So What is This Thing Called WordPress?
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The document provides an overview of WordPress, including its history as a blogging platform and its evolution into a versatile content management system (CMS) that powers 20% of websites globally. It discusses how to use WordPress, including adding content through posts and pages, and the two versions available: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Maintenance tips and security measures, as well as the importance of themes and plugins, are also highlighted.
So What is This Thing Called WordPress?
- 1. Coolfields Consulting www.coolfields.co.uk @coolfields What is this thing called Love? Graham Armfield Web Accessibility Consultant WordPress Developer [email protected] @coolfields
- 2. What I’m going to cover • What is WordPress? • How WordPress Works • Adding content to your WordPress website • How to get a WordPress website • Maintaining a WordPress website 2
- 4. What is WordPress? Some history • Created by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little in 2003 as a development of b2/cafelog. 4
- 5. What is WordPress? Some history contd • Received a boost when Movable Type started restricting free use. • For years WordPress was primarily a blogging platform 5
- 6. An Early WordPress Site 6
- 7. More Features Extra features added, so the possibilities are now almost endless. WordPress can now support many types of website. For example: 7 • consumer review sites • job boards • membership sites (inc with subscription) • business websites • community portals • e-commerce websites • classified ads
- 8. Increasingly the World's Choice You can allow others to contribute content to your site. 8
- 9. Increasingly the World's Choice WordPress now 'powers' 20% of all websites 9 from builtwith.com
- 11. WordPress is a CMS All content is stored in a database… … not in separate HTML files. Which makes things very flexible. 11
- 12. WordPress Core 12 The WordPress core is what makes the site go from prewarminor.com
- 13. WordPress Core • Built with PHP • Open source • Maintained by volunteers, and developers from Automattic • Updated regularly 13
- 14. WordPress Themes Themes govern the look of a WordPress website 14 https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolymatt/
- 15. WordPress Themes • Only ever 1 theme active at any time • Handles layout of site and styles – so, the overall look and feel • Most themes are free and developed by volunteers • Themes can be swapped in and out fairly easily (in theory) 15
- 17. WordPress Plugins Plugins are your optional extras 17 https://www.flickr.com/photos/etheltheaardvark/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/
- 18. WordPress Plugins • A site can (in theory) have any number of plugins active at any time • Plugins are available for many different needs: Improve SEO, protecting against spam, social media, membership, forums, handling images, improve usability of admin, improve site security • Most plugins are free and developed by volunteers 18
- 19. The Whole Picture 19 http://mysite.com/about-us
- 20. 20 Adding Content into WordPress
- 22. Posts vs Pages 22 Posts • Time sensitive • Blog entries, articles • News about something, events, assignments • Can be categorised • May be presented in a list Pages • Non time sensitive • More permanent content • Could have hierarchical structure • Examples: Home Page, About Me, Contact Me
- 24. Add a New Page or Post 24
- 26. Image and Categories Added 26
- 28. 28 How to Get a WordPress Website
- 29. Two Versions of WordPress 1 wordpress.com • Hosted by WordPress • Free and quick to signup • Basic choice of themes + plugins • URL format: mysite.wordpress.com • Paid for features 29
- 30. Two Versions of WordPress 2 wordpress.org • Self hosted – need a hosting area • Own the domain name • Free to download • Unlimited choice of themes + plugins • Bespoke themes possible 30
- 31. Choosing a Theme For wordpress.org version • Free themes - http://wordpress.org/themes/ • Premium themes - http://wordpress.org/themes/commercial/ For wordpress.com version • Integrated into admin area 31
- 32. Choosing Plugins For wordpress.org version • http://wordpress.org/plugins/ For wordpress.com version • Very limited but integrated into admin 32
- 33. Getting a Developer Involved For wordpress.org version • To design and build a theme for you • To create extra functionality as required • Install and configure more advanced plugins • Tailor the site to your needs 33
- 34. WordPress and Accessibility Front end is as accessible as: • Chosen theme • Chosen plugins • What your content authors do Admin screens: • Not fully accessible • But getting better 34
- 35. 35 Maintaining a WordPress Site
- 36. Upgrading Versions WordPress core • Automated updates for minor releases Themes Plugins 36
- 37. Comments and User Accounts 37 Comments • You can manage all the comments you've received • Edit, delete Users • Guest authors • Co-authors • Editors • Administrators
- 38. Choosing a New Theme Your content is still intact, but… • You may need to reattach menus • You may need to rebuild your widgets • Some functionality may stop working 38
- 39. Choosing New Plugins Useful ones include: 39 • Akismet • WordPress SEO • Relevanssi • Cyclone Slider 2 • Tablepress • WP to Twitter • Subscribe 2
- 40. Spam Should you allow comments on your site? • Comments demonstrate that people are engaging with your content • The presence of comments encourages more comments and engagement • BUT you will start to get spam comments • Ensure you use a spam protection plugin • Akismet comes with WordPress but it's not free for anything other than a personal site 40
- 41. Site Security Most WordPress sites will come under attack at some time - usually 'brute force' attempts to break in to the admin screens. Usernames and Passwords • Never use 'admin' or 'administrator' • Always ensure passwords are strong – you can use letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers and some punctuation symbols 41
- 42. Security Plugins Wordfence Security • Blocks or throttles multiple page requests • Blocks IP addresses for multiple logon failures • Scans website for latest version of core, themes and plugins. • Also scans for malware in your WordPress folders 42
- 43. Security Plugins (Advanced) Audit Trail • Logs activity on the admin area of the site WordPress File Monitor Plus • Spots changes to any files on the site Rename wp-login • Moves your login page to a different place 43