high tech maui wordpress 201 workshop july 2011
DESCRIPTION
Slides from WordPress workshop given at High Tech Maui July 26, 2011TRANSCRIPT
WordPress 201
Getting Started with WordPress as your Website Publishing Tool
Jeff Bennett
www.DigitalSplashMedia.com
WordPress.org
twitter.com/digitalsplashfacebook.com/digitalsplashmedia
Topics
• What is WordPress.org - self-hosted WordPress
• Finding a web host
• Simple installation of WordPress with BlueHost
• Review of dashboard, posts, pages and menus
• Themes - lots more, and they’re customizable
• Plugins - need some additional functionality? There's a plugin for that!
• Security
• Backups
• Migrating from WordPress.com to WordPress.org
• Transferring from one WordPress.org site to another WordPress.org site
What is Web Hosting?
Web Host - a company that rents web server
space for your website
WordPress is a software product made by a company called Automattic
makes
Automattic offers free blogs & websites at wordpress.com
Automattic:Provides free web hostingSets up WordPressHandles backupsHandles upgradesStops spam
This is the “.com” flavor.Limited themes, options and flexibility and no code hacking.
Web Host
Web servers display your
website to people who visit it
They pay a monthly fee to a web host, and install the free WordPress software on the
web host’s server
Many people want more options or control than WordPress.com offers.
Web HostWebsite owner responsibilities:Buy the web hostingSet up WordpressHandle backupsHandle upgradesStop spamUpload new themesUpload plugins
This is the “self-hosted” or “.org” flavor.Complete control but comes with extra responsibility
With greater control comes greater responsibilities
My Experience with Web Hosts
Simple WordPress Installation with BlueHost
LIVE
DEMONSTRATION
WordPress Admin, aka Back Endhttp://visualthinkmedia.wordpress.com/
wp-admin/
What the world sees, akaFront End
http://visualthinkmedia.wordpress.com/
2 Views of Your WordPress Site
Hint: Use Your Browser’s Tabs
One tab for viewing the public view of the site
One tab for the “back end” / admin section
The DashboardCustomize Layout
Expand/Collapse Menu
Plugins
Theme- and Plugin-specific menu items
Themes
Thousands more themes than WordPress.com
Free and Premium
Theme foundries and frameworks
*Customizable
Premium Themes
StudioPress.comWooThemes.comElegantThemes.comTemplatic.comThemeForest.com
http://coding.smashingmagazine.com/2011/04/20/detailed-comparison-of-premium-wordpress-theme-clubs/
Creating Posts
Title
Type or paste content
Insert imagesFormatting icons
Click for all icons
Publish options
Categories
Tags
Creating Pages
Similar layout as posts
Attributes instead of Categories and Tags
Posts vs Pages
Posts PagesTime-based content displayed in reverse chronological order - more “bloggy”
Pseudo-static pages used to create web pages for non-changing information like contact, about, products, services, etc. Not listed by date, and they don’t use categories and tags
Editing Posts & PagesSelect Edit under either Posts or Pages
Select item to edit
Categories & Tags
Categories - helpful for organizing your posts by topic
Tags like keywords
Blog post about Categories vs tags
http://digitalsplashmedia.com/2011/03/categories-vs-tags/
Custom Menus
Plugins
ExtraFunctionality
Need additional functionality? Thereʼs a plugin for that!
Plugins
List of installed plugins
Notice of available upgrade
Search for new plugins
Useful Plugin FunctionalityStop spamBackupsSecurityGalleriesSocial MediaContact FormSEO
More details on some of these later
Donʼt overdo it on plugins. They can slow down your site, bloat your database and be a security risk.
A WordPress site ANY website needs care and feeding.
You need to monitor it.
You need to keep it up to date and current.
You need to perform regular backups.
Security
Never, never, never use the default username “admin”
Use strong passwords
Upgrade to the latest version of WordPress
Host your WordPress site with a reliable web host who practices good security and has good, reliable tech support
Backup your site regularly to your own computer - not on the web server Database Uploads files .sql backup .xml backup
Backup options: Manual Automated and plugins
Security
Restoring from Backups - Sometimes it goes smooth and easy, sometimes not.
Backup files can get too big to reimport without resorting to trickery.
Keeping your blog clean to minimize bloated backup files. Consider drafting your posts in a basic text editor outside of WordPress.
Security
DO NOT USE WP PHPMYADMIN - IT HAS BECOME A SECURITY THREAT
Document your plugins and how you have them configured. Document your widgets. Document your menu structure
Plugins can be a vulnerability too. Don’t go overboard on them. Be careful with the plugins you select.
