WordPressBasics

Session One

withCandace Robinson

AZREBN@gmail.com

www.AzRealEstateBlogs.comwww.PhoenixHousingBlog.com

www.ArizonaMortgageTeam.com

WordPress Basics

Summary of Session One

Why You Should Use WordPress?

How to Get Your Own Domain

How to Get a Web Host

How to Install WordPress

How to Upload Files to Your Web Host Using FTP

Choosing a WordPress Theme

How to Install and Use WordPress Plugins

How to Create Your Blog Post & Blog Page

What RSS is and Why You Need it!

How to Use FeedBurner

WordPress BasicsWhy You Should Use WordPress?

What is WordPress?

WordPress is an open-source CMS designed for blogging, but easily modified to enable the management of an entire website.

It’s a collection of articles that are listed chronologically with the newest article on top.

Blogs also allow you to very easily add new content, like text posts or even audio and video. Traditionally, this has been a very difficult thing to do for non-technical people.

In general the content is normally updated very frequently so there's new fresh content that brings people back again and again.

WordPress BasicsShould I Use WordPress?

YES! Why?

Blogs offer frequent content that brings people/readers back!

Readers tend to trust the information provided on blogs more than normal static, non-changing and non-interactive websites.

Using knowledge correctly, good content selection could massively increase your chances of influencing your readers to take action!

Cost Effective Website Control

Online Presence Customization

Great Features Lead Caption

WordPress BasicsHow Does Wordpress Work?

It’s a FREE Source!

There basically two main types of blogs: Externally Hosted Blogs Self-Hosted Blogs

External Hosted means someone else is hosting your blog for you on a remote server and provides you the software to run your blog.

Self-Hosted blogs mean you have your own domain name or website address set up for your blog, and that you also have you own server space you purchase for storing your files of your blog.

Which One is Best to USE?

WordPress BasicsWhich to USE?

External vs. Self-Hosted Blogs?

Externally hosted blogs make it easy to get started and not a bad idea to start to get a feel for these like ActiveRain or Wordpress.com.

Drawback with Externally Hosted blogs is you don’t own your domain and it can be shut down at any time!

Less Admin control and customization!

Self-Hosted blogs will provide you with much more options for customizing your blog, provide you some powerful features not available on an external hosted blog.

WordPress.org vs. Wordpress.com

How to get your own Domain Name?

What is a Domain Name?

Why you need a domain name.

How to choose your

domain name.

How to register your

domain name.

WordPress Basics

WordPress Basics What is a Domain?

It’s an address for your website. Domain name is like a street address to your

home.

A domain name normally has something like http:// in front of it, indicating that it’s a website address. Http stands for: hyper text transfer protocol.

Why you need a domain name!

Easy access for others to get to your website

You can purchase you own domain, possibly your name i.e.; www.CandaceRobinson.com

Much nicer solution than those of free options. It’s much more PROFESSIONAL!

Having your own domain is critical for you long term success as a blogger and the more you get into blogging, the more this will make sense!

WordPress Basics How to Choose a Domain?

Use a keyword search tool to provide you with the most popular keywords in the niche or topic area that you’re interested in blogging about! Google AdWords: Keyword Tool Freekeywords.wordtracker.com/

Search keywords that relate to your niche

Brainstorm all possible domain names

Use Keyword in URL; first or second word

Pick the 10 best domains & pick best!

Tips: Something that makes sense. Make sure it’s not too long Easy to remember Try not to use dashes or

underscores in between words

NOTE: If you follow these tips you should have no problem finding a great domain name. Your domain name is not the be all and end all of your blog!

WordPress Basics How to Register Your

Domain

GoDaddy.com is one way to purchase domains and check to see if they are available.

Open your browser to GoDaddy.com

Open an account by following the required information needed.

Type in the search box to see if your best domain name is available.

If it’s available purchase it!

Check on www.FatWallet.com for GoDaddy.com discount code to get a cheaper price and at checkout use the code (you can search Google for ‘godaddy discount code’ also)!

WordPress Basics How To Get A Web Host

What is a Web Host? Web host, which is sometimes

referred to as a server, is really just like another computer, somewhere else in the world. It’s like a convenient and safe place to store your blog or website pages and files so people/readers can get access to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can link your domain name to your web host, which allows people all over the world to access your web pages via your domain name.

Why You Need a Web Host?

Others can access your website from a central place on the internet.

It’s much more affordable, simpler and hassle free to use web host opposed to your own personal server.

WordPress Basics How to Set Up Your Own Webhost

Picking a Hosting Company Pick a very reliable and affordable

hosting company for your website. MediaTemple.com Host Gator.com DreamHost.com GoDaddy.com

Setting Up Your Hosting

Purchase hosting at your host company of choice.

Sign up for a monthly plan between $5.00 - $20.00 a month

Be sure to sign up for the Linux option

Check to see if they have WordPress as a quick install and compatible.

WordPress Basics How to Install WordPress?

