Wiley Teach Yourself Visually WordPress
Contents
1. Introducing and WordPress Creating a blog is a great way to get your message across once you have decided you have something to share with the world WordPress blogging software lets you deliver that message for free even lt 7 while giving you complete control over your site Choose a Version of WordPress Choose a Blog Topic narrarnannannannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnennnnn 6 Research Blog Titles rnarnavnavnavnavnnvnnvnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 8 Buy a Domain Name neevnvennvnnvvnnvnnvennvnnnvnnennvnnnr 10 Plan Your Blog s Content n xavrnnvnnvnavnnvnnnnn 12 Choose a Version of WordPress WordPress is available in three different varieties WordPress com provides hosting service for blogs and standard configurations WordPress org offers blogging software for self hosted blogs plus WordPress MU multi user a relatively complex program that allows you to run thousands of blogs This book does not teach how to set up a WordPress MU blogging network although if you are a blogger on a WordPress MU blog network such as through a school system or a local newspaper your experience is similar to that of people with WordPress com blogs Whichever WordPress software option you choose you can change it later If you choose WordPress com now and want to go to a WordPress org blog it is an easy transition The reverse is also true About Wor2. Blog Tool and Publishing Platform Mozilla Eiretox File Edit View History Bookmarks Tools Help File Edit View History Bookmarks Tools Help acC x amp http wordpress com e aC x Al http wordpress or g Googe DI Username Log In tau SER Search WordPress com Blogs WORDPRESS ORG WorDPRESS COM Language Express yourself Start a blog F res h ly WordPress is a state of the art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics web standards and usability K ETID gt OG et P ressed p AE dr WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time X ENS In seconds you ll have a blog with amazing free features like The best of 208 791 bloggers 142 302 new posts 235 924 comments amp 34 998 915 words today on WordPress com More simply WordPress is what you use when you want to work with your blogging software not fight it Stats to obsess over New to blogging Learn more about WordPress then follow the three easy steps below to start blogging in minutes Or for the ultimate in ease of use get a free blog on WordPress com Ready to get started QIN EE are sending visitors to your blog Gorgeous themes It s Easy As WordPress Users Introducing Blogging and WordPress chapter Key Differences Appearance WordPress com offers more than 60 layout designs called themes but t
3. changes to amp G The domain also appears on the right side of the screen under Shopping Cart You may select multiple domains When you have selected all the domains you want to register click Buy This or Buy All These Domains if you selected several Review the information on the confirmation page OD When you are satisfied with your selection or selections click Add and Proceed to Checkout Clicking takes you to a new secure page at a different domain Provide the necessary information to complete your registration Click Continue Proceed through the remaining screens until your registration purchase is complete Do I have to buy a domain name No If you do not however your URL will be your Web host s domain and directory listing such as www webhost com myweblog or it could be a subdomain such as myweblog wordpress com Introducing Blogging and WordPress wwmyopinion domain suggestions New banan Suggestions Scarch Shopping Cart 3 items Currant Items Phrase or Domain Name inireopiior pr 3 Fry Nebopimean com Buy this Get Sungeshans G ertieobpisen rel Bus this Bus al cf these Coons New Sign up for 08 Darain Suggesters aand Damain Seach ML AFI Free for Developers Symbol Key Domain S ggestion AP S ggeskj n Res lls for iomyapinian Get the API p yoy ses regars ar we Domain m onek ayy In 1 A eh scaling ermer addi
4. Is haver know how to Avess It s veally chilly in the morning especially atter a night s vain So you have to have a sweatshivt ov jacket put then you have to take it off because in the afternoon it s veally hot Introducing Blogging and WordPress Consider Post Frequency Some bloggers post multiple times a day others post once a week Your blog s topic and your time constraints may dictate how often you can post and that is fine More is not necessarily better but predictable is definitely better Make Your Blog Accurate Even if you are an authority in your subject area you need to check your facts and where possible link to your sources Yes you can find popular sites particularly on politics that use dubious information but if you want credibility with most readers you need to get your facts straight Include fact checking as part of your content plan pher Columbus arrvedn e North America in 1492 chapter Make Your Blog Stand Out After you have studied other blogs in your subject area ask what will make your blog unique aside from its being written by you If your topic is broad cars perhaps yours will stand out better and be easier to plan if you narrow the subject to say restoring Chevrolets from the 1950s or reviewing late model two seat sports cars Suit the Content to the Subject If your blog is about sculpture or carpentry or any other highly vis
