This document provides an overview of getting started with Wordpress, including downloading and installing the software, setting up the configuration file, and understanding the basic structure of pages, posts, plugins, widgets, and customization options. It outlines the initial steps of getting hosting and a domain, uploading Wordpress files via FTP, and points to documentation resources. Key areas covered are creating a site map, differences between pages and posts, how to find, install and test plugins one by one, and using standard and custom widgets to add content to sidebars and footers.

1. Wordpress 101
Brian McDonald
@bmcd67 squarejawmedia.com

2. Getting Started
• Get hosting and domain
• FTP
• Download WP at wordpress.org/download/
• Setup config file wp-config.php
• Documentation http://codex.wordpress.org/
• Copy software to server and go to
your-domain.com/wp-config

3. Site Map
• Create outline of everything you want on your
site
• Group content into 4-5 groups
• Determine how many menus
• Global elements: contact, privacy, search
• Create sitemap.xml for SEO

4. Pages vs. Posts
• Pages tend to be more static
• Posts are more dynamic with comments and
trackbacks
• Both can contain rich media (video, photo,
tables, etc.)
• Posts can be aggregated in many ways

5. Plugins
• Great way to add functionality
• Built in search tool to add new ones
• Organized in directory
• Sometimes don’t play nice with others
• Load and test one at a time

6. Install Plugins

7. Search and Review

8. Plugin Detail

9. Widgets
• Sidebar & footer
content
• Forms, links, RSS feeds,
Social Media, Call Me
• Possibilities are
endless
• May need Plugin to
work
• Custom HTML code

10. Custom HTML Widget
•Create custom Social
Links
•Display YouTube
video
•Display Photo
slideshow
•Custom Forms
•Cut and paste from
code editor, website

11. Standard Widgets
•Wordpress has
several standard
widgets that only
need to be activated
to use
•Recent Comments,
Posts, etc.
•Search
•Subscribe