Ge#ng Started with
Created by Mitzi Lewis
Inspired by Barbara Nixon

What is WordPress?
• WordPress is a free, open‐source publishing
plaEorm originally developed for creaHng and
maintaining blogs.

What’s the difference between
WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
• WordPress.com provides hosHng and soLware
management (i.e., FREE)
• WordPress.org requires you to install and
manage the soLware using a 3rd party
provider (or your own server) (i.e., $$)
• More info about the pros and cons of each
opHon can be found at
hUp://en.support.wordpress.com/com‐vs‐org
• The following steps focus on Wordpress.com

Create an Account (1 of 3)
• Go to wordpress.com
• Click the “Sign up now” buUon

Create an Account (2 of 3)
1. Fill out
this form

Create an Account (3 of 3)
2. Choose your domain
name wisely – you
cannot change it later!
3. Choose a blog 4tle –
you can change it later.

Complete RegistraHon
While you wait for
the acHvaHon
e‐mail, you can
update your profile

Now What?
Log In!

Go to “My Dashboard”

Go to “Se#ngs”

1. Change your tagline
(or delete it)
2. Pick your Hme zone

Select
“Appearance
”

Pick a Theme You Like: 1. Preview
2. AcHvate

Select
“Widgets”

Add Widgets: Search, Categories,
Calendar, Links, Recent Posts
(these are required – you may add others if you like)
To add a widget, click and
drag to the Sidebar

Select
“Categories”

Add Categories
• MCOM 2523
• Current Issue of the Week
• Blog Comments
• Personal (if you have any personal posts)
• AddiHonal categories of your choosing
• Note: do not use the “Uncategorized”
category – this is like saying “Reader, I don’t
care enough about you to organize my blog”

Blogroll (a list of
your favorite blogs)
Select “Add New”
(under “Links”)

1
2
3
4

To View Your
Blog Stats
Select “Blog Stats”
(under “Dashboard”)

What’s the Difference Between
Posts and Pages?
Posts Pages
Many WordPress posts can be on One WordPress page at a Hme can
a single page can be on a single page
For dynamic content For sta4c content
Can be categorized (posts can Cannot be categorized
appear in mulHple places on a
website)
Newest post shows at top (as info Accessible from anywhere in your
is added, older posts “sink down”) blog (oLen shows up in header or
sidebar)

Add/Edit a Post

Tips for Adding/EdiHng a Post
• Click “Save DraL” oLen
• Click “Publish” when you are ready for the
post to “go live”
• If copying text from Word, use “Paste from
Word” icon on toolbar – this prevents it from
ge#ng very messy

Adding a Link
SECOND: Click
link buUon
FIRST: Highlight text
for hyperlink

1
2
3

Add/Edit a Page

Tips for Adding/EdiHng a Page
(same as Hps for adding/ediHng a post)
• Click “Save DraL” oLen
• Click “Publish” when you are ready for the
page to “go live”
• If copying text from Word, use “Paste from
Word” icon on toolbar – this prevents it from
ge#ng very messy

Tips for Your “About Me” Page
• Stay professional
• Include
– Name
– Photo (opHonal)
– University affiliaHon
– Major
– Career goals
– Links to other places you can be found online
(opHonal)

Tracking Comments for
Your Blog PorEolio
• Create one post with
– Comment # (keep a running list)
– Title of blog post your commented on followed by
author’s name
– Hyperlink to the blog post
– Date of your comment
– Your complete comment
– Example: