’s it!
  9.  What is a Post? ◦ Often most confusion… ◦

    Posts are what makes WordPress so powerful!  Purpose: for current or news-y content  Examples: ◦ Articles (as on my sites) ◦ “Blog” posts (examples) ◦ Galleries ◦ Portfolios  Use Categories & Tags for organization (Session #3) Posts ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  10. Walk-thru: Creating a Post Start at the “Posts” menu 1.

    Option 1: “All Posts” (shows existing posts) 2. Option 2: “New” (where you add a new post) ©2014 Karen McCamy 
  11. Working with Images  Legal Issues  Image Sources 

    WP Media Library  Uploading Images  Image Sizes  WP Image Editor ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  12. Images: Legal Issues  Copyright  Every Image belongs to

    somebody!  Know legal use!  Do your research  Public Domain  WikiMedia (http://commons.wikimedia.org/) ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  13. Image Sources  Public Domain  GPU License(s): ◦ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Common

    s:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  14. Image Tips  Image sizes: for the web, small rules!

    (DEMO on FTR)  Create a post format and stick with it!  DEMO “Featured image” ◦ Don’t duplicate!  Social media posts with images get way more clicks! ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  15. ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com Image Sources  Stock Photos

     StockFresh (http://stockfresh.com/)  iStockPhoto (http://www.istockphoto.com/)  Search “stock photos”  Creating Your Own Graphics  Pablo (buffer.com/pablo)  Canva (www.canva.com)
  16. Media Library  Preparing Images  Renaming (think SEO) 

    Choosing the size ◦ “small” or “xtra- small”??? ◦ DEMO: stock photos  Uploading  DEMO: Walk- thru  Adding the Alt tag ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  17. Media Library  Good Housekeeping:  Keep it Lean! ◦

    Deleting Images ◦ Archive all your images in a separate folder on your computer  Searching (DEMO) ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  18. ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com UX (User Experience)  It’s

    not about you…  It’s all about your site visitor!  UX Factors:  MENUs / Navigation  Taxonomy = an organizational structure ◦ WordPress Categories ◦ WordPress Tags  Site Aesthetics (WP “Theme” [Session #3])
  19. ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com MENUs Review  2-Step Process:

    1. Create Your Taxonomy (Posts Menu) ◦ Categories ◦ Tags 2. Create Your Menu ◦ Appearance  Menus  Edit Menu - Create or Select Menu - Make sure to select the correct menu! - Menus are theme-specific *NOTE: WP menus are powerful… Use them! Your theme should not use their own menu system!
  20. Plugins  What is a Plugin?  Think “applets” 

    WP Codex: http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins  Why…  …use them?  …aren’t they included in WordPress? ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  21. Plugins (continued)  Two Types  Internal: ◦ add functionality

    to your Dashboard or "backend“ ◦ They do not impact your site load times!  External: ◦ add functionality to your site or "frontend“ ◦ These DO impact your site load times ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  22. Plugins (continued)  Examples  Internal: ◦ Post Notes ◦

    Lorem Ipsum ◦ Duplicate Posts ◦ Editorial Calendar  External: ◦ Subscribe Form (such as MailChimp) ◦ Adsense ◦ Related Posts ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  23. Plugins  What is a Plugin?  Think “applets” 

    WP Codex: http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins  Why…  …use them?  …aren’t they included in WordPress? ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  24. Plugins (continued)  Two Types  Internal: ◦ add functionality

    to your Dashboard or "backend“ ◦ They do not impact your site load times!  External: ◦ add functionality to your site or "frontend“ ◦ These DO impact your site load times ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  25. Plugins (continued)  Examples  Internal: ◦ Post Notes ◦

    Lorem Ipsum ◦ Duplicate Posts ◦ Editorial Calendar  External: ◦ Subscribe Form (such as MailChimp) ◦ Adsense ◦ Related Posts ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  26.  Where to find plugins  Only the WordPress Repository:

    www.wordpress.org/plugins  Researching plugins  Take your time…sometimes lots of time!  See previous slides: Basic WordPress Elements ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com Plugin Review (continued)
  27. Walk-thru: Plugins MENU  Start at the “Plugins” MENU 

    Hover → opens the Plugins sub-menu 1. Installed Plugins – for reviewing, support 2. Add new (just what it sounds like!) *NOTE: We’ll be working with plugins next week in Class #2 ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  28.  Purpose:  for special-purpose content & “features” (not “functionality”)

     Adds content to specific areas ◦ Header ◦ Footer ◦ Sidebar(s)  Widgets are NOT the same as PLUGINS!  Theme-specific widget areas & widgets Widgets ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  29.  Codex: http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Widgets  Examples:  Twitter Feed (real-time) 

    Recent Comments  “Editorial” Theme  “Headlines” Theme  “Karma” Theme  Theme Widgets: MySiteMyWay Themes Widgets (continued) ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  30. Theme Basics  WordPress MUST have 1 theme to function…

     WP includes 2-3 FREE themes, produced by Automattic (the company behind WordPress) Karen McCamy - “2014” “2013” “2012”
  31. Using a Theme  Custom Theme Menu  In your

    Dashboard  Every theme developer is different! Karen McCamy - Freelance Theme Menu
  32. Using a Theme  Customizing “Best Practices”:  Explore your

    Theme Options  Look for Theme Doc’s & Read!  Link to the Docs & Support!  Decide on changes (make a list!)  Prioritize those changes  Try out 1 change at a time! Karen McCamy - Freelance
  33. Summary…  Themes are for aesthetics  All themes are

    different…  In style and format  In support and licensing  There is no shortcut…  invest your time to do the requisite research  Find something you like  Make sure you can work with it yourself  I’m happy to help: email me… Karen McCamy - Freelance
  34. Managing Your WP Site WP Updates: WordPress: automatic, hopefully! ©2014

    Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  35. Managing Your WP Site Plugin Updates: *Always check compatibility! ©2014

    Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  36. Managing Your WP Site Theme Updates Remember my ‘theme’ caveat:

    every theme is different TIP: Always do a manual compatibility confirmation of plugins & your current theme whenever WP is updated! ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  37. Backups ! Don’t rely on your host for backups! 

    Read the fine print…  Most hosting companies don’t guarantee their own (free) backups!  Take control…manage backups yourself 1. Plugins 2. Paid Hosting Add-ons ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  38. Backups: Options Plugins:  Backup Buddy  VaultPress (by Automattic)

     Updraft Plus  Lots more…just Google it!  Host Options Differ… Check with your hosting company ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  39. Backup Plugins: What to look for: 1. Storage options ◦

    Dropbox or other cloud locations ◦ Email option 2. Scheduling ◦ Daily ◦ Weekly 3. Simplicity of restoring! ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  40. Managing Users  Users Menu  Create new  Manage

     Delete  Codex: http://codex.wordpress.org/Users_Add_New_Screen  Important TIPS here… READ! ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  41. Users: TIPS  Use LOWEST user level necessary  Subscribers

    can register themselves…option in ‘Settings’  Why ‘self-registration’? ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  42. Security Overview  “Open Source” means…  Security “holes” 

    Publication  Global Access  “Admin” login  Vulnerable…  Change it! ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
  43. Security  Login Tips  Don’t use “admin”  Create

    hard passwords ◦ Use a Password Generator  Secure “User Account” Policy  Plugins:  “WordFence”  “LimitLoginAttempts”  Consider removing “WordPress” ID in footer ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com