5. Domain Search Domain Suggestions For Sale Sales History Auction Search Memarkelt Damaln Directory Ping Traceroute F SRP Address Damaln Peting Chesa Domalh Meme Registration Bulk Power oals Reverse IF Lamaln Histary Mark Alert Mame Samer Spy Hosting History Regedani of the results Those already registered appear with gray dots Ads by Google under the domain extensions Free Domain Registration Who Guns This Dornan op 10 Hosting Rewews Frae Domain with Annual Find ut Who Cwns the Domain 2009 Web Hosting Reviews Hosting from Network You Want Purchase or Make an Rankings Expert Webmasters 2 Suggested alternative domain Solutions ICANN Accred offer Rank Wak Hosts Network Solubors com Register com feer Hosting Revie yy com names appear on the successive Domains Search inmyopinion domain suggestions If none of the available or suggested domain names satisfies you repeat steps 2 and 3 until Phrase or Domain Name inmyopinion Gei Suggestions Hew Domain Suggestions Search you find one that will work New Sign up for the Domain Suggestions and Domain Search XML AP Free for Developers Suggestion Results for inmyopinion Domain Infdydpinian L Stand pinion E 2 MyPoll pinion hip domein suggestions domsinbark com rgs inmyopinion som nak sig infe bl us gt 300000 oe e e e ee f 3 5 1 G n Click the domain name you want to register 0
6. WordPress volunteers and its quality is inconsistent There is no support contact except for the WordPress org forums but they are excellent Choose a i oO g O p l C a You can choose anything as your blog topic but doing a little research may help you identify the topic that you will love to write about and that readers will come looking for Expertise Hobby If you are an expert in some field your knowledge Perhaps you have a hobby that you avidly pursue and could make an excellent blog topic By writing about continue to learn more about This too is a good your area of experience you will have plenty of subject for a blog Fellow hobbyists may look to you content and confidence and you may be able to use for ideas and advice and they can offer ideas and your blog to attract business and advertising advice in return opa i np wuw allexpert seor Business Scattershot A blog is a great way to keep in touch with your One option is not to choose a topic at all and simply customers and to attract more customers It is like a to write your blog as you might write a diary This is a newsletter only easier Again you surely have plenty fine approach as long as you are content to attract a of content to offer readers whether it is news about small audience Only a few people by virtue of their products special offers or holiday hours fascinating lives or captivat
7. d then stumble which takes you to blog post after blog post on that subject e http blogsearch google com Search on a topic to find existing blogs and blog posts on the topic EN i E Research j Ti i X y 4 j j If you do not take care in naming your blog you may find down the road that your choice does not serve you well It may duplicate the name of an existing blog or you may decide you want to get a domain name but a Web site with your blog s desired domain name already exists Blog Title versus Domain Your blog title generally appears across the top of your blog s front page A domain name is the part of a Web address that includes com or net or one of the other domain name extensions You can read about buying a domain name in the next section Buy a Domain Name Self Hosted Blog Names On a self hosted blog it is helpful for the blog title and domain name to match or at least to correspond so that people can find you more easily If you want to name your blog In My Opinion it would be wise to see whether a domain such as inmyopinion net or imo com is available WordPress com Names At WordPress com the username you choose when you sign up becomes part of your blog s Internet address If your username is example your blog s Web address will be example wordpress com unless you buy a domain name The Web address is separate from the blog s title but it
