This class is designed to give you a solid foundation in how to use WordPress. This is an online class that you can go through at your own pace. Each video is around 10 minutes or less.
This is what you will learn:
What is WordPress? (4:48)
- Brief history of WordPress.
- Why it’s much more than a blogging tool.
- The power of “Open Source.”
- How WordPress works.
- Six reasons to choose WordPress.
WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org (4:03)
If you’re relatively new to WordPress, you may have been confused by the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. If so, you’re not alone!
In this video, we’ll take a quick look at the differences between these two related — but distinctively different — versions of the popular WordPress blogging software.
How to Install WordPress (6:49)
The five steps to install WordPress…
- First, we’ll download the latest version of WordPress from WordPress.org.
- Then, we’ll upload those files to our web server, using FTP.
- Third, we’ll create a MySQL database and user for WordPress.
- Then, we’ll need to configure WordPress to connect to our newly-created database,
- And lastly, complete the installation and setup our new website.
The Dashboard (7:01)
- Familiarizing yourself with the WordPress Dashboard.
- How to customize the WordPress interface just for you.
- Hide Dashboard modules you rarely use.
- The collapsible navigation menu and functions.
- The default modules that are available to users.
- How to use the QuickPress module to quickly create a new Post.
Creating a New Post (10:24)
- Understanding the difference between posts and pages.
- How to create a new post using the Posts > Add New > sub-panel.
- Personalizing the Add New Post interface.
- Formatting text and content using the WYSIWYG editor.
- Pasting content from Microsoft Word into WordPress.
- Understanding the Visual Editor and HTML (Code View) Editor modes.
- How to save and publish posts to your site.
Edit an Existing Post (2:59)
- How to bulk edit or delete multiple posts at the same time.
- Using the Quick Edit tool to quickly change post details.
- How to make a post “sticky” to keep it at the top of your page.
- Editing, previewing and updating a post using the WYSIWYG editor.
Using Categories and Tags (4:41)
- Understanding the difference between tags and categories.
- How to add and edit categories using the Posts > Categories sub-panel.
- Using category parents to sort content hierarchically.
- How to add and edit tags using the Posts > Tags sub-panel.
Creating and Editing Pages (4:10)
- Reviewing the difference between Pages and Posts.
- How to edit and delete pages using the Pages > Edit sub-panel.
- How to bulk edit or delete multiple pages at the same time.
- Using the Quick Edit tool to quickly change page details.
- How to change the order in which your pages are listed.
- How to file, or “nest” pages underneath a parent page.
- Assigning different page templates for a given page.
- Using the WYSIWYG editor to add and edit pages.
Add Photos and Images (4:46)
- How to upload and insert an image or photo from your computer.
- Formatting images using the Image Editor, and CSS.
- Editing images that have been previously embedded.
How to Embed Video (2:08)
- Best practices for inserting video into your site.
- Using Auto-Embed to easily embed videos and other content with just a couple of clicks.
- Embedding other types of content, besides video.
Using the Media Library (2:48)
- How to upload new files using the Media > Library sub-panel.
- How to bulk-edit or delete media files.
- How to crop, rotate, or flip images using the built-in Image Editor.
Managing Comments (5:15)
- How to enable Comments and Discussions.
- Best practices and settings for allowing comments.
- Filtering comments for language and content.
- How to approve, edit, delete or mark a comment as spam using the Comments sub-panel.
How to Create a Link (3:48)
- How to easily create a link within a post or page.
- How to add new links to your sidebar using the Links > Add New sub-panel.
- Choosing the target or destination when your visitor clicks on a link.
- Organize your links into related link categories for easy navigation.
- Editing or deleting multiple links at once using the Links > Edit sub-panel.
Changing the Theme (4:28)
- How to find and install new themes.
- Updating the look of your site with one click using the Appearance sub-panel.
- Previewing changes before you activate a new theme.
- Editing the background and header in the default WordPress Theme, Twenty Eleven.
Adding Widgets (3:22)
- What are widgets, and how do they appear on your website?
- How to add and edit widgets using the Appearance > Widgets sub-panel.
- How to rearrange the order of widgets in the sidebar of your site.
- Making the most of multiple widget areas.
Building Custom Menus (2:59)
- How to create a new custom menu.
- Adding pages, categories and custom links to your newly-created menu.
- How to rearrange menu items.
- Creating nested, or drop-down menus.
- How to build multiple custom menus, and why.
Installing Plugins (3:22)
- What are plugins, and what do they do?
- How to activate and deactivate plugins using the Plugins sub-panel.
- How to find new plugins directly from the Plugins > Add New sub-panel.
- Using the automatic plugin installer.
- Configuring a sample plugin.
Adding New Users (3:49)
- How to add a new user in the Users > Add New sub-panel.
- How to edit or delete existing users.
- How to set individual permissions for each user.
- What roles and capabilities are available to each permission level?
- Editing your own profile and login information.
Useful Tools (2:15)
- Quick publishing via the Press This bookmarklet.
- The Category/Tag conversion tool.
- How to import posts and comments from other blog services.
- How to easily backup or export your WordPress content at any time.
Configuration Settings (8:47)
- General – Updating your site’s title and location, who may register an account at your blog, and how dates and times are calculated and displayed.
- Writing – Customizing the interface with which you write new posts.
- Reading – Deciding if you want posts—or a static page—to be displayed as your site’s homepage. How many posts are displayed at one time, and how to adjust RSS syndication feed features to determine how the information from your site is sent to a reader’s web browser or other applications.
- Discussion – Control the settings concerning incoming and outgoing comments, pingbacks and trackbacks, email notifications and the use of avatars.
- Media – Specify the maximum dimensions in pixels to use when inserting an image into the body of a post.
- Privacy – Choose whether you want your site to be indexed by search engines—like Google, Bing, or Yahoo!—or only to normal visitors.
- Permalinks – Create a custom URL structure for your permalinks and archives.
- Miscellaneous – File upload settings, link tracking and support for custom “hacks”.
The cost of this class is $49. You will have access to it until WordPress goes the way of the Dodo Bird or the plug is pulled on the World Wide Web, whichever comes first. The videos are updated as WordPress changes so make sure you come back for a refresher every once in a while. :)
Here is what you can expect during the registration process:
- Step 1: Make your payment
- Step 2: Create your username and password to finish your registration
- Step 3: Opt-in to the class email list (this is optional)
Notes on Registration
- Payment is handled through PayPal, however, you can use a regular credit card by clicking on the "Don't have a PayPal account?" link on the payment page. See screen shot.
- You will see Imagination Creek, LLC on the PayPal pages. That is Pick My Webbed Brain's legal name, they are one and the same so don't let it throw you.
- If you are paying by credit card, you will need to click the link to come back to this site to finish registration. You will see a link on the Thanks for your order! page that says "Return to Imagination Creek, LLC". That's the link back here - PayPal won't let me change the name of the link - grrrrrr!
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