Building a Professional Site

Advanced WordPress

HACC – Advanced WordPress

Overview1. WordPress Overview2. Hosting Options3. Frameworks & Themes4. SEO Plugins5. Advanced Plugins & Features6. Security Precautions & Plugins7. Preparing for SEO8. Blogging Strategies9. Exercise

HACC – Advanced WordPress

1. 25 Million WordPress Downloads2. Used by top brands like: Ebay, Yahoo!, Ford, Sony, & more.3. WordPress.com vs Self Hosted4. Admin Control Panel5. Changing Themes & Adding Content6. Adding Plugins

What You Should Know

1. (Not for Advanced Wordpress)

2. FREE to start3. Limited Control

Hosting Options

1. GoDaddy2. BlueHost – Cpanel3. Synthesis by Genesis

WordPress.com Self Hosted

1. Standard Themes – themeforest.net, etc.2. Genesis Framework by Studio Press3. Custom Themes – Developer Network

Frameworks, Themes,

A WordPress framework reduces the need to write repetitive code, provides a solid foundation for child themes, (and in some cases) prevents security issues.However, frameworks are not required.

& Child Themes

SEO Plugins

1. Google XML Sitemaps2. Google Analytics3. All in One SEO Pack4. WordPress Meta Robots5. 404 SEO Plugin6. Redirections7. Custom Permalinks

1. Contact Form 72. NextGEN Gallery3. WP PageNavi4. The Events Calendar5. Custom Menus6. WP Super Cache – very advanced

Advanced Plugins

There are many more, but here are the most widely used:

1. FTP Password: (14 characters, w/ #’s, upper & lower case)

2. Database Password: (14 characters, w/ #’s, upper & lower case)

3. Add KEYS and SALT to wp-config.php4. Move wp-config.php up one folder level5. Keep Wordpress Updated6. WP User Passwords: (10 characters, w/ #’s, upper & lower case)

7. Install WP File Monitor (monitors all file changes)

8. Secure Wordpress (eliminates known vulnerabilities)

9. Login Lockdown (limits login tries on admin page)

10. Always backup your database, wordpress files, & widgets

Security Plugins & more…Prevent malware & spam by following these tips below:

IMPORTANT!

1. Create a Google Account2. Setup Google Analytics3. Setup Google Webmaster Tools4. Research Keywords5. Setup SEO Plugins: All in one SEO

Preparing for SEO

SEO Checklist

1. Use your blog for education and thought leadership2. Be honest, forthcoming, and natural3. Stay focused on your topics & website theme4. Create fresh content monthly. (post at least 1 new article per

month, or more!) Tip: use the scheduler to automate the process.5. Include relevant links:

1. interior pages of your site2. outside website sources

6. Use title tags, keywords, and descriptions for all your posts.

Blogging Strategies

EXERCISE

If this were a service page about bus tours in New York City, what would you enter into the SEO plugin?Hint: research keywords in Google then fill in the information.https://adwords.google.com/keywordtool

Written Exercise 1

It’s time to write a new blog article. You want to write about bus tour safety and give bullet point tips to potential clients. Write a brief paragraph with bullet points and use the following checklist:

1) Create a compelling blog title2) Write a brief description for SEO3) Find 1 keyword to focus on. https://adwords.google.com/keywordtool

4) Write a brief paragraph about tour safety (blogs should always use original content, but grabbing a paragraph from Google is fine for this exercise)

5) Provide 2 internal links to “your” website (hypothetically)6) Provide 1 external link (for authority and relevance)

Written Exercise 2

Q & A

1. Go to google.com2. Click Sign In3. Click “Sign up for a new

Google Account”4. Follow steps

Google Setup 1) Create a Google Account

1. Go to google.com/analytics2. Click Access Analytics3. Enter Google login4. New users will click “Sign Up”5. Follow the setup steps6. Copy your analytics code

Looks similar to this UA-12345678-1

7. Past code into Google Analytics Plugin on Wordpress

Google Setup 2) Setup Google Analytics

1. Go to https://www.google.com/webmasters/

2. Sign in to Webmaster Tools

3. Click “Add a site”4. Verify site

Google Setup 3) Setup Google Webmaster

1. Go to https://adwords.google.com/keywordtool

2. If you’re signed in you won’t have to enter the captcha each time.

3. Start researching based on your website or company theme.

Tip: Each page/post on your site should focus on one main keyword.

Google Setup 4) Research Keywords

Google Setup 5) All in one SEO Plugin