exploring the wordpress dashboard and how to pick & install plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Austin WordPress Meetup Group

Presented By: Rich Plakas

A Little Bit About Me

★ IT Background going back to the days of DOS & Novell

★ Began “messing” with WordPress in 2007.★ Switched my focus from IT to WordPress in

2011★ I was tired of doing Windoze Updates &

changing Printer Toners :-)★ Joined the Austin WordPress Meetup Group In

2012.★ I love BBQ & Craft Beer.★ I run a beer blog: www.CraftBeerAustin.com

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The WordPress Administration Screen is composed of:

The top ToolBarLeft Main Navigation

The WordPress Dashboard.

The Dashboard comes with 5 WIDGETS by default.

Welcome

At a Glance

Quick Draft

Activity

WordPress News

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

As you install new Plugins, your Dashboard & Navigation options will

change.

Some themes will also add their own Navigation & Dashboard options.

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

You can control which widgets are displayed in the Dashboard

without having to delete or modify the plugin associated with it.

Click on the SCREEN OPTIONS arrow:

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

You can control some of the Administration Screen colors and options in your User Profile:

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Toolbar

The Toolbar mostly contains shortcuts to create New Posts,Pages Media, and Users.

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

Is this the only way you can Create a New post or Page?

NO!You can also do it from the Navigation Menus!

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Setting Menu

One of most important options in the Navigation is the Settings Menu:

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Setting Menu - General Options

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Setting Menu - Writing Options

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Setting Menu - Reading Options

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Setting Menu - Discussion Options

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Setting Menu - Media Options

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Setting Menu - Permalinks Options

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Appearance Menu - Themes, Widgets & Menus

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Appearance Menu - Widgets

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Appearance Menu - Menus

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Appearance Menu - THE CUSTOMIZER

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

The Appearance Menu - THE CUSTOMIZER

LIVE DEMO TIME!

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

What are plugins?

“Plugins are tools to extend the functionality of WordPress. The core of WordPress is designed to be lean, to maximize flexibility and minimize code bloat. Plugins offer custom functions and features so that each user can tailor their site to their specific needs” — http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

What are plugins really?

Plugins are apps or programs composed of PHP scripts that extend the functionality of your WordPress site.

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Some plugins are free and others you must pay for.

You can find thousands of free plugins in the WordPress Plugin Directory:

https://wordpress.org/plugins/

There are over 40,000 plugins there!

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Examples of Plugins:

Backup Plugins

Ecommerce Plugins

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Plugins

Photo Gallery Plugins

Analytics Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

How Many Plugins Can I Run on my WordPress Website?

There is no definitive answer.

It depends on how resource intensive those plugins you installed are.

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

How Can I Tell if a Plugin is OK to Install?

Check how many active installs.

Check the Ratings & Reviews.

Check how many support requests have been resolved and how quickly.

Check when it was last updated.

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

What Out for Abandoned Plugins!

Check the Last Updated Date!

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Before Installing a Plugin Make Sure You have a Backup of Your WordPress Website!

You should also have FTP (or SFTP) access to your website before installing a Plugin.

FTP File access will give a quick way to disable the plugin if your site crashed and becomes unreachable.

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

What Can Go Wrong?

Worst Case:

A new plugin you install can conflict with another plugin or with WordPress itself and render your WordPress website unreachable.

Not as Bad:

Your website will slow down or act “Weird”

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

Exploring the WordPress Dashboard and How to Pick and Install Plugins

How to Pick and Install Plugins

LIVE DEMO TIME!

Questions?

Rich Plakas Connected Systems

@RichP on Twitter Rich@ConnectedSystems.US

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