launching your wordpress website

Part II: Launching Your WordPress

AGENDA:5:00 - 5:15 Check-In

5:15 - 5:30 Part I: Why you need a website

5:45 - 6:15 Decisions, pizza, break into groups

6:15 - 6:30 Part II: Introduction

6:30 - 7:15 Part II: Setting up your WordPress (groups)

7:15 - 7:45 Part II: WordPress basics

7:45 - 8:00 Q&A

http://bit.ly/AMAUBCWP2

What is WordPress?

WordPress:

WHAT ARE …

CMS (Content Management System) that is used to easily create and manage website content

WordPress Ecosystem:

WHAT ARE …

Theme Shops and Marketplaces

Plugin Developers & Providers

eCommerce, Developers, Designers, Consultants & More

WHAT IS THE …

State of Mind

WordPress.com (free) people …

Purchasing Your Domain & Hosting

Hosting:

Domains:

WHAT ARE …

The server that holds the files and content of your website, rather that running it off of your personal computer

The URL that people use to access your website

cPanel:

WHAT ARE …

Control Panel used for most hosting services that lets you manage your files, applications, emails and more that are linked to your hosting account.

Domain & Hosting Options

A Small Orange [deal]*

A Small Orange [regular]*

GoDaddy

HostGator

BlueHost

Domain Name

FREE

FREE

$5-15 per year

$6-20 per year

FREE

Website Hosting

$35 (first year)

$50 per year

$48(first year) - 84 per year

$86 per year

$48(first year) - 96 per year

*All of these are great options, we will be using A Small Orange for instructions, but you can pick whatever you’d like.

Special Discount with A Small Orange

Annual rates: $36 per year $50 per year $120 per year $240 per year$35 for first year

Setting up your WordPress (groups)

Things you should accomplish:

Free: create an account, brainstorm what you are going to use your website for

Paid: set up your hosting (with A Small Orange), log into your C-Panel, install WordPress, log into your dashboard …. then brainstorm what to put on content!

Paid WordPress Instructions

Hosting with A Small Orange● Visit this website for

our special deal: Click here

● Click “Start Today!”

Step 1: Picking Your Plan● Hosting Plan -

“Shared Hosting - Small”

● Billing Cycle - “Annually”

● It will renew at $50 for us!

Step 2: Choosing a DomainIf you don’t already own your domain:

● Enter your ideal domain and click “Check” to see if it’s available.

● If not, they will give you other suggestions, or keep trying other domains.

● Click “Save” UNCHECK THIS!

Step 2: Choosing a DomainIf you do own your domain:

● Click on “I already own this domain”

● Enter the domain name you own

● Click “Save”

You don’t have to transfer it over.

Step 3: Enter Your Other InformationEnter your billing info and security question

I do not recommend any add-ons (they cost extra)

Step 4: PROMO CODEpromo code: UTAMA

Click “Apply”

Amount Due = $35

Click “Buy Now”

Step 5: Verification Email

● Look for an email with subject line: “New Account Information From A Small Orange”

● Scroll down until you see your cPanel Login

● Write down your username, and temporary password

● Click on “Log In to cPanel”

Later you should:● Change your

password on A Small Orange

● Verify your email address

● Explore your hosting platform

Step 6: Install WordPressWelcome to your cPanel!

Scroll down until you see the “Softaculous Apps Installer”

Click “WordPress”

Step 6: Install WordPressThis page shows you the details about installing WordPress.

Click “Install”

Step 6: Install WordPressUse the following settings

“Protocol”: http://

“Domain”: your domain

“In Directory”: leave this blank

“Database Name”: leave as default

“Site Name”: My Blog (or whatever you want, this can be changed later)

“Site Description”: whatever you want, can also be changed

“Enable Multisite”: leave unchecked

Step 6: Install WordPressUse the following settings

“Admin Username”: admin

“Admin Password”: create a strong password, write it down!

“Admin email address”: your email address

Set your language

Check “Limit login attempts”

You don’t need to pick a theme here

Click “Install”

If you want to understand these steps more later, here is a good resource:

A Small Orange “Installing WordPress with Softaculous”

Installed!

Step 7: Sign into WordPressGo to http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin

username: Admin

password: your password that you just made when installing WordPress

Step 7: Sign into WordPressThis is your WordPress!

STOP :) We will continue as a group.Send someone up to say you’re done.

WordPress Platform BasicsWordPress.com (free) people can join in!