Upgrade plugins too http://wordpress.org/news/2011/06/passwords-reset/
Protective plugins WP Security Scan WordPress Firewall WP File Monitor
Follow WordPress.org on Twitter - security notices
Security
.htaccess files
Database table prefix
Hide Your WordPress version number
Prevent multiple login attempts
More... http://www.mauiwp.com/2011/06/wordpress-security/
Advanced Security
http://www.packtpub.com/wordpress-3-ultimate-security/book
Advanced SecurityIf you manage your own WordPress site, buy this book. If you have someone else manage your WordPress site, have them
buy this book.
If you think you may have been hacked, scan your site:http://sitecheck.sucuri.net/scanner/
Security
BackupsBackup your database. Options:
Tools > ExportThrough CPanelPlugins
Backup your files (images, etc. that youʼve uploaded; customizations). Options:
Through CPanelFTP softwarePlugins
LIVE
DEMONSTRATION
Backup PluginsVaultPressWP DBManagerWordPress Backup (by BTE)EZPZ One Click BackupWP phpMyAdmin
Upgrading
Always backup your database and files before upgrading
Check that your host has the minimum requirements of PHP and MySQL for the new version youʼre upgrading to. http://wordpress.org/about/requirements/
Might want a full backup of the old version of WordPress just in case something goes wrong with the upgrade (older versions available at http://wordpress.org/download/release-archive/)
Disable plugins first
Update Automatically
http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Backups
LIVE
DEMONSTRATION
Upgrade Chateau Maui
MigratingMigrating/moving a WordPress.com site to WordPress.org
If you want, WordPress.com team will take care of this for you with their new Guided Transfers feature for $119: http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/guided-transfers/
Moving a WordPress.org site to another hosthttp://digitalsplashmedia.com/2011/03/how-to-move-your-wordpress-site-to-a-new-web-host/
LIVE
DEMONSTRATION
cPanelLIV
E
DEMONSTRATION
BackupsFile ManagerFTP phpMyAdmin
SEO
http://www.wevecreatedamonster.com/the-beginners-guide-to-wordpress-seo/
Additional PluginsStop spamBackups Security Galleries Social MediaContact FormSEO
Additional PluginsStop spam
Akismet - Needs API key nowOther options: http://www.mauiwp.com/free-alternatives-to-akismet/
Additional PluginsBackups
VaultPressWP DBManagerEZPZ One Click BackupWP phpMyAdmin
Additional PluginsSecurity
WordPress Firewall or WordPress Firewall 2WordPress File MonitorWP Security ScanSecure WordPress
Additional PluginsWordPress Firewall
Additional PluginsGalleries
NextGen GalleryTubePress
Additional PluginsSocial Media
Social Media WidgetFB Like ButtonTwitter Blackbird PieEmbed FacebookShare This
Additional PluginsContact Forms
Contact Form 7Grunion Contact Form
Additional PluginsSEO
All in OneWordPress SEO by YoastHeadspace 2
Additional Topics
Additional Topics1. A look at Premium Themes2. WordPress theme structure3. Customizing themes4. Managing comments5. Static Home Page6. Media Library7. Widgets
Theme Structure
Customizing ThemesAppearance > Editor
Always make a backup of any file that you modify before you edit it
Modify the stylesheet to alter the look of your theme - you really need to know some CSS before you try this
Child themes are recommended approach to customization
Using Firebug
Easy way to find what CSS rules are governing the look of your content elements
WordPress Theme Makeoverhttp://digitalsplashmedia.com/2011/03/wordpress-theme-makeover-tutorial/
Managing Comments
UnapproveApproveSpam
Static Home Page
First create a page that will be your home page
Under Settings > Reading click on A static page in the Front page displays section & select the new home page for Front page and new blog page for posts page
Create another new page that will be for blog posts
Media Library
Upload and manage photos, video and other media
Widgets
Content for your sidebar & footer
Drag-n-drop widgets with your mouse
Find it under Appearance menu
Useful Widgets:Recent PostsArchivesCategoriesRSS
Some themes & plugins include extra widgets
WordPress ResourcesDigitalSplashMedia.com
MauiWP.comWordPress.tv
codex.wordpress.orgTwitter.com/DigitalSplash
Twitter.com/MauiWP
Digging Into WordPress
http://digwp.com/book/
1. Welcome to WordPress2. Setting up WordPress3. Anatomy of a WordPress Theme4. Theme Design and Development5. Extending Functionality6. Working with RSS Feeds7. Working with Comments8. Search Engine Optimization9. Maintaining a Healthy Site10.Bonus Tricks!11.WordPress 2.9 Update12.WordPress 3.0 Update