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!