This presentation looks at novel and unique ways to use WordPress beyond a simple blog or website by using BuddyPress, bbPress, and P2. Ever think of using WordPress to manage a project, be a private communication board, or even have a forum? We’ll cover these and more uses that truly push WordPress to its limits. Bonus: 3 Plugins to help streamline your Dashboard experience!

1. To the Word and Beyond!
Extending WordPress Past a
Simple Blog
WordCamp Montreal 2014
Meagan Hanes @mhanes

2. A Bit About Myself
● Meagan Hanes - @mhanes
● Digital Designer for over 15 years
● Own and Operate Love Digimedia, Ottawa-
based design shop
● Been using WordPress for over 8 years
● Speaker at WordCamp Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa
● Favourite Colour: Rainbow :)

3. This Session Covers...
● WordPress Dashboard Plugins
● Social Networks using BuddyPress
● Forums using bbPress
● Project Management/Communications using P2

4. Dashboard Plugins
● Most plugins provide external functionality for the
website (adding a Twitter Widget, an image slider,
etc)
● But Dashboard Plugins provide internal
functionality
● They change the way the Admin Dashboard looks
and works!

5. Note: Screen Options

6. Google Analytics Dashboard for WP
● Integrates Google Analytics
account with your WordPress site
● Displays charts, reports, etc
directly on Admin Dashboard
● Allows you to monitor website's
usage without loading up full GA
application

7. Dashboard Notes
● Handy way of leaving little admin notes!
● Multiple colours and options available

8. Editorial Calendar
● Makes it easy to manage timing of posts
● Uses click-and-drag interface for simplicity

9. Plugin List
● Google Analytics Dashboard:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-analytics-dash
● Dashboard Notes:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/dashboard-notes/
● Editorial Calendar:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/editorial-calendar/

10. BuddyPress
WordPress-based Social Network System

11. Extending WP: BuddyPress
● BuddyPress brings
Social Networking
features to WordPress
● WP Users can make
posts on their profile
page, follow other
users, join groups, have
group discussions,
receive notifications of
new content, and more.

12. BuddyPress in Action

13. Extending BuddyPress: Plugins
● Easily extendable with
BuddyPress Plugins:
– Add Chat Rooms (iFlyChat)
– Gamify your site with
Achievements (Achievements for
WordPress)
– Make profiles more Facebook-
like (BuddyPress Wall)
– Create a Dropbox-style file repo
(BuddyPress Docs)
Achievements for
WordPress

14. BuddyPress In The Wild

15. BuddyPress Links
● BuddyPress Core: https://buddypress.org
● iFlyChat: http://wordpress.org/plugins/iflychat/
● Achievements for WordPress:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/achievements/
● BuddyPress Wall:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/buddypress-wall/
● BuddyPress Docs:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/buddypress-docs/

16. bbPress
Forums: The WordPress Way

17. Forums using bbPress
● bbPress is a forum solution for WordPress

18. bbPress: Forums Made Easy
● Creates a
customizable bulletin
board system
● Full spam protection
via Akismet
● Links with your site's
existing user accounts

19. bbPress In Action
● Create a new
discussion topic
● Browse existing
discussions
● Displays last post's
time and author
● Allows for subscribing
(sends an email)

20. bbPress Plugins
Rating Widget
GD bbPress Attachments

21. wp-Monalisa
bbPress Plugins

22. Plugin Links
● bbPress Plugin: http://bbpress.org/
● bbPress Go To First Unread Post:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/bbpress-go-to-first-unread-p
● Rating Widget:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/rating-widget
● GD bbPress Attachments:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/gd-bbpress-attachments
● wp-Monalisa:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-monalisa

23. P2

24. Communications using P2
● P2 is a WordPress-based complete conversion
– NOT for your current WordPress website!
● Creates a Communication Ecosystem
● If Twitter and Basecamp had a software baby!

25. P2 in Action
● Eliminates the need to use the Post Editor
● Instead, post directly on the site itself!
● Smaller posts = more communication

26. P2 for Internal Communications
● Use MentionMe plugin to enable @namings
● Perfect for assigning tasks, asking questions
● Extend with P2 By Email to close the loop
– Now a Fully Functional Notification system!
● Organize projects/assignments with tags
● Configure widgets to show top posts,
currently logged in users, latest posts, etc
● Enable or Disable public viewing

27. P2 in Action

28. Plugin Links
● P2 Core Theme: http://p2theme.com/
● MentionMe:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/mention-me/
● P2 Post Feedback:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/p2-post-feedback
● P2 Resolved Posts:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/p2-resolved-posts/
● P2 Likes: http://wordpress.org/plugins/p2-likes/

29. To the Word and Beyond!
Extending WordPress Past a
Simple Blog
Slides: slidesha.re/1pYlBZ1
WordCamp Montreal 2014
Meagan Hanes @mhanes