how i learned to stop overthinking

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HOW I LEARNED TO STOP OVERTHINKING AND HIT PUBLISH Lynne Rutledge WordCamp Montreal July 23, 2016

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Page 1: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

HOW I LEARNED TO STOP OVERTHINKING AND HIT

PUBLISH

Lynne RutledgeWordCamp Montreal

July 23, 2016

Page 2: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

I am a classic over-thinker.

Page 3: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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

Page 4: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

• Information literacy can help you move forward confidently

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

Page 5: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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

Page 6: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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

Page 7: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking
Page 8: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

Laser Focused ResultsKeywords

Boolean operators

Search modifiers

Page 9: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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

Page 10: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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

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

Page 11: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

Boolean OperatorsAND, OR, NOT

Help to focus and exempt irrelevant results

Generally typed in all capitals

Page 12: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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.

Page 13: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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

Page 14: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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

Page 15: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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

Page 17: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking
Page 18: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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?

Page 19: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

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?

Page 20: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking
Page 21: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

Community• Our friendly neighborhood WordPress

group• On Facebook• Website

• WordPress.com resources• Daily Post• Blogging U

• Check out who your sources follow and like

Page 22: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

Jumping In•Lurk

•Search

•Post thoughtfully

•Contribute

Page 23: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

A Nice Neat Package•Search smarter not harder

•Be critical

•Take it to the community

Page 24: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking
Page 25: How I Learned to Stop Overthinking

Keep in touch!• @linnifred

• www.linnifred.com

• Spookycrisp#1587