Making Websites with WordPress

A guide to creating elegant and effective websites with WordPress, by Josh Lee

Why do we have websites?● To promote a product or service● To sell things online● To promote and spread an idea● To educate and disseminate information● To have a place to get your message out

What makes a website good?● Compelling, informative content● An intuitive interface and navigation● A consistent and professional appearance● Regular updates● Exposure via search engines and other

channels

What is a CMS?A content management system is software that runs on your website and allows privileged users (such as you, the site owner) to make changes to content and to create new pages.

Why WordPress?● The user interface is designed for humans.● The community is enormous.● It is automatically search-engine friendly,

right out of the box.● It is free and open source.● It is the most popular CMS on the planet.

WordPress.comWordPress.comHosted by Automattic, tightly controlled, easy to use, and rarely breaks

WordPress.orgSelf-hosted on your preferred host or server, completely free for customization, requires care, attention and maintenance.

Alternatives to WordPress● SquareSpace● Drupal

Let’s install WordPress...(live demo)

WordPress Vocabulary● Post● Page● Category● Tag

● Media● Widget● Plugin● Theme

PagesPages are “static.” They are a permanent part of a website and the date on which they were published is irrelevant.

PostsPosts are like magazine articles — they are published on a specific date and “age” through your website’s archives with time.

How to Install a Theme(live demo)

Optimizing your Site

Best Practices: Security● Don’t use the username “admin”● Use strong passwords● Use a reputable host● Use a security plugin for advanced settings● Avoid the image resizer script “TimThumb”

Best Practices: SEO● Ensure a unique title and meta description

for every page and post● Avoid broken links and images● Don’t duplicate content● Use an SEO plugin for instant feedback and

metadata editing● Use analytics to track your progress

External Tools for SEO:● Pear Analytics (SEO Analysis)● Pingdom (Speed Analysis)● Google Analytics● Google Insights● Moz

Some great plugins:● WordPress SEO by Yoast● iThemes Security (Better WP Security)● W3TC (Total Cache)● WooCommerce● Gravity Forms● WP Migrate DB

How to evaluate a plugin:● Does it slow down the site?● Does it have good reviews?● Does it integrate with other reputable

plugins?● Has it been around for a while?● How good is the support? Is it reliable?

Where to get themes:● Theme Forest (if you’re brave)● WooThemes (great with WooCommerce)● StudioPress (Genesis Framework)● iThemes

Types of Hosting● WordPress-specific hosts: WP Engine,

Synthesis, etc.● Shared hosts: Dreamhost, Blue Host, Go

Daddy● Dedicated Hosts: Rackspace, Amazon,

Digital Ocean● Specialized Hosts: Heroku, Pantheon

Where to learn more:● WordPress Codex● Smashing Magazine● NetTuts● Lynda.com

Questions?Josh Lee(802) 735-2274www.joshuamlee.comjosh@qccreative.com@joshleecreates