WordPress Crash CourseChrissy Rey - Pongos Interactive

pongos.comupdated 1/20/2017

About Me

I’m Chrissy Rey, a former zoologist who turned to programming in the mid-90’s. Since then I have taught myself, and thousands of others, how to make Web sites, create interactive animations, build games, produce videos, and more. My company, Pongos Interactive, works primarily with non-profits, associations, and small businesses. Our tool of choice for Websites is WordPress. In addition to my “day job,” I am also the founder and director of the Coder Kids Club, an organization that teaches kids in K-7 how to code.

WordPress Crash Course - Course Outline

● What is WordPress?● Hosting Options● Managing Content● Customizing Appearance● Extending Functionality

Lesson 1: What is WordPress?

● Content Management System (CMS)● Easy to Use● Widely Used● Open Source● Free Software● PHP/MySQL (plus HTML, JavaScript, and CSS)

Lesson 2: Hosting Options

● WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org (self-hosted)

● WordPress.com for bloggers and businesses● Self-Hosting● WordPress-Optimized Hosting

WordPress-Optimized Hosting Providers

● Bluehost● DreamHost● MediaTemple● Page.ly● WPEngine

So which one should I pick?● What will you do about security

for both the server and the WordPress site?

● Are you planning to install plugins or themes?

● What is your budget?● How much traffic do you expect?● Do you want to manage the

server, or would you like an expert to manage it for you?

● Do you plan to do the WordPress upgrades?

● Do you need direct access to your files or the database?

● Will you do backups?

Installing WordPress

● Many hosts will do it for you.● It’s good to have a local installation on

your computer, for testing and practice.● Use a Bitnami Installer

Lesson 3: Managing Content

● The WordPress Dashboard● WordPress Settings● WordPress Content Types● Posts● Pages

● General● Discussion● Permalinks

WordPress Settings

WordPress Content Types

● Posts● Pages● Media● Comments● Anything else!

Posts

● Content associated with a date● For bloggers, this is going to be the bulk

of your content● Can have taxonomies applied to them:

categories and tags

Pages

● Timeless information, used to display content that is not associated with a date

● Can be organized into a hierarchy of pages and subpages (and sub-subpages, etc…)

● Can have different templates applied to them (theme-dependent)

● Don’t have taxonomies by default

Lesson 4: Customizing Appearance

● Separating Content from Appearance● Community Themes● Installing a Community Theme● Commercial Themes● Customizing Themes

Separating Content from Appearance

● Content is stored in the database.● The appearance is handled with a collection

of template files made of PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images known as a “theme.”

● Keep them separate so you can easily change themes.

Community Themes

● Community themes are free, as in “free speech” and “free beer!”

● Some have premium upgrades available, with more options

● Available through the Dashboard

Installing a Community Theme

● When considering themes, try to find ones that don’t have additional content types defined. That’s not separating content from appearance!

● Try to find “responsive” themes so your site will look nice on any device.

● Appearance > Themes. Click on Add New. Find the theme you want, and click Install and then Activate.

Commercial Themes

● Commercial themes are not always free.● Some charge per theme, and others have

“clubs” that give you access to all of their themes.

Commercial Themes

● Popular sources include:○ StudioPress○ Elegant Themes○ ThemeTrust○ Themify○ WooThemes

● Installing a Commercial Theme: Appearance > Themes. Click Add New and then Upload Theme.

Customizing Themes

● Most themes give you the ability to change at least a few things, such as colors, fonts, and images.

● Some themes also include spaces for widgets.

Lesson 5: Extending Functionality

● Separating Content from Functionality● Community Plugins● Installing a Community Plugin● Commercial Plugins

Separating Content from Functionality

● The WordPress “core” can do a lot, but not everything you might need.

● Plugins allow you to extend the functionality

Separating Content from Functionality

● Plugins are written in PHP, and may also include some HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images.

● Use plugins to extend the types of content WordPress can handle, create a contact form, add e-commerce functionality, integrate with other systems, and much more!

Community Plugins

● Community plugins, like community themes, are free, as in “free speech” and “free beer!”

● As with community themes, some community plugins have premium upgrades available, with more options

● Available through the Dashboard

Installing a Community Plugin

● Before you install a plugin, make sure it will work with the version of WordPress you have installed.

● Check the reviews!● Plugins we love:

○ WooCommerce○ The Events Calendar

● Plugins > Add New. Search for the plugin you want, install it, and then activate it.

Commercial Plugins

● Commercial plugins aren’t always free.● Some of our favorites:

○ Gravity Forms○ Events Calendar Pro - Extension of a community plugin○ WooCommerce Extensions - Also extensions of a community plugin○ SmartSimian

● Installing a Commercial Plugin ○ Plugins > Add New. Click on Upload Plugin.

Q&A

Thank You!