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Using WordPress. Week 1. Why WP? Setting Up WP Exploring the Admin screen Page Organization Posting Polls. Week 2. Exploring Themes Loading Images The Media Library Exploring Widgets Forms. Week 3. Usability Connecting to Social Media SEO – Search Engine Optimization
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Week 1 • Why WP? • Setting Up WP • Exploring the Admin screen • Page Organization • Posting • Polls
Week 2 • Exploring Themes • Loading Images • The Media Library • Exploring Widgets • Forms
Week 3 • Usability • Connecting to Social Media • SEO – Search Engine Optimization • Keeping Site Statistics
Why WP? • Makes it easier for non technical people without having to create or maintain a database • Hosted version is free • Access to themes and widgets
A Blog vs a Website • Website • A group of pages an entity has made available on the internet • Usually contains links • Blog • A type of website • Often this appears as an online personal journal reflecting the opinion of a person or an organization • Allows the posting of comments and links • Allows for more two way communication
Versions of WP • Hosted • Free • Eliminates headaches of DB hosting and maintenance • Self Hosted • Access to many more plugins and themes • Have access to core files where which offers more control over your site
Setting up WP • Open up a browser to http://wordpress.com • Click on orange download button • Enter a username • Choose a password – at least 4 characters all lowercase • Capture blog address – can be mixed case with letters, numbers, and symbols a. must be unique b. make the name meaningful
Setting up WP - continued 7. Log blog address/username/password 8. Go to email to activate your account
Exploring the WP Admin screen • URL format for admin screen http://yourblogaddress.wordpress.com/admin • The Admin Bar << Include picture >>
Exploring the WP Admin screen • Notice WP logo on the left • Next would be your site title if you have chosen one – this will take you to your home page if you click it (TRY) • User name appears on the far right. Clicking it will open a menu of personal data (TRY IT)
Parts of a WP Website • Front End • This is the area the public can see • Database • This area houses your site content • Back End aka Dashboard • Can only be accessed by admins who manage your site. This is where WP admin area resides.
Exploring the WP Admin screen Main Menu The left column of every WP page contains the menu which allows access to every other page in the admin area
Exploring the WP Admin screen – General Settings To get here: • From Admin menu click >Settings • From submenu click > General • Date Format • Time Format • Week Started • Language Be sure to click SAVE
Choosing a Theme • From Admin screen click >Appearance • Using the search bar enter 2014 • Click >Activate Note: Themes will be covered in Week 2 for choosing other themes
Site Planning • 1. What is the purpose of my site? • 2. Is site more effective as a blog or a website? a. Common Static pages – About, Fees, Directions b. Common Time sensitive pages – News, highlighting a product or service, blogs 3. What type of presentation is most effective – Will my site use many pictures? Will it post news events? • 4. Is feedback needed? • 5. Special functions – i.e. News subscription forms, Feedback form, Event calendars and other widgets
Page Organization • Organization is important!! • Organization is a hierarchy!!
Page Building • Click Pages submenu • Click About page • Change About title to “About Us”. • Copy Text • Click Update then Preview
Page Building – Configuring a Page • Set Page Attributes • Set Order • Set Screen Options tab – uncheck Discussion checkbox • Click Update • Click View page
Adding a new page • Open Page Submenu • Click Add New • Add text in Title • Add Text to Page Text box • In Page Attributes enter 0 into Order • Remove check in Discussion area • Click Save as Draft • Click Preview
Creating a Child Page • Select > Pages > Add New • Add Title and Text • Select a parent under page attributes
Posting - Why a Blog? • Blogs are ideal for time sensitive information • Blogs provide an interactive feature • Blogs rank high in Search Engines
Creating a Post • Blogs are a collection of posts. • Log back into Admin screen • Find Post in Admin menu • In the Post Submenu click Add New Post • Add a title and text • Click the Visual tab
Try • Investigate a few themes • Design a hierarchy for a website • Set up placeholders for page • Search some of the current users of WP