WordPress

wordpress-logoWhat is WordPress?

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) based on PHP and MySQL.  Features include a plugin architecture and a template system. WordPress was used by more than 23.3% of the top 10 million websites as of January 2015.WordPress is the most popular blogging system in use on the Web,[7] at more than 60 million websites. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPress)

It was first released on May 27, 2003, by its founders, Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, as a fork of b2/cafelog. The license under which WordPress software is released is the GPLv2 (or later) from the Free Software Foundation.

WordPress is essentially a free, open-source, highly flexible content management system that can serve as the foundation for a blog or a fully-fledged small business website for online marketing or ecommerce.   With a WordPress website, you can easily add content and new pages yourself – no knowledge of HTML, CSS or other technologies is required.

WordPress allows small businesses to take control of their website and save thousands of pounds. WordPress makes it possible for you to build your own website in minutes, and maintain it yourself after it’s built.

You can customize the look of your site so that it’s unique. You can add new capabilities via hundreds of plug-ins. In addition, your site will be search-engine friendly from the start.

PowerPoint – Creating Blogs and Websites – An Introduction to WordPress – September 15

 

PowerPoint – An Introduction to WordPress Websites – September 2015

 

An Introduction to Creating WordPress Websites – September 2015

WordPress.org (https://wordpress.org/)

To quote:
“WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

The core software is built by hundreds of community volunteers, and when you’re ready for more there are thousands of plugins and themes available to transform your site into almost anything you can imagine. Over 60 million people have chosen WordPress to power the place on the web they call “home” — we’d love you to join the family.”

Download WordPress 4.3.1 (https://wordpress.org/download/)

WordPress.com (https://wordpress.com/)

Create your new website for free. WordPress.com is the best place for your personal blog or business site.

WordPress.com is the easiest way to create a free website or blog. It’s a powerful hosting platform that grows with you.

WordPress Sites

Exercise Resources (Resources Zipped Files)

Tools for WordPress

  • WampServer (www.wampserver.com)
  • BitNami WordPress installer (bitnami.org/stack/wordpress)
  • Instant WordPress (www.instantwp.com)
  • FEEDZILLA (http://www.feedzilla.com) – FREE news feed widgets for websites and smartphone apps.¡
  • MailChimp (http://mailchimp.com) – Free email marketing service and email list manager. Design, send, and track HTML email campaigns with simple tools. Get a fully functional free account.¡
  • Gravatar (http://en.gravatar.com) – Lets weblogs and similar sites display user-provided pictures from a central database.
  • Vimeo (http://vimeo.com) – US-based video-sharing website on which users can upload, share and view videos.
  • Polldaddy (http://polldaddy.com) – Create stunning surveys, polls, and quizzes online in minutes. Collect responses via your website, e-mail, iPad, Facebook and Twitter.
  • typekit by Adobe (https://typekit.com) – Use a range of hundreds of high quality fonts on your WordPress website by integrating the Typekit font service into your WordPress blog.

WordPress Themes Directory (http://wordpress.org/extend/themes)

WordPress PlugIns Directory (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins)

Useful PlugIns:

  • JetPack
  • Akismet
  • All in One SEO Pack
  • WordPress SEO by Yoast
  • WP-DB-Backup
  • WordPress Backup to Dropbox
  • WPTouch
  • wp-Typography
  • Contact Form 7
  • Fast Secure Contact Form
  • FancyBox
  • WP-PageNavi
  • Yet Another Related Posts Plugin – YARPP
  • NextGen Gallery
  • Social Media Widget

Online Tutorials

Various Useful WordPress Tools and Themes

Online Store Zipped Files

Small Business Website Zipped Files

Websites for Free Images
http://www.sxc.hu (Free stock photos)
http://www.subtlepatterns.com (Textured backgrounds)
www.iconfinder.com (Free icons)
http://www.dryicons.com (Free icons ie. Handy Icon Set)

Websites for Themes
http://www.wpexplorer.com (Photo-Free Responsive WordPress Gallery)

Websites for Plug-ins
https://wordpress.org/plugins/soliloquy-lite/ (Soliloquy. Free version of responsive slider.)
http://www.codecanyon.net (Visual Composer for WordPress. Not free but free version can be found by searching)

Easy WP Guide WordPress ManualEasy WP Guide (for WP4.4)
(https://easywpguide.com/)

Download the Easy WordPress Guide WP4.4 (PDF 3,040KB)

Hopefully you all know by now, WordPress 4.4 is out, and that means an updated Easy WP Guide. If you haven’t already updated your website you can download it from WordPress.org or simply update in your WordPress dashboard.
WordPress 4.4 brings with it a new default theme, Twenty Sixteen. One of the most exciting features though is that WordPress now has responsive images. This allows your site to display an image based on the visitors device, and since it works straight out of the box, you don’t need to do anything.
A simple, easy to read WordPress Manual.
You won’t find any talk of HTML, PHP or creating WP Themes here. What you will find is a simple, easy to read WordPress manual that will guide you through the process of editing your site content.

You can read the Easy WP Guide WordPress manual online, download the free PDF, or purchase the eBook or brandable Word document. If you’re a WordPress consultant, use it to help your clients get the most out of their brand new site.