Most Host companies have a “one click” install option, check to see if it’s available. If not, you will need to do the following: Download the free platform from

Wordpress.org and save it to your desktop

Then you will need to FTP it to your hosting server.

One click install is the fastest and easiest route to go.

What is FTP?

FTP is a free program which will help you easily upload your files, graphics to your server. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. FTP Programs:

Filezilla – works with Firefox SmartFTP GoFTP CoffeeCup

WordPress Basics

Using Filezilla or C-Panel on Webhost

Depending on your preference, most all host companies have C-panels for you to gain access to your files, their own version of an FTP program.

Other Great Tools:

Filezilla – FTP (Firefox add-on) TextPad.com (windows) Windows Live Writer (Microsoft) Blogo (Mac version, 21 day free version only) Evernote.com Posterous.com

Totally customizable when using

your premium theme of choice!

WordPress BasicsChoosing a Wordpress

Theme!Free vs. Premium?

A theme is essentially a special piece of software that affects the way that your blog is presented visually.

Style of your blog will include layout i.e.; header, color scheme, fonts, font sizes, navigation layout, page layouts, one sidebar or possibly two or more.

Themes are designed by programmers and give up their time to create beautiful WordPress designs.

BEWARE: Often times if you pick a theme that the designer no longer offers support, you could be lost for hiccups along the way!

Premium Themes:

StudioPress.comWooThemes.comDIYThemes.com

ElegantThemes.comWPRemix.comiThemes.com

WordPress BasicsFree vs Premium WP

Design?

There are thousands of FREE designs available by programmers that sell premium designs as well, but offer free ones also.

Free designs often come with inconspicuous url at the bottom of the theme that links back to their website. No Support Offered Coding can be very weak Very limited options in design

Premium designs are sold in two ways, either one time use or web developer use. One time use is a good option to start with, but will most likely cost anywhere from $40.00 on up.

BEWARE: One thing to check before purchasing a premium theme is to make sure it’s compatible with the latest WP platform (2.9.2) and it has current support from the designer!

Plugins can extend

WordPress to do almost

anything you can imagine.

WordPress BasicsWhat is a WordPress Plugin?

A plugin is a special piece of software that can provide your blog with a variety of extra functionally.

Easy to install from the admin section of your Wordpress dashboard.

Examples of Plugins:

Wordpress Database Backup Plugin Wordpress Automatic Upgrade Plugin Google XML Sitemaps Plugin Mortgage Loan Calculator Share This Plugin Similar Post Plugin Redirection Plugin All in One SEO Pack Plugin

There so many options, just about anything you can think of can be searched for!

1. How to Install a WordPress Theme

2. How to Install a Wordpress Plugin

3. How to Create your First Page

4. How to Create your First Post

WordPress Basics

Tutorials

WordPress BasicsWhat is RSS and Why You Need It?

RSS is an acronym for really simple syndication, to syndicate or subscribe to a feed of a website, blog or almost any other media content on the internet.

RSS can be used for several purposes: News feeds from other sites Videos from other sites Keeping clients informed of

your content if they subscribe to your RSS

Purpose of RSS:

To syndicate your content to other social media sites i.e.; facebook, twitter or perhaps other sites or to readers like Google Reader.

To allow others to subscribe to your site via Feedburner or Feedreader etc.

Feedburner.com

• Easy to Setup• Readers can

subscribe• Stats available• Syndicate your

RSS to other social media sites

WordPress BasicsHow to Use Feedburner for RSS

Capabilities?

What is Feedburner? Free Service that basically gets

your feed into the right format for mass distribution and other statistics about your subscribers.

www.FeedBurner.com

Benefit of Feedburner: Easy to setup Readers can set up email

subscription and provide the newest of blog posts

Collect emails of your readers to build a newsletter campaign or other campaigns!

Statistics are collected from your visitors to your site, page views, where your traffic is coming from and also what pages people leave your website most often.

WordPress Basics Overview

Sites Mentioned: Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org FatWallet.com (discount code for domains) http://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal Feedburner.com StudioPress.com, iThemes.com, WooThemes.com,

DIYThemes.com Dreamhost.com, MediaTemple.com, HostGator.com,

GoDaddy.com

To Do: Sign up for Wordpress.com for API number Buy and Pick out Domain Name Buy Hosting Pick Theme Install Wordpress to Hosting Server Install Theme Install Plugins Set Up Settings on Theme and Wordpress Dashboard Create Pages on New Blog Create a Post and content Enjoy Blogging!

1. Key pages to have on your blog

2. Keyword research and use of keywords

3. Using graphics on your blog

4. Set up Google Analytics Account

5. Handy writing tips for your blog posts

6. SEO – All in One SEO Plugin Install

7. Google XML Sitemap Plugin Install

8. How to submit your sitemap to Google.com

9. How to backup your Wordpress blog

WordPress Basics Session Two

Session 2

come join us

WordPressBasics

The End! Thank you and enjoy!

Candace RobinsonAZREBN@gmail.com

www.AzRealEstateBlogs.comwww.PhoenixHousingBlog.com

www.ArizonaMortgageTeam.com