What we’ll cover➔ Pages➔ Posts➔ Menus➔ Uploading Media➔ Themes➔ Plugins & Widgets➔ HTML & Development➔ Learning More

Additional Resource: WordPress Basics

PagesPages → Add New

● Visual/Text● Draft, Schedule, Publish● Parent Page● Templates (some themes)● Featured Image

PostsPosts → Add New

● Visual/Text● Draft, Schedule, Publish● Format● Categories, Tags● Featured Image

Pages vs PostsPages:

Static content on your website

Mostly used for Contact, About, and other non-timely pages

Organized in a page hierarchy (parent pages, menus)

Pages are not social

Posts:

Tied to publish dates and listed in reverse chronological order

Mostly for blogging purposes

Add categories/tags to posts to help visitors find them

Visitors can comment/share posts

MenusAppearance → Menus

Type in Menu Name → Create Menu

Add pages, links, categories to menu from left side by dragging

Drag and drop to create sub-menus

Some themes let you pick your menu location - “main menu” “social menu”

Uploading MediaMedia → Add New

Click on image

● Change Title● Add a caption● Alt text: if image doesn’t

load/SEO● Description - SEO

Themes:

WHAT ARE …

The design/layout of your WordPress website

Finding Themes1) Pre-Installed Themes:

● Appearance → Themes

2) Google it! “Best Free WordPress Themes Portfolio”

● Find a theme, click “Details”, click “Download” → downloads ZIP file

3) Other places to find great themes:

● Etsy - simple, custom made themes● ThemeForest.net: premium, business and

professional themes

Finding Themes | Choosing Themes | Uploading Themes | Customizing Themes

WordPress.org (self-hosted) only!

Choosing ThemesFree or Premium Themes

● Customizability● Support

Design

● How it looks● Page styles that it offers● Headings/fonts/menus/buttons

Responsiveness & Mobile Friendly

More about What to Consider When Choosing Themes

Finding Themes | Choosing Themes | Uploading Themes | Customizing Themes

Uploading ThemesAppearance → Themes → Add New → upload zip folder → Install and activate

Finding Themes | Choosing Themes | Uploading Themes | Customizing Themes

WordPress.org (self-hosted) only!

Customizing ThemesAppearance → Customize

Options will vary with different themes

Simply play around :)

Click “Save” to Publish!

Click “X” to go back to the WordPress Dashboard

Finding Themes | Choosing Themes | Uploading Themes | Customizing Themes

Plugins:

Widgets:

WHAT ARE …

Small pieces of code that can be easily uploaded to your website to add functionality

Sections of your blog (sidebar, footer) where you can add content

Finding Plugins1) Existing Library of Plugins

● Plugins → Add New● Searching through these avoids

having to upload

2) Google it! “Best WordPress Plugins”

● Find a plugin, Download it → downloads ZIP file

Sometimes your theme will also come with recommended plugins, install those!

Finding Plugins | Uploading Plugins | Recommended Plugins | Using Your Plugins

WordPress.org (self-hosted) only!

Uploading PluginsPlugins → Add New → Upload Plugin

Wait for it to show “Installed Successfully”, then “Active Plugin”

Finding Plugins | Uploading Plugins | Recommended Plugins | Using Your Plugins

WordPress.org (self-hosted) only!

My Recommended PluginsJetpack by WordPress: gives you basic website analytics about traffic, clicks, etc.

Google Analytics by Yoast: lets you connect Google Analytics to your website for further insights

Contact Form 7: basic contact form, instead of listing your email address on your website

Custom CSS: easy way to customize your website design without having to edit the source code

Other types (lots of options!):

● Social Media (sharing buttons, Twitter/Instagram feed, Pin it button, Facebook like, etc.)● Newsletter sign ups (Mailchimp, HelloBar - if you’re doing a blog)● Language editors, Calendars, Forms, & more!

Finding Plugins | Uploading Plugins | Recommended Plugins | Using Your Plugins

WordPress.org (self-hosted) only!

Using Your PluginsPlugins → Installed Plugins

Configuration will vary:

● “Settings”● Some will appear on the

sidebar of your WordPress dashboard

● Read the documentation for the specific plugin

○ Installation instructions, documentation, screenshots, etc.

Finding Plugins | Uploading Plugins | Recommended Plugins | Using Your Plugins

WordPress.org (self-hosted) only!

Setting Up Widget AreasAppearance → Widgets

List on left of all available Widgets

Box on right shows where you can use widgets (Sidebar)

Each widget usually has a description and instructions to help you set it up (add widget)

Can customize all of them

HTML & DevelopmentEdit using HTML in the Text Editor

● <h1> header styles● <ul> unordered and <ol>

ordered lists

Learn more HTML

Edit CSS using plugins

Theme Code is editable through Appearance → Editor (but proceed with caution!!!)

WordPress.org (self-hosted) only!

Learning More … Google things!

Codecademy has courses on HTML and CSS

Lynda.com has WordPress tutorials

Your WebsiteAn Example Plan

Where do I start?1) Define your website2) Pick your theme and plan out your structure3) Buy your domain, set up technical aspects of website DONE! :) 4) Build the structure5) Choose your plugins6) Build out your content7) Edit, review, publish!

More information about each step in the Website Crash Course Packet

Thank you!& Questions