getting started with wordpress install, theming, plugins & security simple steps to building...

Getting Started with Wordpress

Install, Theming, Plugins & SecuritySimple steps to building with

Wordpress.

Getting Started with Wordpress

• Two Types of Wordpress– Hosted: Wordpress.com– Self-Hosted: Wordpress.org

Wordpress.com

• Hosted– You use the Wordpress.com system– Your URL is foo.wordpress.com– Enhanced services allow you to use your domain

name– Can only use approved themes and plug-ins

Wordpress.org

• Self-Hosted– Open Source, free to download– 5-Minute Install

• http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Famous_5-Minute_Install

– Requirements:• Web Host – YourDomain.com• Web Database provided by your host• FTP access• HTML or Text Editor• Some general knowledge of computer file structures

Installation: Domain Name

• Set up a domain name on your web host account.

Installation: Database

• One click Database setup – MySql Administration

Installation: MySql DB• Create your database.

– Description (Name your Database)– Choose MySql Version (choose latest – 5.0)– Enter a Password, re-enter (write it down!)– Set-up

Installation: MySql

• Save your DB info, you’ll need it later

Installation: Download• Wordpress.org

– .zip (PC)– tar.gz (Mac)

Installation: Extract• Double click on file to extract• If you don’t have the correct extraction program, download:

– WinZip (PC)– UnArchiver (Mac)

Installation: Wordpress Directory• Review contents of Wordpress folder• Look for wp-config-sample.php

Installation: wp-config.php• Open wp-config-sample.php• Add DB information• Save to /wordpress directory as wp-config.php (removed the word “sample”)

Installation: wp-config.php• Security feature• Authentication Key

– https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/– Visit link, copy paste results

Installation: FTP/Upload• Log-in to host account via FTP

– WS_FTP (Win)– Fetch (Mac)– Upload “Wordpress” folder to main directory. You can rename “blog” or “site” now. Not later.

Installation: Set-Up• Set-up Screen• Give your site/blog a title• Enter an Email Address

Installation: Set-Up• Open browser to:

– http://yourdomain.com/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php)– Or yourdomain.com/blog/… Or yourdomain.com/site/…– If you don’t have a wp-config.php file, you will see the following screen:

Installation: Login• Success!• Login details, you can change later• Login!• Dashboard, you can change password in Users panel

Wordpress Dashboard

Change Password• Users – Your Profile• Choose Strong Password

– Characters, Capitals, Numbers

Spam Key: Akismet• Wordpress built in spam feature• Get key by registering a profile only at Wordpress.com• Access Dashboard – Plugins• Activate Akismet

Akismet Panel

• Enter your Akismet Key

Redirect Wordpress• http://www.mysite.com/wordpress• To: http://mysite.com• Change Wordpres and Blog Address settings in Settings - Reading

Redirect Wordpress• Change in index.php• From: Require(‘./wp-blog-header.php);• To: Require(‘./wordpress/wp-blog-header.php);

Widgets• Widgets can be used in sidebars• Widgets perform various functions outside scope of main system• Widgets are flexible and can be moved up or down in a sidebar

Gravatar

• Globally Recognized Avatar• Install WP-Gravatar• Associate email addresses at Gravatar web

site– http://en.gravatar.com/

Plugins• All In One SEO• NextGenGallery• TwitterTools• Wordbook• XML Sitemaps• WordTube• ShareThis• ReCaptcha• WP-Book• Subscribe2• Newsletter

• Podcasting• Lightbox• Feedburner• Disqus or IntenseDebate• Amazon ReLoaded• Snipi• Google Analtyics• GetClicky

Themes• Free Themes

– Always download approved from Wordpress Codex– Some free themes can back doors for hackers

• Paid Themes– ThemeForest– http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/05/18/100-amazing-free-wordpress-themes-for-

2009/• Theme Frameworks

– http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Frameworks– http://codefusionlab.blogspot.com/2009/07/20-kick-ass-wordpress-theme-frameworks.html

• DIYThemes.com• Thematic• Sandbox• Basis

• Child Theming– Rapid Dev off one theme framework– http://themeshaper.com/wordpress-child-theme-basics/