This is a Non-coder's Guide for Getting Started with WordPress - from the 2012 WordCamp Denver, presented by Bethany Siegler of UniqueThink.com.

1. Beginner’s
Guide to
For Non-coders
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2. Bethany Siegler
Slides available at
www.UniqueThink.com/wcd
Connect at:
Twitter.com/UniqueThink
Facebook.com/UniqueThink
Pinterest.com/UniqueThink
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3. Who Are You:
Raise Those Hands
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4. What is WordPress?
WordPress Software/Application:
– Browser-based
– Lives online - NOT on your computer
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5. How does it function?
– GEEK TALK:
WordPress uses HTML and CSS
– HTML or HyperText Markup
Language
» displays web content
» creates the structure
– CSS or Cascading Style Sheets
» defines appearance
» stylizes: fonts, colors and sizing
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6. How does it function?
– GEEK TALK:
WordPress is based on PHP -
a server-side scripting languages -
that works with a MySQL database
– PHP files - make site function
– Database - stores YOUR content
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7. Same, but Difference?
https://wordpress.org https://wordpress.com/
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8. WordPress.COM
Free hosting: No install/upgrades, but domain
contains WordPress.com:
www.YourBlogName.WordPress.com
1. Use a domain you already own on WordPress.com
account - $13.00 per domain, per year.
2. Register a domain thru WordPress.com, starting at
$18.00 per domain, per year
Themes: Limited to 211 (45 premium from $39 up)
Custom Design: a paid upgrade that costs $30.00 per year.
Tools: Limited 3rd party tools, no plugins
Ads: They can add ads to your site. You can pay to remove
ads from WordPress.com - No-Ads Upgrades cost $30.00 per
year
Space: 3GB free -10GB Upgrade: $20.00 per year
.COM Options: either use Free As Is
OR get WordPress Value Bundle a $99 yr
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9. WordPress.ORG
Self-hosted: Pay for hosting - and domain name - need to install
and maintain upgrades
1. hosting can cost about $83 in the first year with free domain registration
thru HostMonster, BlueHost or HostGator
2. Use 1-click install to get WordPress set up
Themes: Unlimited free and premium (between $25-$150)
Custom Design: to get a look that really meets your vision, you could move to
WordPress.ORG and use any theme (layout, the look of your site) or have
someone custom create a look for you
Tools: Unlimited 3rd party tools and plugins
Ads: You can either run ads or not, it is up to you
Space: depends on hosting plan
You have to host, install, backup and upgrade on your own - but it is fairly easy to do
.ORG Options: Get started at about $83 using Twenty
Eleven or another free theme
OR Use a Premium Theme
OR Hire a developer for a unique custom look
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10. WordPress Installation
1-click install
DEMO HostMonster:
http://www.hostmonster.com/cgi/demo
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11. WordPress Installation
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12. Visitor’s View: Front End of Site
Current Default Theme: TwentyEleven
comes with WordPress installation
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13. Where to Go:
Admin Section:
– Backdoor to your site (lives online)
– Administrative area
Way to edit/add content to site
– Login with username & password via
http://yoursitename.com/wp-admin
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14. Admin Panels –
Where do I login?
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15. Getting around the
WordPress Dashboard
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16. Finding Help and Inline
Documentation
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17. WordPress Glossary of Terms
Content Management System (CMS):
– System that Manages Your Content:
Organizes content into:
– Pages
– Posts
– Media (images, video...)
– Allows you to easily add, find, edit and
archive content
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18. Managing Your content
The Media Library
Add PDFs, Images, Audio, Video
(max size for most web hosts is 5-8MB,
can increase via php.ini file)
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19. WordPress Glossary of Terms
Visual Editor (WYSIWYG):
– What You See is What You Get
– Toolbar with buttons for stylizing your
content (as in Word and other text
editors)
– Don’t need to know HTML
(but sometimes helpful)
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20. View of Visual Editor
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21. WordPress Glossary of Terms
Widgets:
– Typically WordPress Blogs have a sidebar
– Content within sidebar can be dynamic
Automatically pulled in
Piece of code
Widget Example: Recent Post Widget
– Widgets aren’t only for sidebars
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22. Widgets
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23. WordPress Glossary of Terms
Plugins:
– Plug it into core
– A mini piece of software
– Automates or adds functionality
– May be for visitor or admin’s experience
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24. Managing plug-ins
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25. Plugin Suggestions
Akismet- http://akismet.com/ - Eliminates Spam in Comments
All in One SEO Pack - http://semperfiwebdesign.com/documentation/all-in-one-seo-pack/all-
in-one-seo-faq/ Helps you add keywords to titles and descriptions for search engines
Broken Link Checker http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/broken-link-checker/ Checks for
broken links and missing images
Custom Post Widget https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/custom-post-widget/ Adds 'content
blocks' to a widget - without knowing code
Google Analyticator: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-analyticator Adds Google
Analytics code (a tool to track visits to your site)
Google XML SiteMap: https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-sitemap-generator/ Adds
a sitemap to help the search engines index you better
Limited Login Attempts: https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/limit-login-attempts/
TinyMCE Advanced http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/tinymce-advanced/ Add on tools
for your editor tool bar.
WordPress Database Backup https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-db-backup/
On-demand backup of your WordPress database.
Wordpress Firewall 2 https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-firewall-2/
Monitors web requests to identify and stop the most obvious attacks.
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26. WordPress Glossary of Terms
Themes:
– Controls the PRESENTATION (look) of site
– Separate from Content (text and media)
– Can be easily switched
(to give a site a new look)
– 1000s and 1000s of free and
premium (paid) themes available
– Not all are created equal
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27. Action Steps: Ask Yourself
What is your site’s purpose?
How do you want it to look?
What kind of media (images/videos) do
you have?
What do you want it to do (functionality)?
Will you be Blogging?
How will the navigation work?
Do you have mobile visitors?
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28. Default Theme
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29. Finding Themes
(recommend researching throughly)
https://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
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30. Finding Themes
What to Look for:
– How it looks and functions
– Does it have/do what you need
– Documentation and Support
– Reviews and Ratings
– Browser Compatibility
– Responsive Design
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31. Finding Themes
(Recommendations)
Free Premium
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32. Finding Themes
(Recommendations)
Free
https://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
http://weavertheme.com/
Premium
http://themeforest.net/user/ThemeBlvd?ref=uniquethink
http://bit.ly/studiopresswpthemes
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33. Resources
WordPress.org: http://wordpress.org/
WordPress Plugin Directory: https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/
WordPress Themes Directory: https://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
How-To Videos from WordPress.com: http://wordpress.tv/category/
how-to/
Recommended hosting solutions (I do get a referral fee, but only
recommend easy to use companies, with good customer service,
who are also affordable – about $6.95 a month):
– HostMonster: http://www.hostmonster.com/track/uniquethink/
– BlueHost (sister company of HostMonster): http://
www.bluehost.com/track/unqiuethink/
– HostGator: http://secure.hostgator.com/cgi-bin/affiliates/
clickthru.cgi?id=bethink
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34. UniqueThink.com Helps Build Your
Complete Online Presence with:
WordPress Websites & Blogs
Social Media
EMail Marketing
Web Usability and SEO Lite
Bethany Siegler can be reached at 720.771.3271 or
email at Bethany@UniqueThink.com
Slides available at www.UniqueThink.com/wcd
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