Getting Started with WordPress for Absolute Beginners
Domain Names
- What is a domain name?
- .com vs other Top Level Domains (TLD)
- Purchase from a third party
- Hover.com
- NameCheap.com
Hosting
- Your #1 Priority as a Beginner is Great Support
- 24 Hour Phone, Live Chat, Email, & Ticketing
- Your #2 Priority is Speed
- Ensure you get a free SSL Certificate to secure your site
- Shared Hosting vs Managed Hosting
- Managed Hosting
- SiteGround.com
- A2Hosting.com
- DreamHost.com
- Budget Options include BlueHost & HostGator
- Free Option is WordPress.com
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
- WordPress Software
- Open Source
- Free Download
- WordPress.org
- WordPress.com
- Support via Happiness Engineers
- Automattic, Inc. / WordPress Foundation / Matt Mullenweg
Email Service
- Third Party vs Free Email from Your Host
- Zoho.com (free & paid plans)
- Google G Suite ($5.00 per month)
Themes
- Change Themes to Change Styling (Not Functionality)
- Themes Require Setup including plugins and widgets to look like the demo
- Build on a Solid Foundation
- Stay Away from Bloated Themes with lots of Functionality
- Free + Premium = Freemium
- Market Places for Themes & Plugins
- Envato
- Theme Forest
- Code Canyon
- Mojo MarketPlace
- Individual Company Websites
- Envato
- Child Themes
- Allows Your Theme to be Updated Without Losing Your Customizations
- Buy a Theme that comes with a Child Theme
- Create Your Own Child Theme for any Theme
- Use plugins for customizations instead of a Child Theme
- Frameworks
- StudioPress Genesis – Light
- WooCommerce Canvas – Great for e-commerce
- Thesis
- Theme Companies
- Array Themes
- Astra – Great for use with Beaver Builder & other Page Builder Plugins
- GeneratePress – Great for use with Beaver Builder & other Page Builder Plugins
- MyThemeShop.com
- StudioPress.com
- WooCommerce.com
- Free Themes on WordPress.org
Plugins
- Used to add functionality to WordPress
- Can be downloaded and activated directly within WordPress
- Premium Plugins must be downloaded from the companies website and then uploaded to WordPress and Activated
- Premium Plugins Usually Require a License
- Typically Require Annual Support Payment
- Some companies are switching to Ongoing Subscription Based Models
- Can easily become your greatest expense
- Akismet, JetPack, Woo Themes all by Automattic
- BackWPup
- Beaver Builder – A Page Builder
- Google Analytics for WordPress by MonsterInsights
- iThemes Security
- WPForms, Gravity Forms, Ninja Forms, Contact Form 7
- Yoast
Using WordPress
- Login
- Admin Area
- The Customizer
- Changing Themes
- Adding a Plugin
- Installing a Widget
- Creating a Page
- Creating a Post
- Saving a Draft
- Publishing a Post
Learning Resources
- WP101.com
- Introduction to WordPress Course
- WPBeginner.com
- Ultimate Guide: How to Start a WordPress Blog (Step by Step)
- YouTube.com
- WPTavern.com for News
- MichaelHyatt.com
- Podcasts
- BlogAid
- KitchensinkWP with Adam Silver
- OfficeHours.FM with Carrie Dils
- YourWebsiteEngineer with Dustin Hartzler
Advancing with WordPress
- Start Learning the foundations
- HTML, CSS
- JavaScript
- PHP
Questions & Answers
- Live Q & A
- Forums
- Website – Louisvill.io changing to LouisvilleTech.org
- Slack – Louisville Tech, WordPress Channel (Get your Slack invite at LouisvilleTech.org)
- Meetup.com – WordPress Louisville Meetup
- Facebook – Louisville WordPress User Group
Contact Me
- Email: John@JohnHendrix.me
- Twitter: @JohnTHendrix
- Website: www.JohnHendrix.me