8. dPress Why WordPress WordPress is open source software meaning anyone With other free blogging platforms available you may can download it use it and change it for free It has wonder why you should choose WordPress The been around since 2003 as a program for self hosted answer largely comes down to control With blogs and this book uses versions 2 8 4 2 9 1 The WordPress you own your content and you can organization that developed around it WordPress org customize to your heart s content Also WordPress later started WordPress com for people who did not allows use of static pages which look and act like want to host their own blogs ordinary Web pages instead of showing content in chronological order as is typical for most blogs Hosted WordPress Blogs Self Hosted WordPress Blogs WordPress com is a blog host Sign up with Options for customizing your blog are nearly limitless WordPress com and you can start blogging within when you have a self hosted or independent minutes The user interface is simple and similar to WordPress org blog The tradeoff is that your that of self hosted WordPress blogs WordPress com independent blog takes a little more effort to get up blogs however limit your options in terms of your and running and keeping the software up to date is blog s template and performance your job not the host s WardPress com gt gt Get a Free Blog Here Mozilla Firefox WordPress com gt gt
9. e planning an independent blog you may want to choose a Web host before registering your domain i a SSS B i Buy a Domain Name i al D Go to http domain suggestions Domain Suggestions Mozilla Firefox i Ble Edt ver History Bookmarks Took Helo domaintools com in your Web OEP cc x 4 irai 1 browser Ees Tratic DomalnTools LeaseThis caonmn Note This site is one of many where you can lt Q DomainTools search for domains Your Web host may give you a Wiha F Domai Search Lomein Suggqesione For Sale sales Historr Auchan Sbi i Aramnarket e Domain Directory Ping Traceroute Mir lP Address Domain Faring Cheap Comain Name Registalion Bulk discounted price Power Tools Reverse F Darmain History Wark ler Name Garver Spr Hosting Histan Registrer Type the name of your proposed Domain Suggestions domain in the box Finding the right domain name With more then 46 Millon active det cor domain names registered it becomes even harder to find good domai Click Get Suggestions or press ar website cancept that is not already taken We can help Gur powerful name spinning technology can suggest up to LOO domain names using our proprietary a Search Domain Suggestions inry Opinion Get Suggestions Tre NY Apartments Mexico Vecebans or Dowatown Chiropractie to get sense of how Domains with the name you 49 DomainTools searched appear on the top line heis
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11. ge unique blog title onward You can try alternate spellings whimsical expressions or combinations of your name and your interest If you can make the title memorable and easy to spell all the better Type your proposed blog title into a Google search box along with the word blog Review the search results to see blogs that use your title in full or in part Type your proposed blog title in your browser s address box followed by wordpress com For example you could type mythoughts wordpress com and any WordPress com blogs by that name will pop up in your browser If someone else has a Web site or blog with your preferred title you can still use that title but it is a bad idea Besides the potential for legal conflict if someone decides to trademark the title the bigger issue is that readers may get your blog and the other io site confused Type the proposed title in the address box followed by blogspot com as in mythoughts blogspot com Do the same thing but use the domain typepad com Buy a J I I a j i j I j l If you are self hosting your blog you likely will want to buy a domain name to make it easier for readers to find you You may want to buy one for a WordPress com blog too You can buy a domain name from any number of registrars Web hosts often give their customers a price break on domain registrations so if you ar
12. he process the same for a WordPress com blog It can be or you can buy your domain name through WordPress com Doing so eliminates a few steps in setup Plan Your Blog s Content Your blog will be easier to create and maintain and easier for readers to follow if you plan your content before you start blogging By planning ahead you can give your blog a consistent approach that works for you your content and your readers Words Pictures or Both Your choice of having content that is word heavy picture heavy or an even balance of words and pictures affects not only the appearance of your blog but how you spend your time preparing your posts Give thought now as to what medium best expresses the ideas you want to share Consider Post Length Although there is no general ideal length there may be an ideal length for you and your blog Having a somewhat predictable post length enables you to know how long it may take to write a post and lets regular readers know how much time to allow for reading You can break up long subjects into a series of posts IHs amazing how wet get Wiking My socks 3 ave soaked by the ew Aay s hike from dew in the underbrush sloshing thru puddles and crossing Small streams arg but cleaved up by about AAM so I was able to get started hiking about T M need to hike at least IS miles Aaily if I m going to make wy goal
