how i learned to stop overthinking

HOW I LEARNED TO STOP OVERTHINKING AND HIT

PUBLISH

Lynne RutledgeWordCamp Montreal

July 23, 2016

I am a classic over-thinker.

Ways I like to Fool Myself“Oh, I’ll just buy a book on it”

Sticking in student mode

Toughing it out on my own

• Information literacy can help you move forward confidently

• The WordPress community is there, and you just have to ask

The Information Literate Person can:Determine the extent of information needed

Access information effectively and efficiently

Critically evaluate information and sources

Blend new information into your existing knowledge base

Use info effectively to accomplish a purpose

The Association of College & Research Libraries

Just a Quick Search…..• 2016-07-10 searching WordPress on Google.ca = 457 000 000 results

• Adding tutorial took it down to 16 900 000

• You are getting:• ads • questionable quality• Irrelevant results

Laser Focused ResultsKeywords

Boolean operators

Search modifiers

Keywords are the key• Keywords are the starting points of searching

• Be specific, but not too specific

• Having trouble with keywords?• Make a statement about what you want to find

Example Keywords• I want to learn how to make my own child theme in WordPress.

• Keywords could be:• Child theme• WordPress• tutorial

Boolean OperatorsAND, OR, NOT

Help to focus and exempt irrelevant results

Generally typed in all capitals

AND• Will limit results

•Requires results to meet both conditions

•Some search engines use AND or + symbol interchangeably.

•WordCat AND Montreal is going to return information on what’s going on with all the cat slides.

OR•Expands results

•Either condition can be true

•The pipe symbol | functions much like OR

• Felines OR cats is a search that will return information on that uses cat or feline

NOT• Limits results

•Excellent for weeding out irrelevant results

•Minus symbol – functions like not

•Keyword search NOT SEO will help me weed out results that are about SEO keywords

Search Modifiers• “quotes” will let you find an exact phrase or combination of words

• * used as a wildcard, great for finding unknowns

• ~ will include synonyms in results

• (parenthesis) similar to they way they were used in math class

Because it’s WordCat 2016Modify your results to get cat gifs!

Add < &tbm=isch&tbs=isz:m,itp:animated >to your results URL

- From @riaface on supple.com.au

Evaluate the ResultsScope of the information

Is this an overview? Niche article? Are you the right audience for this?

AgeWhen was the info published?

AuthorWho are they? Are they objective?

Evaluating cont’d

Publisher

Who is the publisher? Do they have a particular agenda?

Reviews

What are people saying about this source?

Content

Who is linking to them? Who do they link to?

Is the site in generally good shape?

Community• Our friendly neighborhood WordPress

group• On Facebook• Website

• WordPress.com resources• Daily Post• Blogging U

• Check out who your sources follow and like

Jumping In•Lurk

•Search

•Post thoughtfully

•Contribute

A Nice Neat Package•Search smarter not harder

•Be critical

•Take it to the community

Keep in touch!• @linnifred

• www.linnifred.com

• Spookycrisp#1587