There is so much confusion about what types of things should be put on a page and what should be in a post. Static vs. Dynamic content is the best way to tackle this. An “About Us” page would be just that… A PAGE. If you are talking about something that is more time sensitive, then you want to do a post. Connected to this would be Categories and Tags. What are they? When creating a website, you can edit a menu to include not only pages, but also category archives that can create a more complete experience for small businesses. This is not just how to do it but WHY you should do it. This gives an in depth look at the justification for placement of content on your website and way finding.

1. SHANTA R. NATHWANI - @SHANTADOTCA - HTTP://SHANTA.CA
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
MAY 27, 2017
AKA. PAGES VS. POSTS & CATEGORIES VS. TAGS
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR CONTENT
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2. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
Main Idea
Posts vs. Pages & Categories vs.
Tags. There is so much confusion
about what types of things should
be put on a page and what
should be in a post. Static vs.
Dynamic content is the best way
to tackle this. When creating a
website, you can edit a menu to
include not only pages, but also
category archives that can create
a more complete experience.
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3. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
AGENDA
INTRODUCTION
PAGES & POSTS
CATEGORIES & TAGS
LIVE DEMO
Q & A’S
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4. FIND ME!
TWEET ME: @SHANTADOTCA WEBSITE: HTTP://SHANTA.CA
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5. ABOUT ME
Instructor, Sheridan College
Web Design and Capstone Project
Graduate, BrainStation FT Web Dev
Serial WordCamper. 24 talks in 27
WordCamps Including Co-
organizer, WordCamp Hamilton,
2015-18, Toronto in 2015 and
Milwaukee 2016
Contributor, The WPCrowd
“Lead Dudette” defined as: "a young
woman or girl who is very popular
or admired by her peers”. Thanks
@modmatt!
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Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca

6. DISCLAIMER
WE ARE JUST DEALING WITH THE DEFAULT WORDPRESS POSTS HERE. FOR MORE INFO, TAKE A LOOK AT CPT’S
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7. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
1. WRITE DOWN ON POST IT NOTES ALL THE
MAIN TOPICS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON
YOUR WEBSITE.
Events
ServicesRecipes
Contact
Products
Portfolio
Blog
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About
Us

8. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
POST-IT
NOTES
Used to put down all the pieces of information that you want to put on
your website
Later on, you may want to colour code them into categories and pages
During the presentation today, start filling in those post-its with your
ideas of what you want on the site. You may not finish it today, but it
will give you a start.
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9. AN EXAMPLE
FROM CHAOS COMES ORDER
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Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
Step 1 (below) Step 2 (right top)
Step 4 (right bottom)

10. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
FOLLOW ALONG!
WE ARE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER OUR MENU BASED
ON CONTENT WE’VE ALREADY GOT. FOLLOW ALONG AT:
HTTP://TANTIENHIME.COM
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11. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
3-5-7 PRINCIPLE
• No more than
5-7 items in a
list.
• This includes
menus and lists
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• 3 Clicks to
where you need
to be
• Few (very few)
exceptions

12. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
PAGES VS POSTS
PAGES
Static information for
the most part
“About Us” is a great
example
Does not use Categories
Can have sub-pages
Dynamic information
Time sensitive
Uses Categories & Tags
“Upcoming Events” or
“Events Attended” are
good examples
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P0STS

13. Pages Categories
Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
2. FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES WILL BE
CATEGORIES AND WHICH ONES WILL BE PAGES
About
Us
Events
Services
Recipes
Contact
Products
Portfolio
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14. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
3. CHANGE THE COLOUR OF EITHER ONE OR THE
OTHER SO THAT YOU CAN TELL THE
DIFFERENCE
Events
Recipes Portfolio
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Pages Categories
About
Us
Services
Contact
Products

15. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
CATEGORIES VS. TAGS
CATEGORIES
• Major classifications for
information
• “Events” is a great
example
• Can have sub-categories
(much like pages)
• Describes the content
using keywords
• WordPress recommends
5-7 per post
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TAGS

16. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
WORDPRESS MENUS
Menus can contain:
• Categories (sometimes called “Category Archives”)
• Pages
• External Links
• The number of menus that are supported depend on the
theme you choose, so do that first!Since 3.6, you can now
choose what menu goes where (main, sidebars). Again,
dependant on the theme.
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17. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
4. KEEPING THE 3-5-7 RULE, START TO
STRUCTURE YOUR MENUS ACCORDING TO THE
TOPIC, NOT WHETHER OR NOT YOUR CONTENT
IS A POST OR A PAGE.
About
Us
EventsServices Contact
Recipes
Portfolio
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Products

18. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
5. CREATE YOUR MENU IN WORDPRESS USING
PAGES AND CATEGORIES!
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19. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
GO LIVE!
HTTP://TANTIENHIME.COM/WP-ADMIN (FOR ME)
HTTP://TANTIENHIME.COM (FOR YOU)
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20. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
Resources
How to create your menu: https://learn.wordpress.com/get-
published-30/#lecustommenu (Created for .com, but still applicable)
Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web: http://
www.amazon.com/Information-Architecture-Blueprints-Christina-
Wodtke/dp/0735712506 (until last year, used by our course)
Don’t Make Me Think: http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-
Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515 (one of the books that replaced IA)
Evil By Design: http://evilbydesign.info/book/ (the other new book)
WordPress.tv: http://shanta.ca/posts-vs-pages-and-categories-vs-tags-
video-at-wordcamp-montreal-2015/ (my earlier talk, including creating
the menu)
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21. Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa - http://shanta.ca
QUESTIONS?
TWEET ME:
@SHANTADOTCA
MY WEB SITE:
HTTP://SHANTA.CA
HIRE ME:
SHANTA@SHANTA.CA
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