13. hey are good ones If you want to customize your theme by editing the cascading style sheet or CSS you must pay an annual fee With a self hosted WordPress blog you can choose among countless free themes or purchased themes or create your own Key Differences Plugins Plugins are program like extensions that work with WordPress to add functionality You can have as many as you want on your independent WordPress blog WordPress com does not let you add plugins although many of the WordPress com widgets provide plugin functions A widget allows you to arrange sidebar information without writing code Key Differences Ads With a self hosted WordPress blog you can have zero to endless amounts of advertising At WordPress com the blog host itself occasionally posts ads on your blog unless you pay a no ad fee Also WordPress com does not allow certain types of ads Key Differences Cost The blogging software is free whether you host your own blog or put it on WordPress com If you self host you must pay for space on a Web server although that can be as little as a few dollars a month If you go with WordPress com you may wind up paying fees to edit the CSS eliminate ads or post videos costs absent for independent blogs Key Differences Support WordPress com has a clearly written support section plus forums and a contact form for support The support documentation for WordPress org blogs is called the codex It is written by
14. ing writing styles can write a scattershot blog and attract a large number of readers The Ubery Tuber is fantastic Et Er Introducing Blogging and WordPress chapter Focused The more focused your topic the easier it will be for search engines to find it A focused blog also has greater potential to generate advertising revenues later if that is one of your goals Useful and Entertaining Whatever topic you choose you will get more readers if your blog is useful or entertaining or both As you narrow your list of possible topics think about which ones give you the greatest opportunity to be helpful or engaging Those may be your best bets Competition If you are unconcerned about developing an audience or if you want your blog to focus on your personal life you need not worry about competition For other subjects however check out the competition before you settle on a blog topic Research the Competition You can get clues as to what is being written about and what is popular at these Web sites e http wordpress com See the most popular recent tags which are like keywords on WordPress com blogs e www alexa com Search for blogs on your topic and Alexa lists them and their traffic ratings e www technorati com pop This page lists the 100 most popular blogs among Technorati users e www stumbleupon com Sign up with this service select your topic of interest an
15. is good for the two to correspond WordPress com gt gt Get a Free Blog Here Mozil File Edit View History Bookmarks Tools Help lt CX A example wordpress com Re Example Blog Consider the Long Term If you are going to keep your blog private or are certain that you do not want to develop a significant audience the blog title makes no difference Most people start blogs though because they want to be heard If you are one of those people then consider the steps on these pages Introducing Blogging and WordPress chapter Brainstorm Names Narrow the Options Your blog topic is the place to start your search for Settle on a handful of blog titles and then find out blog titles Write as many words and phrases as you whether another site has that name You may have to can think of associated with your topic If it is a try lots of options before you find one not in use See personal blog you may simply want to use your real Try for a Unique Name on this page to find out how name Even your real name may not be as unique as to check what is being used you think however so write down many options X fe S EY An CZ Lah pin SS LURO HUNTS FROM HERDER SS LD Wy RIU nn VE N All the Good Names Are Taken Try for a Unique Name So many sites are on the Web these days that it may Take these steps to increase your odds of having a seem that all the good names are taken but for
16. ual subject you need to have pictures Podcasts would be desirable on an interview blog Make sure you have the equipment you need for the media you plan to use If your blog is about grammar or creative writing you can probably skip buying a top flight digital camera ALL ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY p
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